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Unmasking Gorilla Rilla 
By Patrick A. Patterson - Raider Writer, With: Candy Padilla RaiderKids.net You see him every Sunday at the Coliseum. He is right there in the Black Hole cheering on the Raiders. Never a game goes by where the camera doesn’t zoom in at least once on Gorilla Rilla. The man in the gorilla suit is probably the best known and best loved symbol of the Raider Nation, and for good reason. ‘Rilla goes out of his way not only to show his love of the Raiders and the Raider Nation, but his love of people as a whole.
Behind the well known mask is Mark Acasio from Brentwood, California. Mark has been a Raider fan since his first breath. He has been to more games that anyone could count, being that he has been a season ticket holder for ages. Other than the Raiders, he loves to cook and is into comedy. His love of comedy shows through, as he loves to make people laugh whilst he is in his ‘Rilla garb. The question that most everybody wonders is who the owner of a landscape business came to adopt a persona of a Gorilla to cheer on the Silver and Black. He found the first incarnation of his ‘Rilla costume at a yard sale, and he thought it would be a good way to stay warm and dry. Little did he know, that he would go on to become one of the best known football fans in the world. In fact, in an encounter with the ultimate Raider icon, Al Davis himself, where ‘Rilla said, “Gorilla ‘Rilla loves Al Davis,” and Mr. Davis responded, “We love Gorilla ‘Rilla.”
The only drawback for Acasio when he is ‘Rilla is that hot days become sweltering in the costume, but he preservers. No matter the heat, he keeps his ‘Rilla costume intact. He does insure that he keeps himself properly hydrated. ‘Rilla has traveled the country, attending Raider away games. He has been as far as Foxboro, supporting his Raiders at the furthest venue in the NFL from Oakland. He has also traveled to Europe to entertain US military personnel in Germany. ‘Rilla has fans in singer Eddie Money, who invited ‘Rilla to sing on stage at a charity golf event, as well as retired Raider great Lester Hayes, who is ‘Rilla’s absolute all time favorite Raider.
‘Rilla’s favorite Raiders are Kirk Morrison, because of his family ties to Silver and Black, and Nnamdi Asomugha for being the hardest working player on the team. He has partied with Morrison’s family before games, and Morrison has jumped into ‘Rilla’s arms in the Black Hole.
When he is not monkeying around as Rilla, Acasio enjoys spending time with his family, and firing up the barbecue. His dream is to see the Raiders hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the 2009 season.
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