When Fred was an assistant coach for the Arizona Wranglers we went tubing down the Salt River a couple of times. He was dating a gal who was a close friend of my neighbor Ann. He had heard that tubing could be a lot of fun and wanted to give it a try. The four of us went down the river on these two huge tire tubes that I had acquired while working construction. We had a big ice chest filled with beer tied in the center of one of the tubes and had a blast! At the time (1986) he wasn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame yet and we discussed that for awhile. He was very down to earth and humble. A super guy!
Fred you were one of the greatest players who step foot on a football field and one of the reasons the AFL was great and the NFL was the greatest years 1960s and 1970s in pro football
My first ever game, saw you play at the Coliseum against Cleveland 16 Nov 1975. Who knew I was watching a game loaded with future HoF'ers (and still waiting on Cliff to get in).
Wow that's awesome you experienced that. 37 year old Raider fan from Texas here. I'm very sad for the fans in Oakland that they are moving. It upsets me Al didn't make a better effort to at least keep the team in California. The real estate there in the 80s was dirt cheap compared to now. I loved what Al did but hated what he did or didn't do more. I guess I'm bitter about the move more than I am the mediocrity or worse in the past 17 years.
@@Texas_Cruiser You would have loved our 70s team they were loaded top to bottom, and flat out beasts. (We're the only team to have 3 college award's named after players from those years, Hendricks, Biletnikoff & Guy.) From the late 80s until the early 2000s we just couldn't win which was painful to watch. Leaving Oakland for L.A. was gut wrenching, but after several years they came back home. Now they will be gone for good, and and sadly an era will come to an end this Sunday.
@@kazgak I would've loved to have seen those games. I've seen as much footage of the old days as I possibly could from the glory years. Cliff Branch was my favorite. Seeing Fred here reminisce about the days of old and the guys he coached was a real treat. I fulfilled my dream and got to go to an Oakland game in 2012. Made the trip by myself and stayed in San Fran. During that time I fell in love with the bay area. I'm from Austin by the way but actually from here...not an import lol. I got to work in Milpitas for a month in 2013 but didn't get to catch a game. We lost the game I went to but I'll never forget the experience. There's an interview with Charles Woodson you can find similar to this one also that was recently posted. I didn't even want the team moving to San Antonio. To me this is like the Steelers leaving Pittsburgh...it's part of the character of that area and town. I'll make some games to Vegas but I'll be sure to note I was a fan before they moved there. I became a fan because of Bo...he was THE GUY when I was a kid and I loved the silver and black. I came to learn about the history of the team and fell in love. And although I became a fan when the team was in LA my heart with them is in Oakland. This upcoming game will be sad for me and I can only imagine how much for you. This goes beyond the game itself...people and families coming together. It was part of the culture of Oakland. I'm not an Athletics fan but will make it to a game someday and will be wearing my Raiders hat and Rickey Henderson jersey. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
@@Texas_Cruiser The best part of the game back than was they let the player's play. Snake wearing a smiley face sticker on his helmet, the defense wearing what were basically casts on their arms, clubbing opposing teams like baby seals. When the NFL became a business, and started regulating everything the players/coaches do and wear, it truly became the no fun league. They even had to get the owners to vote to let the players celebrate after touchdowns? The greedy NFL can't help itself, it is killing football one stupid rule at a time and they cannot substain building multi-billion stadiums for much longer on the taxpayers dime. Oh well I still love my Raider's, and how they treat the old Raider's as family forever.
You can find a handful of Raider 70s games on youtube. Pre 78 are hard to find. You can find both halves of Raiders Saints MNF, Stabler’s last comeback. Freddy B and Willie are retired, but a lot of great players still there.
Feints and quickness made up for straight ahead speed and 4.7 isn't terrible. The hand held watches used in 40's back in the day mean next to nothing. What a great dude, great player, and seemingly from this interview, very good person. Was a thrill to watch him back in grade school!
