"It couldn't be, it shouldn't be, but it was.

If on some level I thought the Andre Ward-Allan Green WBA super middleweight title fight would be a temporary diversion from all things Raider, I was wrong.

Unlike the last Ward fight, which took place during the season in November, there wasn't a Raider to be found at or around ringside Saturday night at Oracle Arena.

Then, with Ward having his way with Green throughout to the thunderous cheers of the home crowd, came a familiar figure.

Walking right past the press area where I sat near the aisle with columnist Monte Poole, I looked up as Ward was doing his work and saw . . . JaMarcus Russell.

He was wearing a University of Alabama red leather jacket and a new red Alabama hat. He was wearing sunglasses. Maybe Russell thought nobody would recognize him, given that he went to LSU and that sunglasses aren't necessary in an arena.

Boy, was he wrong.

The boos started growing as an usher helped Russell find his seats. A Raiders fans wearing a crisp, new Rolando McClain jersey (No. 55), stood up and began taunting Russell, asking him for his money back on his season tickets. He'll have to get in line, given that Al Davis wants $9.55 million of money he paid out to Russell as part of a grievance."