Reflections of a Raiderette

Christine Biggers speaks out on life and the Oakland Raiders

 By Sports Columnist Barbara Mason

6/24

     After just completing her rookie year as an Oakland Raiderette, Christine is really looking forward to continuing with the squad as this season fast approaches.  She could be seen guiding and coaching, if you will, many of the new girls that attended this year’s tryouts, which is indicative of her sweet and compassionate nature.  The grueling and stress-filled tryouts were difficult at best for our returning girls and no doubt a nightmare for the new hopefuls that attended this year’s tryouts.  Many of the returning Raiderettes could be seen helping and calming many of these new girls who at times seemed bewildered.  This audition is not an easy thing to do!!!!!

     Christine was able to sit down with Area Chica and share with us her life both on the field and off.  I have employed a new format, which all the girls claimed to have enjoyed and which consisted of a word or two being thrown out there for them to comment on.  This shows without a doubt the spontaneity and poise that all of these girls possess.  So, here we go!  “Reflections of a Raiderette.”

YOUR CHILDHOOD -- “It was very happy.  I was born and raised in San Jose, California.  My parents have been married for 25 years, and I have a younger sister.  My parents were always there for me while I was growing up.”

HIGH SCHOOL-- “ High School was a blast.  It was so much fun.  I had only attended private schools until I reached high school.  The first time in public school was a shock.  You could suddenly do all these things that you could never do before.  I got all sorts of freedom, and I kind of got into trouble a little bit, but I learned my lesson.  I really miss my high school years.”

COLLEGE --  “I actually went to West Valley College for business administration.  I was also interested in becoming a firefighter Paramedic and got my EMT certification.  During firefighter and agility classes, I was unfortunately injured and couldn’t finish.  This fall I hope to go to cosmetology school.”

FAMILY --  “In one word, they’re awesome.  They have been so loving and absolutely supportive of everything I do, especially this whole Raiderette thing.  They are all so proud.  They try to come out to the games or watch on TV, even though some of them are not Raider fans.  My dad and sister are 49er fans; however, they are slowly becoming Raider fans because of me.  I have my family to back me up one hundred percent as well as my boyfriend.”

FOOTBALL --  “Intense, very intense.  Ever since I was little, I’ve loved the Raiders.  There is so much adrenaline flowing.  Especially when you love a team, you want everything to succeed, and when something goes wrong, it hurts inside.  You stand by your team no matter what.  Teams have great seasons and bad seasons as well and you just have to stand by them.”

YOUR FUTURE -- “I definitely see marriage and kids, but not anytime soon.  I eventually would love to settle down and be secure, married with a couple of kids.”

FREE TIME -- “I definitely spend a lot of time with my friends.  Being on this squad, you get to meet forty-nine incredible women that are in a sense like your sisters.  They are there for you, to give advice and to help you in any way.  I have made the most incredible friendships, lasting friendship by doing this.  I have become very close to Marisa, Maria, and Kim.  It’s like we are sisters.  I also love spending time with my family and my boyfriend.  I really love to dance.”

MUSIC -- “I love all kinds of music.  The one band that would blow me away would have to be Incubus.  I actually saw them out here twice in concert, and they just blew my mind.  I am now the biggest fan!  I do love all kinds of music from Hip-Hop, to R & B, to alternative.”

PRIDE -- “I have a lot of pride in doing what I do and for the accomplishments that I have made in my life.  I think it’s good to be proud of what you have done and the obstacles that you have overcome.

JEALOUSY-- “I think that everybody has a little bit of jealousy in them.  I guess that I am jealous of things that people have accomplished that I have not accomplished yet.  That is the only time that I would be jealous, when people have succeeded in things that I am striving for and haven’t quite gotten there yet.”

LOVE -- “My family has given me nothing but love.  I am very much in love with my boyfriend, Anthony.  He is one hundred and twenty percent supportive of everything I do.”

DISLIKES --  “I don’t like negative people.  That is something that really bothers me because when you are surrounded by negative people, it tends to bring you down.”

LOSING --  “I think that everything happened for a reason and if you lose, it’s a lesson.  It gives you a chance to learn how to stand up and move on.  I think that it’s an essential part of life to have loss and to overcome it.  It makes you a stronger person.”

WINNING -- “Winnings even better.  Of course, everyone loves to win, it’s such a gratifying experience and makes you feel so good.”

TIM BROWN -- “He’s so cool!  He’s incredible, just amazing.  He’s been with the Raiders for such a long time and made such a huge impact.  We are so proud of having him be a part of the Raider Nation because he holds himself so well and represents the Raiders so well.  He goes out there and does the best job that he can.”

JERRY RICE  (the new kid on the block)-- “He’s is so down-to-earth and he’s got so much history.  He has proven so much that he is like an icon, not just to the Raiders but as a football player himself.  He’s unstoppable.  He’s out there running over these twenty and thirty year-olds who should be running over him.  Jerry and Tim definitely complement each other very well.”

GOD -- “I definitely have a lot of faith.  I believe in a higher being and believe that if you have faith that things will happen.  I also think that you have to make things happen for yourself.  If you sit back and wait for things to just happen, they will not.  I believe in hard work and making things happen yourself.”

     So there you have it.  The first of hopefully many reflections exclusives.  We all look forward to the upcoming season and the first appearance of Christine and the Raiderettes, both rookie and veteran, at Family Day this summer.  The tryouts are now history and now the hard work begins. Hours and hours of practice, becoming the best that these girls can be.  We are all proud to call them our own, our Raiderettes!

We are sincerely grateful to Mary Barnes and Al LoCasale for their continuing support.  All the interviews and photos could not have been possible without their allegiance and we are indeed appreciative.