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Smoke Signals
Hall of Famer visits casino during Super Bowl
By Brent Merrill
National Football
League Hall of
Famer Fred Biletni-
koff, who played his
entire career with the
Oakland Raiders, spent
Super Bowl Sunday
(Jan. 30) at the Tribe's
Spirit Mountain Casino
signing autographs and commenting
on the game.
Biletnikoff, who was the Raiders
2 draft pick out of Florida State Uni
versity in 1965, played 13 seasons
as a wide receiver for Oakland (1965
78) and capped-off his career by win
ning the most valuable player award
in Super Bowl XI.
He finished his professional football
career with 589 receptions for 8,974
yards and 76 touchdowns. In his fi
nal college football game, Biletnikoff
caught four touchdowns passes as the
Seminoles defeated the University of
Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl.
Biletnikoff, 56, and his wife Angela
arrived in Oregon after spending the
week in Atlanta going to pre-Super
Bowl parties and gatherings.
Biletnikoff held court in the
casino's Rogue River room while a
crowd of men wearing Raider jerseys
and hats, many accompanied by their
children, lined up for autographs and
bits of conversation with one of the
game's true rebels.
When Biletnikoff played profes
sional football it was a different time
a different game. The late 60's
brought the turmoil and dissension of
the younger generation to the fore
front of the news and of people's
minds.
Biletnikoff was a
young man at the
top of his profession
at the time. His col
orful array of Raiders
teammates reflected
the turmoil of the day
in their dress, demeanor
and style of playing foot
ball. The Raiders were known as
the bad boys of the league. They led
the league in penalties, fights and
bail money spent.
"We had so many different person
alities back then," remembered a
smiling Biletnikoff. "Today we check
a kid's background to see if he got in
any trouble in high school or in col
lege. Back then, nobody checked our
backgrounds. All they cared about
was getting us out on the field to
play."
Biletnikoff was one of the only play
ers to wear his hair long. He wore a
glue-like substance all over his arms
and even around his ankles so he
could get a better "grip" on the ball.
Some people say he even smoked on
the sidelines during games.
Looking back, it seems the athletes
of the 60's would have paid to play
the game. It was an honor and a
privilege for a select few people. Most
players spent their entire careers in
one organization.
Before the Super Bowl got started,
Biletnikoff talked about the changes
he has seen in the game of football
from the 60's to today.
"When I played we were all underdog-type
of guys," said Biletnikoff.
"We didn't come from fancy back
grounds. We came from parts of the
Hall of Fame wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff visited the Casino on Super
Bowl Sunday. Biletnikoff signed autographs and provided commentary
on the game to a packed house of football fans. Photo by Brent Merrill
country where our parents struggled
to make a living. When I had a
chance to go down to Florida State
(University) it was something special.
It was something I never even
dreamed about. Now, kids go around
and pick whatever college they want
to go to."
Biletnikoff also discussed the dif
ferences between other football leg
ends like quarterbacks Daryl Lam
onica and Kenny Stabler.
' "Daryl was more of a 'loner-type
person," said Biletnikoff. "He was
quiet. He liked to go off and get
away from football. Kenny was just
the opposite. Kenny was a little
more social and had a little more of
an open personality."
While signing autographs, Bilet
nikoff shared his views on the Na
tive American sports mascot issue,
which has been a subject of contro
versy between tribes and profes
sional teams for many years.
"To be honest, I really don't know
how I feel because I guess it has just
been part of my life all the time. I
"'don't' think those things ever came"
up in the years I was playing foot
ball. But, I can see where it would
also be offensive to people."
jk
JPIWT MOUNTAIN CXJINO
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EMPLoyee profile
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TITLE: Security Officer
HIRE DATE: October 2, 1995
HOMETOWN: Grew up in
Prospect, Oregon; now lives in
Grand Ronde.
EDUCATION: Earned certifi
cate as a Level I Water Treatment
Plant Operator; certificate in
lumber grading; graduated from
the first security officer training offered through Spirit Mountain Casino.
JOB DUTIES: Regular security officer work whatever the job entails for the
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JOYS OF THE JOB: "I like working with new people, and meeting staff and
guests."
MOST INTERESTING ASPECT OF THE JOB: Getting to know the
guests.
HOBBIES: Likes to read history.
WORK PHILOSOPHY: "Be honest at all times and do the very best job you
can.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO SMC? "I had an injury from working in a saw
mill. When I saw the security guard training classes were being offered, I applied."
FAMILY: Mother, Frances; father, George (D); brother, Monty (D); sisters:
Patti, Georgene, and Mary.
v
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