Christian Bale, who portrays Al Davis in the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film "Madden," told ESPN's "SportsCenter" this week that the Raiders owner is one of his favorite characters he has ever played. The biographical sports drama, which documents John Madden's life and the Raiders' 1976 Super Bowl season, is set for release on Nov. 11.
"People loathe Al Davis, or they love Al Davis," Bale said. "I played Al Davis. I love Al Davis." The Academy Award-winning actor said researching the role gave him a reverence for Davis that went beyond the owner's public 'fear-over-respect' mentality.
Bale noted that while Davis projected a tough exterior, those close to him described a man with a big heart who quietly took care of his inner circle long after they left the organization. "He had that motto, 'once a Raider, always a Raider,' and he really stood by it," Bale said.
The actor highlighted Davis's unique trajectory through every level of an NFL organization — from scout to owner — and his civil rights legacy. Davis was the first NFL owner to hire a Black head coach in Art Shell, a female chief executive in Amy Trask, and a Latino head coach in Tom Flores. He also refused to play exhibition games in segregated Southern cities during the 1960s.
"That's very American. You know, isn't it?" Bale said of Davis's willingness to give discarded players a second chance. "Everybody getting a chance of having that opportunity? And he so often would bring in players that other teams were benching or getting rid of. He saw something in them and they would often go to great heights of glory within the Raiders (organization)." Bale called his final day playing Davis a "very sad day."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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