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| Jim Otto* |
Canes Rising Contributor
"The Autumn Wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea,
With a rollicking song, he sweeps along,
Swaggering boisterously.
His face is weather beaten,
He wears a hooded sash,
With a silver hat about his head
And a bristling black mustache.
He growls as he storms the country,
A villain big and bold
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake,
As he robs them of their gold.
The Autumn Wind is a raider,
Pillaging just for fun.
He'll knock you 'round and upside down,
And laugh when he's conquered and won."--Steve Sabol "The Autumn Wind"
This poem may be the battle hymn of the Oakland Raiders, but it can double as the personal hymn of Jim Otto, this weeks "Forgotten 'Cane". Otto played his entire career with the Oakland Raiders, becoming one of the first stars of the fledgling AFL. Although he was allowed to wear double zero because it was a play on his name(Aught-O), the undersized center was far greater than the numerals placed on his barrel torso. A product of Wausau High School in Wisconsin, he was a two way player for the 'Canes, playing both center, and linebacker. Following a solid collegiate career, he was overlooked by the established NFL and ended up in the "second rate" American Football League. He built his body and became a fixture at center for the Silver and Black, never missing a single game due to injury, a streak that reached 308 games. He was one of the first stars in Oakland, leading an offensive line eventually included Gene Upshaw and Art Shell. With this outstanding front wall, the Raiders dominated the AFL, winning an AFL title in 1967, and playing for the AFL/AFC championship in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, and 1974. During his career, he was named an AFL All Star 9 times, a 3 time NFL Pro Bowler, and a 3 time NFL All Pro. With that record of achievement, it's no wonder why he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Otto, like a ton of former Raiders, has stayed loyal to the franchise, and to Al Davis. He's been employed by the franchise since 1995 in the department of special projects, and is also heavily involved in the business world. A former owner of numerous Burger King franchises, he continues to be a tough character, fighting on despite having his leg amputated in 2007 . A cancer survivor, a man who despite his numerous health issues continues to be a pillar of the community, Otto is an inspiration to those who believe in consistency, excellence, and toughness.
* Photo Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame(http://www.profootballhof.com)
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