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Broncos are big fans of Raiders stadium
By Kyle Ringo, Special to the News Football players don't care about stadiums. They could care less about the menu in the luxury boxes, how fast the beer line moves or how many rest rooms are available for women. Linebackers want atmosphere, which is why many of the Denver Broncos surprisingly choose their annual visit to Oakland, Calif., as their favorite NFL stadium to play in other than home. The Oakland Coliseum provides a prison-league atmosphere. No other stadium can boast quite the ratio of kooks to run-of-the-mill Joes. The fans gear up in anything silver and black, from painted body parts to full-scale costumes resembling characters from science fiction movies. They hate you if you're in another uniform, and they let you know it. The zany Raiders' minions are a nightmare for opponents, especially for a hated rival such as the Broncos. "The Raiders definitely have the wildest fans, I believe," said Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson, who admits he has always preferred playing on the road because of the intensity. "It seems like they study your background. They know your family's names, your sister's name, your parents' names, your children's names. They do that type stuff. It's cool. I think that kind of gets us into the game more." Based on an informal poll of about 30 players during training camp, many of Wilson's teammates agree the best place to play away from home is the house of the most hated. "They bring a wild environment," fullback Detron Smith said of Oakland. "I like the fans. They're crazy and just fanatics out there. It fires me up." Linebacker Lee Woodall, an eight-year NFL veteran, has competed in nearly every NFL venue. He spent his first six seasons in San Francisco. The two atmospheres couldn't have been more different. "I love playing in the Raiders' stadium because of the 12th man that they have," Woodall said. "The fans are crazy. "I'm used to playing in other places like San Francisco and Carolina, where they are basically sitting and waiting for something to happen." Fullback Howard Griffith prefers Kansas City, Mo., for similar reasons plus one. "You can smell the barbecue, and the fans hate you," he said. Others don't much care about the facility they're in, but the city outside it makes a difference. Cornerback Jimmy Spencer enjoys going home to Miami to see friends and family. Running back Mike Anderson appreciates the Louisiana Superdome, which will be the site of this season's Super Bowl. Anderson's finest day as a pro was a 251-yard, four-touchdown performance Dec. 3 in New Orleans against the Saints. "The thing about that was even though it was New Orleans' home crowd, after a while they started appreciating what was taking place on the field," Anderson said. It's all about the fans for All-Pro defensive tackle Trevor Pryce. "I'd probably say San Diego because there are more Denver fans there than there are for San Diego," Pryce said.
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