Terrific interview. Happy to see that Fred is looking good and is able to elucidate thoughts about the past that were so meaningful to many of us who supported AFL teams. I hated him when he played against the Chiefs, but always respected him as a threat whenever he'd come to Kansas City with the rest of the Raiders or the teams met in Oakland. I still have vivid memories of him catching passes from Daryl Lamonica (who should ABSOLUTELY be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame!), that frustrated us Chiefs fans at Municipal Stadium. And I will always remember how tough Fred was after he'd get hit by one or more of the Chiefs or players from other AFL teams and would get back up and act like nothing bothered him. GOD those were great days! I am one who still wishes the AFL was it's own league and the Raiders, Chargers, Broncos, Jets, Bills, Patriots, Bengals, Dolphins and Chiefs were all still the talk of pro football. Best wishes Fred. You were truly one of the greatest of all time! Respect to the Raiders and their great fans. PS. THE RAIDERS BELONG IN OAKLAND! Long Live the AFL!
I am a Vikings fan since 1968 but I feel exactly the way you do used to love watching the old AFL and I also didn't want a meager between the NFL and AFL and especially loved watching the late afternoon games with Curt Gowdy calling the game with the Oakland raiders vs. KC Chief's
@@jameshuseby6290 Thanks James. Those were great games for sure! I was a first hand witness to many of them at old Municipal Stadium and I have vivid memories of both the good and the bad times. It's what cemented my fandom of the Chiefs. Today's NFL is entertaining but it lacks the personal flavor that pro football in the 60's and 70's contained. Sure the NFL is trying to create that connection between the fans and the players, but it seems contrived, almost as if todays players are in public promotions because they HAVE to be there. Back then you could actually talk to them and get to know them away from the field and they were like normal family people. When one of the Chiefs was scheduled to come to our school to speak, our gymnasium was PACKED! Everybody in the school was there! Several times as a young adult I bumped into Led Dawson, Buck Buchanan, Otis Taylor, Jim Lynch, Bobby Bell, Ed Podolak and others. On every occasion they were congenial, articulate, humble, kind-hearted and patient with us. They became our heroes. When summer came around, we couldn't wait for football season. Any news about the Chiefs was enormous to us. Long Live the AFL!!!
The raiders always had some great receivers. Bilitnekov was part of those great receivers. The dolphins had Howard Twilley who was a lot like Fred. Not fast yet had great hands and knew how to run a route.
Fred is a good guy. I sat down with him one day and had a hot dog at a sports memorabilia show. We talked Raiders and he was kind enough to sign a card for me free of charge ( he would be charging later on that day ). Smoked like a freight train and cussed quite a bit---i wouldn't have it any other way !! RN4L.....
Amazing----- I became a Raider fan in 1977 as I was 12 yrs old. I remember almost ever game they put the Raiders as the under dog. But Stabler seem to find ways to win games. Ray Guy was punting hitting the top of domes. It was that mid season year I picked the Raiders as my team. They happen to win the super bowl which was awesome. Then after Stabler We ended up winning 2 more super bowls with Plunket . Its 2019 right now. We have been a crappy team for years now. DC fucks up sometimes making bad reads,or not waiting 1 second later. BUT I honestly believe, if Jon and Mike can build a team around DC, He can win at least 1 super bowl before he retires if not maybe 2 if he generates that type of personality to will players to greatness. GO RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just think, if Oakland elected in different public officials, a deal could have been made to keep them and the warriors and sooner or later the A’s. It’s so sad!
Very sad. And I'm mad at Al for not making it happen...he could've. And real estate was way cheaper in Cali then than it is now. At least something to keep the team in Cali. And I'm a fan from Texas.
When Fred was an assistant coach for the Arizona Wranglers we went tubing down the Salt River a couple of times. He was dating a gal who was a close friend of my neighbor Ann. He had heard that tubing could be a lot of fun and wanted to give it a try. The four of us went down the river on these two huge tire tubes that I had acquired while working construction. We had a big ice chest filled with beer tied in the center of one of the tubes and had a blast! At the time (1986) he wasn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame yet and we discussed that for awhile. He was very down to earth and humble. A super guy!
Fred you were one of the greatest players who step foot on a football field and one of the reasons the AFL was great and the NFL was the greatest years 1960s and 1970s in pro football
Couldn't agree more. Go Raiders, my friend
My first ever game, saw you play at the Coliseum against Cleveland 16 Nov 1975. Who knew I was watching a game loaded with future HoF'ers (and still waiting on Cliff to get in).
