"Like any serious tailgate party, this one started with the toss of a football.

Four youngsters raced down the parking lot about 35 yards away. The father of one of the children, wearing an Oakland Raiders jersey with the No. 52 on his back, lofted a perfect, arcing pass into the center of the group.

CC Sabathia can throw a football, too.

His son, Carsten, 8, known as Little C, can catch, as well, grabbing the ball and making a nifty move like his Raiders hero, running back Darren McFadden. Welcome to another Sunday in Raiders Nation, where the parking lot is overflowing with Silver and Black characters, football's most interesting Tailgate Show.

Yes, the big guy over there who came to O.co Coliseum for a Week 15 clash vs. the Lions in a caravan along with 23 friends and family, the one who just helped unpack and set up the party in Parking Lot B, is the former Cy Young Award winner who is 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA in his three years as a Yankee.

Sabathia is the superstar who happens to be the super fan."