Before 1960, Oakland was a barren landscape when it came to major-league sports. Scotty Stirling altered that landscape one day at the Oakland Tribune.

Stirling, then a Tribune sportswriter, was checking through wire copy when he noticed that the brand-new American Football League was looking for a home for a franchise because the National Football League had beaten it into Minneapolis with the Minnesota Vikings.

Stirling tore that Associated Press story off the wire machine and wrote an exploratory story, asking if there was interest in having a pro football team in Oakland, even though Oakland didn't even have a stadium.

And that's how the Oakland Raiders were formed, all because of Gordon "Scotty" Stirling, who died last Wednesday in Sacramento at 88 after a brief illness. His son, Gordon, said he died peacefully.

Finding a home for the Raiders was the first of several important firsts for the versatile Stirling.

Those early Raiders played at Kezar Stadium and Candlestick Park in San Francisco before Oakland constructed a temporary 23,000-seat stadium in 1963, before the 59,000-seat Oakland Coliseum could be built in 1966. By that time, Stirling had evolved from a Tribune beat writer, covering the Raiders, into a Raider executive under new head coach and general manager Al Davis.

Stirling's sports involvement then evolved like a shooting star as he ascended to a variety of front-office positions, from the West Coast to the East Coast, like no other Bay Area native before him or since.

He held executive positions with the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball Association, and the National Basketball Association, where he was the vice-president of operations in the mid-1980s.

He joined the NBA's Sacramento Kings in 1987, and remained until 2014, mostly as their scouting director. He was working on his memoir and other book projects when he passed away.

Besides the Raiders, Stirling launched other concepts. Fantasy sports is a national craze, but that craze started in Oakland in the early 1960s with something called the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognostication League, or, more succinctly, GOPPL.

Stirling was part of a group, including Raiders minority owner Bill Winkenbach, that conceived of the idea of fantasy sports. The very first draft pick: Houston Oilers quarterback and placekicker George Blanda, who could deliver points with touchdown passes, field goals, and points after touchdown placements.

Stirling started another craze locally with sports talk. He was the first host of KNBR's Sportsphone 68 in 1980 (I was No. 4), and still is considered the most knowledgeable of all the hosts who followed him. That's because he had accumulated vast knowledge from the front offices of pro football and basketball, a wide access denied all his successors.

His varied interests were limitless and he was a color analyst alongside the legendary Bill King, in doing Raider games on radio. One could safely say about Stirling: he could do it all.

"Scotty was a highly regarded league executive who dedicated more than 35 years of his life to our game," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "He exuded passion for basketball. With his vast knowledge and keen eye for talent, he earned the respect of his peers and colleagues."

Longtime Warriors coach, executive and ambassador Al Attles said, "Scotty was an incredible person who had a tremendous love for basketball and the people associated with it. Personally, he was someone I leaned on heavily during my career as a coach and as an executive in the front office. He'll be dearly missed."

Stirling graduated from USF before earning a master's in sports management at Adelphi University. He served in the Army and, two years ago, was named to the El Cerrito High School Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Pam, sons Gordon, Donald and Kevin, sister Helen Boak, brother Archie, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Private services will be held. A memorial is in the planning stages.

Retired Oakland  Tribune  columnist Dave Newhouse will have two new books

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Steve Bigbee -- Steve Raider Bigbee

"I'm a Raider fan because I love what the team represents: a Commitment to Excellence. It's how I live my life and my charity work for those in need.

I am a Raider fan because of what the fan base represents: family. We are family-based with a passion for the Raiders organization and also for helping local and worldwide communities.

By passing this passion on to our young children I believe we can change our world. By working as a team and by working together as Family, One Family, One Love, One Nation, the Raider Nation!"

Who is Raider Bigbee?

Steve Bigbee was born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s. During this time, his father was a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan and Steve became a Raiders fan due to his belief in the team's motto: Commitment to Excellence. Bigbee promised he would live his life by this motto.

Bigbee stayed in jobs that allowed him to perform customer service and serve people with a commitment to excellence. These jobs consisted of fast food establishments, hospitals, security and even as a probation officer. In 2001, while working at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford in security, Bigbee made a promise that when he started to do better in his life he would give back to a charity of his choice as a Raiders fan. In 2009-10 that day came as he was informed that a child staying at the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford (RMHS) was a die-hard Raiders fan. The upcoming weekend Bigbee was invited to attend a local golf tournament which was hosted by former Oakland Raiders tight end Jeremy Brigham. During the event, Bigbee had several players, movie stars and others attending sign the ball which would later be presented to the child.

Bigbee returned to the Ronald McDonald House and presented the child, Amirah, the signed football. Amirah thanked him and tugged on his pants, asking, "Raiderbee, when are the Raiders coming!"

This is how Steve "Raiderbee" Bigbee was created. It was on this day Raiderbee decided to uphold his promise and start helping the children of RMHS as his charity.

Over the next several years Raiderbee's volunteerism extended to creating events for the children at Ronald McDonald House and providing public awareness about the House at outside events. Amirah's spirit provided the inspiration to Raiderbee to continue his dream of sponsoring a foundation, Silver n' Black Helping Hands, to help those in need of loving, community support.