Wow that's awesome you experienced that. 37 year old Raider fan from Texas here. I'm very sad for the fans in Oakland that they are moving. It upsets me Al didn't make a better effort to at least keep the team in California. The real estate there in the 80s was dirt cheap compared to now. I loved what Al did but hated what he did or didn't do more. I guess I'm bitter about the move more than I am the mediocrity or worse in the past 17 years.
@@Texas_Cruiser You would have loved our 70s team they were loaded top to bottom, and flat out beasts. (We're the only team to have 3 college award's named after players from those years, Hendricks, Biletnikoff & Guy.) From the late 80s until the early 2000s we just couldn't win which was painful to watch. Leaving Oakland for L.A. was gut wrenching, but after several years they came back home. Now they will be gone for good, and and sadly an era will come to an end this Sunday.
@@kazgak I would've loved to have seen those games. I've seen as much footage of the old days as I possibly could from the glory years. Cliff Branch was my favorite. Seeing Fred here reminisce about the days of old and the guys he coached was a real treat. I fulfilled my dream and got to go to an Oakland game in 2012. Made the trip by myself and stayed in San Fran. During that time I fell in love with the bay area. I'm from Austin by the way but actually from here...not an import lol. I got to work in Milpitas for a month in 2013 but didn't get to catch a game. We lost the game I went to but I'll never forget the experience. There's an interview with Charles Woodson you can find similar to this one also that was recently posted. I didn't even want the team moving to San Antonio. To me this is like the Steelers leaving Pittsburgh...it's part of the character of that area and town. I'll make some games to Vegas but I'll be sure to note I was a fan before they moved there. I became a fan because of Bo...he was THE GUY when I was a kid and I loved the silver and black. I came to learn about the history of the team and fell in love. And although I became a fan when the team was in LA my heart with them is in Oakland. This upcoming game will be sad for me and I can only imagine how much for you. This goes beyond the game itself...people and families coming together. It was part of the culture of Oakland. I'm not an Athletics fan but will make it to a game someday and will be wearing my Raiders hat and Rickey Henderson jersey. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
@@Texas_Cruiser The best part of the game back than was they let the player's play. Snake wearing a smiley face sticker on his helmet, the defense wearing what were basically casts on their arms, clubbing opposing teams like baby seals. When the NFL became a business, and started regulating everything the players/coaches do and wear, it truly became the no fun league. They even had to get the owners to vote to let the players celebrate after touchdowns? The greedy NFL can't help itself, it is killing football one stupid rule at a time and they cannot substain building multi-billion stadiums for much longer on the taxpayers dime. Oh well I still love my Raider's, and how they treat the old Raider's as family forever.
You can find a handful of Raider 70s games on youtube. Pre 78 are hard to find. You can find both halves of Raiders Saints MNF, Stabler’s last comeback. Freddy B and Willie are retired, but a lot of great players still there.
He is why I became a raider's fan as he was from my home town of Erie PA!
The greatest of the greats. Fred Bilentnikoff with that raw talent and athleticism. Thank you for all those hard hitting years.
Freds right after all these years even in 2024 their still underdogs.Even when their better yhan that.
❤️
Fred,relentless catching and running ,after. The best
Feints and quickness made up for straight ahead speed and 4.7 isn't terrible.
The hand held watches used in 40's back in the day mean next to nothing.
What a great dude, great player, and seemingly from this interview, very good person.
Was a thrill to watch him back in grade school!
I saw Fred later in the Canadian Football League. He was still playing well, even at that age.
With Montreal
Terrific interview. Happy to see that Fred is looking good and is able to elucidate thoughts about the past that were so meaningful to many of us who supported AFL teams. I hated him when he played against the Chiefs, but always respected him as a threat whenever he'd come to Kansas City with the rest of the Raiders or the teams met in Oakland. I still have vivid memories of him catching passes from Daryl Lamonica (who should ABSOLUTELY be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame!), that frustrated us Chiefs fans at Municipal Stadium. And I will always remember how tough Fred was after he'd get hit by one or more of the Chiefs or players from other AFL teams and would get back up and act like nothing bothered him. GOD those were great days! I am one who still wishes the AFL was it's own league and the Raiders, Chargers, Broncos, Jets, Bills, Patriots, Bengals, Dolphins and Chiefs were all still the talk of pro football. Best wishes Fred. You were truly one of the greatest of all time! Respect to the Raiders and their great fans. PS. THE RAIDERS BELONG IN OAKLAND! Long Live the AFL!
