How does a kid from North East, Pennsylvania, become a lifelong Raiders fan while living over 2,600 miles away from California?
It was the Raiders’ legendary running back that captivated an 8-year-old Mike Insalaco watching Monday Night Football as his parents urged him to turn off the living room television and go to bed. In this Monday Night Football game in particular, Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson, as a rookie, rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns on the Seattle Seahawks.
Insalaco ran over to the Silver and Black like Jackson did over Brian Bosworth to the end zone.
“It was a younger version of myself seeing this guy who seemed faster than anyone else on the field by mile,” Insalaco said of watching his first Raiders game. “And he was big and he was fast. I just remember watching him on Monday Night Football. I was enthralled by him, and then I realized the team that he played for.
“The colors, the history, everything just kind of came together and I’ve been in love with them ever since.”
Insalaco has now been a fan for over 40 years, going to countless games dating back to Oakland in 1995. Through his fandom for the Raiders, he also met his wife Nina, who ironically lived two hours away from him in Pennsylvania.