Vipers mourn the death of their biggest Sponsor and Fan. posted: Wed. Dec 14th 2005.
The Oakland Viper organization as well as the entire Bay Area's heart dropped with the untimely, surprising news of the tragic death of a favorite Bay Area icon.  Longtime Sportscaster and News Anchor Doug Murphy died from smoke inhalation from a fire that broke out in his Lafayette home on Sunday evening, December 4th. Ironically, while a local sports team he frequently reported on, the Oakland Raiders, were playing the ESPN Sunday night game against the San Diego Chargers. His death caught all of the Bay Area by complete surprise, and was somewhat surreal as the live footage from his smoldering house was broadcast on the evening news Click for actual channel 5 report
A Memorial from the Viper owner - Mark Marcantonio Where do I start?  The Vipers personally lost their biggest fan and supporter, but more important, upsetting, and depressing, I lost a very Good Friend. Doug Murphy was a REAL GUY, down to earth and humble.  When I met Doug, about 5 years ago, I was sitting with my fiancée Tonya Irving, nicknamed by the players as Ms.Viper, at a local Lafayette restaurant on a Saturday night after a Viper home game, during Karaoke night. I heard from around the other side of the place, Frank Sinatra. No I didn't hear the jukebox playing OL BLUE EYES, I heard live in person, the man himself, the legend, coming from the speakers, which were hooked up, to a mic, which was hooked up to the karaoke amp. Well it took a second to realize that it wasn't the jukebox playing, and instantly I was getting up to walk to the other side of the place and see just what was I hearing.
	Well to my complete astonishment, there stood OL BLUE EYES himself - DOUG MURPHY, singing away at a Frank Sinatra song, and man could he blow. I have never heard anyone sound EXACTLY like Frank Sinatra from voice to carry of the tones from word to word and his timing in the song was impeccable. I swear if you closed your eyes, you were transferred back 40 years ago to a casino in Vegas, watching the rat pack in front of your very ears. It was nothing less than amazing. Well this boy was raised on those classics from my Nonno and Nonna, so I was in awe and impressed to say the least. That was the beginning of a great friendship.
After a compliment on his superb singing ability, I left it at that, and continued about my night. A short time later Doug approached us noticing my Viper jacket and hat, and inquired on what exactly the Oakland Vipers was. After a long conversation with Tonya and I about the team, the league and the goal of pushing local talented athletes who hadn't attended college, into some type of free college education, he was excited and committed. After that first night, We had the privilege of seeing him many more times, but never did I approach him on his local TV connections, but more he always approached us on Saturday nights after our games asking how we did, did we win, and that he had checked out our website.   Well from that point forward we were friends, and it seemed that for the next year or so, every time we saw each other, football was the last thing we talked about. His Children was ALWAYS his number one topic of choice. HE LOVES HIS CHILDREN. He has a Son (I believe around 14), and a Daughter (around 9). We also talked about our heritage, he being Irish and I being Italian, and my fiancée Tonya being Irish/Scottish. I was always double-teamed by the two of them, but my Italian ego was big enough to handle its own. Someone once asked me if we were related, and I asked why, and was told because he doesn't do too much socializing, until you two walk in, then he goes straight over to you and you guys talk all night. I always felt an honor with that comment, and a pride to have him as a friend.
One day about two years later, We walked in after a game, and Doug came up and said "Hey Mark, where's the info packet on your team, I am going to put you on the channel 5 news sports with Rick Quan", well I was speechless, and ran to my car to get a sponsor package and a game program for him. The next day Rick Quan called and said "Doug says you have a great thing going in Oakland, and we want to report on it, we will be at your practice facility Monday at 12 noon", I had to laugh, I said" we aren't the Raiders, we don't have a practice facility, we are all at work on Monday at noon".
I told him we practice at a field on Wednesday nights and they said they would be there. WOW the showed up with full gear and stayed for 2 hours filming and interviewing several players and coaches. The following week we were on channel 5-news primetime right after the Raiders and Niners report. It was something I couldn't put a price on since no other team had ever had that kind of press on our level of minor league football.  I am forever grateful for Doug's generosity to the Vipers and my goal of elevating the team to a true AAA Minor League Level, while becoming a vehicle for local community service.  The conversations I remember most with my friend Doug, were not football, as a matter of fact, they were not sports related at all, but about life and its twists and turns, and the quality of being a man with commitment and passion and a drive to do something to make it better for someone who is less fortunate. We talked about how those things are the real riches in life and many people have long lives never to receive that fulfillment of the soul. We had some very special conversation for hours on end about what makes a man a man, and what makes life quality, and I was attentive to his words. He was a man with passion for the little things, that most people just pass over day to day, the things that are there for all of us to absorb and encompass to make us also have a rich, fulfilling life from the inside out, not from the outside in.  Many times I would come to him depressed about the team, all the hard work, money spent, or maybe not winning a game, which since I was a player at this level for 15 years and a QB for the Vipers for 7, so winning means all to me. He made me realize that the game isn't as important as the relationships I have developed with players who became friends, and parents of players who found me on game day to thank me for all my, what I thought was unnoticed hard work, giving their son a chance to play and focus on football and family and not bad ways and the street.    *true stories*   One parent said that was exactly where her son was headed, until the Vipers gave him a chance and believed in him (he had very little football experience prior to us), now she said "he's off the streets, and talks Vipers all day, works and goes to the gym".   Or the former player one time at practice who said to me, "Hey coach, you see that player over there", I said "yes", he said. "You know we are both 26", I said "Yes", and then he said, " do you know he's from West Oakland, and I am from East Oakland", I again said "Yes", and then he said "10 years ago when we were both 16 and stupid, do you know we used to drive around at night looking for each other to shoot each other, for what now I don't even know, but because of the Vipers, we are now great friends and hang out all the time, and our kids are also great friends", and to that I replied "If I never experience the pleasure of winning the championship with the Vipers, that means more to me than any ring I could wear. That is winning the championship to me"  These things made me realize thru conversations with Doug that there is a more important goal here, and lives are at stake, and every year that the Vipers stay in existence we are the champions whether we make it to that final game of the year or not.  I will really miss that man, and there is a hole in my heart, that cant be replaced, I lost a good friend, and a mentor, and had a lot more questions to ask him, and believe me, we talk everyday. The one thing I will miss that never transpired - He was so anxious and excited when he asked me if he could be the game day announcer at this years home games, and when I said of course, he was the one in disbelief, and speechless. Like I would say no. It would be my honor.  Tonya and I cried tears of sadness when we heard the bad news and now as I write this. We cry tears of joy to have met you in our lifetime, and have crossed paths with such an incredible soul.  Thank you for believing in me, and the Oakland Vipers.   Doug, my friend, we will truly miss you.  Mark Marcantonio & Tonya Irving  Oakland Vipers  Keeper of the Gridiron - Builders of the Community
Hitline - 925-252-0181, EMAIL oaklandvipers@yahoo.com

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