Raiderbee is a humanitarian who loves helping others when they're in need. If he has to give up a couple of hours of sleep to help out, then so be it. If it soothes their soul, it soothes his soul. If one person helps another person, just imagine the impact on the world it would be.

"I don't know the families at the House personally but I'm here to put a smile on their faces, to have them forget what they are going through and let them enjoy life. Even if it's just for that one day or night so they can enjoy life, then it makes my job complete. The only way to make a difference in today's world is if people help out. What got me to be a Raiders fan was their motto: Commitment to Excellence. That's how I live my life. Everything I do, I put that little bit of excellence into it."

 

Steve Raider Bigbee, shown above with his son, Gerald, is among a number of Oakland Raiders fans who add excitement and delight to attending Raiders games. Photo by Ed Jay, taken at the Raiders training camp. 

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San Francisco

Abbey Tavern, 4100 Geary Street

The Blue Light, 1979 Union Street

Bus Stop, 1901 Union Street

The Chieftain, 198 5th Street

Danny Coyle's, 668 Haight Street

Dave's, 29 Third Street @ Kearny

Final Final, 2990 Baker @ Lombard

The Holding Company, #2 Embarcadro Center

Il Pirata, 2007 16th Street

Jake's Steaks, 3301 Buchanan Street

Jullian's, 101 4th Street

The Kezar Pub, 770 Stanyan Street

Mad Dog in the Fog, 530 Haight Street

Mucky Duck, 1315 9th Avenue

Nickie's Bar, 466 Haight Street

Players Sports Grill, Pier 39, Buildings L & M

Polo Grounds, 747 3rd Street

 

East Bay

Brennan's Restaurant, 4th & University, Berkeley

Churchward Pub, 1515 Park Street, Alameda

City Beach, 4020 Technology Place, Fremont

Crogan's Montclair, 6101 La Salle Avenue, Oakland

Cue & Brew, 1029 Arnold Drive, #6, Martinez

Dan's Irish Sports Bar, 1524 Civic Street, Walnut Creek

Diamonds Sports Bar & Grill, 77 Hegenberger, Oakland

Ed's Mudville Grill, 6200 Center Street, Clayton

The Englander, 101 Parrott Street, San Leandro  

Evie's, 7138 Village Parkway, Dublin

Francesco's Restaurant, 8520 Pardee Drive, Oakland

Frank's Saloon, 2014 Marina Blvd., San Leandro

Funky Monkey, 22554 Main Street, Hayward

George & Walt's, 5445 College Avenue, Oakland

Grand Oaks Restaurant, 3701 Grand Avenue, Oakland

Go Sports Bar, 736 Washington Street, Oakland

Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

Kingfish, 5227 Claremont, Oakland

Linguini's Pizza & Brew, 1508 Park Street, Alameda

Livermore Casino Sports Bar, 3571 First Street, Livermore

McCovey's Restaurant, 1444 N. California, Walnut Creek

Mr. Lucky's Bar & Grill, 1527 Locust Street. Walnut Creek

Oakland Moose Club, 690 Hegenberger Road

Oaks Corner, 4099 San Pablo, Emeryville

Otaez Mexican Restaurant, 1619 Webster Street, Alameda

Pacific Coast Brewing Co., 906 Washington Street, Oakland

Pasta Pelican, 2455 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda

Pete's Place, 610A San Pablo Avenue, Pinole

Rancho Sports Bar, 3912 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante

Ricky's Sports Grill, 15028 Hesperian Blvd., San Leandro

Sports Edition Bar, Hilton Oakland Airport, Oakland

Stadium Pub, 1420 Lincoln Avenue, Walnut Creek

Tierney's Sports Bar, 540 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

WPLJ's Dance Club, 2112 North Main Street, Walnut Creek

 

Brisbane

7 Mile House, 2800 Bayshore Blvd.

 

Burlingame 

The American Bull Bar & Grill, 1819 El Camino Real

Knuckles Historical Sports Bar, Hyatt Regency, Burlingame

 

Campbell 

Capers Eat & Drink, 1710 West Campbell   

 

Fair Oaks

Players Sports Pub, 4060 Sunrise Blvd.

 

Half Moon Bay 

Cameron's Restaurant Pub & Inn, 1410 South Cabrillo Hwy

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., 390 Capistrano Road

 

Foster City 

The Club House Bistro, 1221 Chess Drive  

 

Palo Alto 

Sundance The Steakhouse, 1921 El Camino Real

 

Point Richmond

Up & Under, 2 West Richmond Avenue   

 

San Jose 

Bay 101 Casino, 1801 Bering Drive

Britannia Arms, 5027 Almaden Expressway

Britannia Arms, 173 West Santa Clara

Britannia Arms, 1087 De Anza Blvd.    

 

San Rafael 

Pete's 881, 721 Lincoln Avenue

 

Santa Clara

City Beach, 2911 Mead Avenue

 

Santa Cruz 

One Double Oh Seven Club, 1007 Soquel Avenue    

 

Vacaville 

Stars Recreation Center, 155 Browns Valley Parkway