The (then Oakland) Raiders didn’t get to hoist any trophies in 2019, but at least they’re in currently the running for one, an Emmy out of all the possibilities.
Head coach Jon Gruden had plenty of experience as a media personality prior to rejoining the Raiders, but who would’ve thought an Emmy was in the Silver and Black’s future.
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The news was made official via the team’s official website yesterday.
During Thursday’s Emmy Award nominations, “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Oakland Raiders” received a nod for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary. It was one of 16 HBO received for the upcoming 41st Annual Sports Emmy Awards.
Was it worth it for the Raiders?
Despite how the season went for Gruden, it cannot be denied that the appearance on HBO helped the team get exposure. Did it translate to wins? No not at all. But it did two things: First, it introduced the Silver and Black’s squad to worldwide audience via HBO, and that’s good for everyone involved. For the players, it translated to a broader demographic, which helps their individual brands. Johnathan Abram, case in point, became a household name as one of the Raiders first round picks last year.
Big picture, it also did a lot for the Raiders as a brand. This was extremely important as the team prepares for their inaugural season in Las Vegas. In other words, it was good PR for a team in the midst of a relocation that left a bad taste in lots of people’s mouths, in particular, the Bay Area.
Finally, and probably more importantly, fans got an up close and personal look at the team with Gruden at the helm. The season was a struggle but at least, we got some great moments like comedian Frank Caliendo imitating Gruden.
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