*(I heard the other day that 35 states were adversely affected by bad weather, 35! Well all I can say is the California living, as least weather wise, clearly appears to be golden!)
*A's fans actually earling a little love in an article in Athletics Nation. On this holiday season, not a bad little read for those not on the good side of the force! Now the baseball world is on hold to see where Japanese pitcher Masihiro Tanaka lands. After Tanaka, then the remaining pitchers will settle. My money is Tanaka lands with one of the Evil Empires, the Yankees or the Dodgers. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see Tanaka as an Angel. Garza, Santana, Arroyo, will all be hot commodities once Masihiro is in line at the bank.
*Warriors and Clippers a real rivalry? Hum, they have got the Norcal/Socal thing going? Both want to be major players, but either team has really accomplished much, yet. I like the old school rivalries when teams just do not like each other. Time will tell on the Clippers and W's, but isn't the really story in the NBA the Portland Trailblazers?
*Thus Raider fans, as you fidget miserably through yet another disastrous NFL season, perhaps hope shines through from the North. Not the North Pole, but in Portland. The Trailblazers, who too have notched their fare share of languishing in the professional sports scene wilderness ever since that fateful day in 1984 when they drafted household name Sam Bowie with the #2 pick, immediately in front of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls by the way, chose some upstart no tag wearing young baller by the name of Jordan! (I heard a great piece on the Trailblazers on National Public Radio by the way--the story noted the Blazers actually started the 4th quarter leading the Kobe & Shaq Lakers by 15 in Game 7 of the 1991 Western Conference Finals before losing; "Rip City" as they were called at the time did make the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992; at one time, things were so "tough" in Portland, the locals were calling the team the Jail Blazers. Ouch!) Just imagine, Jordan would have been teamed with Clyde Drexler--talk about a Posterlicious Backcourt Duo. Well, Raider fans, hopefully this helps with the agony of JaMarcus and the 2007 draft. While that draft was not the greatest of all times, Raider Nation can only imagine things could have been differnt if the Silver and Black had taken Adrian Peterson out of Oklahoma. Peterson would eventually be taken with the 7th pick by Minnesota. Have faith Raiders fans, have faith.
*Perhaps there will be a Gruden in Oakland after all--not John, but brother Jay. Jay is currently the Bengals Offensive Coordinator, and his name has begun to surface as a candidate when coaching jobs open up next week. It sure looks like Dennis Allen needs a win tomorrow versus Denver to keep his job. Next week will be very interesting in Raiderland.....are the winds of change blowing in Oakland? Allen and McKenzie were dealt a tough hand two years ago, but really, how much has changed? The team has played with much more discipline--but you just don't earn many bonus points for 4 wins a season. McKenzie need to hit on the first two picks of the draft in 2013 and that simply did not happen. In fairness to Coach Allen, is it pretty hard to win without a QB, and when your superstar kicker has a very average season. The Gruden Factor definitely in play very, very soon!
*I also heard yet another great little piece on public radio regarding The Stick. I didn't realize the Beatles played the Stick the same month I was born (August 1966). What I reemember most about the Stick was it was the first time I viewed AstroTurf with my own eyes--the color was bright green. Kind of cool, weird, but cool. At the time, I believe Candlestick was the only pro sports team in California (perhaps amateur too?), to sport the hard stuff? I remember thinking as an adult that the weather always seemed better for football than baseball? In fact, the enclosed Stick always seemed liked a better venue for football period. Yes, I was too young to see the Stick "open style!" The outfield bleachers were always a little weird for baseball, and ala Mark Twain, the Stick was freezing during baseball season. Additionally, the mustard was also a funky brownish color over in San Francisco. My three most vivid Candlestick Memories:
1. Tailgating with the Smith's and Flaherty's--man style!
2. Did I mention I froze my fanny off at a baseball game--Marlins I believe?
3. The NFC Championship Game versus the NY Giants back in 1991. What I remember most is the hit Marshall put on Montana. Ouch. It was like Montana went 90 degrees parallel in the air, then fell hard to the ground. Ouch infinity. Now you have to remember, yes I am on the Silver and Black Side, but Montana is and was the original "Golden Boy." He never seemed the same after that hit. I also remember the sheer eeriness of the Craig fumble. The game seemed over. All I remember was Hostetler seemed to roll right on every play. The game winning kick was surreal. My good friend from New York was with me, and I remember him making the weirdest noises--he was trying to keep his cool since we were among 49er faithful. The kick was in slow motion, end over end over end....the stadium had its collective heart in it's throat; to this day, I swear the officials under the goal post took their time; they looked at each other, nodded, then up came the arms. My friend let out an oohh, wee, but all on the down low, tough, cool New Yorker Style. (Ironically and a bit sadly, I recall 10 years later, in another playoff game in 2001--this time across the bay, that same collective eerie silence. It was the AFC Championship Game, Raiders vs. Ravens. First quarter, game tied, Ravens backed against their own end zone. Trent Dilfer connects with Shannon Sharpe on a slant, a little shake here, a miss tackle there, and Sharpe goes 95 yards. 60,000 plus screaming fans, go mute. Eerie. Against a Ravens D that day that was the fastest defense I had ever seen, that play, was literally, game, set, match. )
*Thus to the Smiths, Flahertys, and all of you wonderful but misguided joy-killing SF Giants fans (the black bat on Bat Day was cool by the way--not as cool as a Kelly Green Reggie Jackson model, but cool none the less!), I raise my glass to you.
*However, on this Holiday Season, I especially want to raise my glass high for the family of Delta Farming Icon Lincoln Chan. For many seasons and games the Chan Empire graciously shared tickets with my father right behind the 49ers bench, Section 16 Row 2 to be exact! When I used to walk guest down to these seats they always thought I was kidding--me, come on now! To the Brown Spicy Mustard, (Gulden's I believe), thanks for the memories!
Have a favorite memory of Candelstick--share it with me, I would love to hear your story!
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