I am a Vikings fan since 1968 but I feel exactly the way you do used to love watching the old AFL and I also didn't want a meager between the NFL and AFL and especially loved watching the late afternoon games with Curt Gowdy calling the game with the Oakland raiders vs. KC Chief's
And yes the Raiders definitely belong in Oakland!
@@jameshuseby6290 Thanks James. Those were great games for sure! I was a first hand witness to many of them at old Municipal Stadium and I have vivid memories of both the good and the bad times. It's what cemented my fandom of the Chiefs. Today's NFL is entertaining but it lacks the personal flavor that pro football in the 60's and 70's contained. Sure the NFL is trying to create that connection between the fans and the players, but it seems contrived, almost as if todays players are in public promotions because they HAVE to be there. Back then you could actually talk to them and get to know them away from the field and they were like normal family people. When one of the Chiefs was scheduled to come to our school to speak, our gymnasium was PACKED! Everybody in the school was there! Several times as a young adult I bumped into Led Dawson, Buck Buchanan, Otis Taylor, Jim Lynch, Bobby Bell, Ed Podolak and others. On every occasion they were congenial, articulate, humble, kind-hearted and patient with us. They became our heroes. When summer came around, we couldn't wait for football season. Any news about the Chiefs was enormous to us. Long Live the AFL!!!
Goat🙏🏼💪🏼
Freddie B!!!!!
I used to deliver his newspaper when I was 9, didn't know who he was till I got older and started to play sports!
One of the best
25 was one of the best to do it RNFL
Freddie B Raider legend RN4L
Baller
Fred was always my favorite, Mr Dependable!
Love it!
The raiders always had some great receivers. Bilitnekov was part of those great receivers. The dolphins had Howard Twilley who was a lot like Fred. Not fast yet had great hands and knew how to run a route.
A true winning Raider know this losing for years hurts greats like Freddie!
OMG, Freddy looks great!
Fred is a good guy. I sat down with him one day and had a hot dog at a sports memorabilia show. We talked Raiders and he was kind enough to sign a card for me free of charge ( he would be charging later on that day ). Smoked like a freight train and cussed quite a bit---i wouldn't have it any other way !! RN4L.....
I remember seeing Fred running around Valley Center getting ready for football season
Wow, such a legend.
Is Nicole gonna be with us in Vegas? She represents us so well. Cant lose her.
If she is franchise. She will be forwarded to Vegas.
Him and Branch are my all time favorite recievers?
Amazing----- I became a Raider fan in 1977 as I was 12 yrs old. I remember almost ever game they put the Raiders as the under dog. But Stabler seem to find ways to win games. Ray Guy was punting hitting the top of domes. It was that mid season year I picked the Raiders as my team. They happen to win the super bowl which was awesome. Then after Stabler We ended up winning 2 more super bowls with Plunket . Its 2019 right now. We have been a crappy team for years now. DC fucks up sometimes making bad reads,or not waiting 1 second later. BUT I honestly believe, if Jon and Mike can build a team around DC, He can win at least 1 super bowl before he retires if not maybe 2 if he generates that type of personality to will players to greatness. GO RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goodbye Oaktown,2 Super Bowls thanks Stabler,Plunkett,all the Raider greats,Madden and Flores!!
Just think, if Oakland elected in different public officials, a deal could have been made to keep them and the warriors and sooner or later the A’s. It’s so sad!
Very sad. And I'm mad at Al for not making it happen...he could've. And real estate was way cheaper in Cali then than it is now. At least something to keep the team in Cali. And I'm a fan from Texas.
sad to hear about number 21 go Branch?
And again OTHER RAIDER FANS JUMPING ON ME FOR NO REASON AT ALL these bots im a huge raiders fan but i get so much disrepected for no reason