Sports at Lunch, Chargers-Raiders rivalry

The Chargers designated their 94th renewal of the Chargers-Raiders rivalry as Alumni Weekend. The Hall of Champions celebrated the long rivalry that dates back to the founding of the AFL in 1960 with a Sports at Lunch that featured retired Chargers and Raiders players on Oct. 11 at the HOC in Balboa Park.

Retired Chargers and Raiders that appeared were Earl Faison and Walt Sweeney of the Chargers and Art Powell, David Grayson and Ben Davidson of the Raiders. Powell and Grayson are San Diegans, with Powell having played at San Diego High and Grayson at Lincoln High. Davidson is a long-time San Diego resident after his playing days.

Faison and Sweeney played on the Chargers' 1963 AFL championship team for the late Sid Gillman. Grayson Davidson played on the Raiders' 1968 Super Bowl team coached by John Rauch that lost to the Green Bay Packers and Vince Lombardi.

Veteran San Diego broadcaster Bob Chandler served as the moderator for the event. Chandler covered the Chargers for local television stations in the AFL days before he joined the Padres organization in 1972.

-- Earl Faison, defensive lineman, played for the Chargers from 1961-65 before splitting his final season in 1966 with the Miami Dolphins and Chargers. He was a five-time AFL All-Star.

-- Walt Sweeney, offensive lineman, played for the Chargers from 1963-73 and two final seasons with the Washington Redskins. He was a nine-time AFL All-Star or Pro Bowl pick (after the AFL-NFL merger).

-- Art Powell, wide receiver, played four seasons with the Raiders from 1963-66 after three seasons with the New York Titans. He began ended his career in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1959 and Minnesota Vikings in 1968. The San Diego High alumnus was a four-time AFL All-Star.

-- David Grayson, defensive back, played six seasons with the Raiders from 1965-70 after two seasons after four seasons with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs. The Lincoln High alumnus was a six-time AFL All-Star.

-- Ben Davidson, a defensive end, played eight seasons for the Raiders from 1964-71 after spending one season with the Green Bay Packers and two with the Washington Redskins. He was was a four-time AFL All-Star and Pro Bowler (after the AFL-NFL merger).

Union-Tribune sportswriter Jerry Magee, whose career in San Diego predates the Chargers' arrival in town in 1961, covered the Sports at Lunch event and wrote a story.

Old rivals