(1986 Super Bowl Starter Tony Eason--My Neighbor Practically!)
Super Bowl Sunday Tidbits
(After all, QB'ing is all about quick reads!!)
*GOAT: The greatest of all time list is constantly being thrown around, and no we are not going to talk about QB's or Michael vs. Bron Bron; no, today a toast to one of the All-Time American GOAT's, the late Jackie Robinson. Mr. Robinson's 100th birthday was this week, January 31, 1919 was his birth date. A tip of the cap to you #42, one of our country's greatest of all time.
*MARCO....POLO: A's fans, and Giants too, will remember the exploits of Mr. Stick, Marco Scutaro. Marco is the only player that comes to mind that raked in the postseason for both Bay Area teams. Well, the A's are taking a flyer on former Blue Jay Marco Estrada. (Es-traduhhhh a fun name to pronounce!) The good news is Marco started 28 games for the Canadians a season ago; the bad news is he battled through some nagging injuries. If this veteran can be counted on to take the hill once every 5 days or so, this will be a real plus for the green and gold in 2019.
*GONDOLAS: Gondolas from downtown Oakland to the Waterfront where the proposed stadium will be.....hard not to take a flyer on this idea! One little sticking point for myself, crossing over the Freeway, oh I don't know, weirds me out! If the stadium and gondolas come to be in Oakland, well, I guess it will be a good problem to have!?!
*TONY EASON: The houses Champagne Tony (outside of Walnut Grove) and I (Isleton) grew up in were a mere 7 miles a part or so! Tony played at smallish Delta High School located in Clarksburg California, a Hail Mary's distance Southwest of Sacramento; before a stint at American River JC then to to Illinois University. Despite an enrollment of 300 or so, back in the 70's and early 80's, the Saints under coach Joe Miller produced more than there fair share of football studs. Tony and Bo Eason both made to show, along with lineman Dan McQuaid. There were many others who played in college...but hey it's about the quick reads today. One tidbit about Tony, Bo, and even their father. The times I ran across all three of these guys, they always treated me like a million bucks. Tony's Patriots ran into the Payton/Fridge/Ditka bears, or we may have had a great biopic movie about a "neighbor." (I am still digging Bohemian Rhapsody by the way!)
*THE ALL-ANGST BOWL: For a twist, this game might be fun to watch with Raiders and Saints fans!? As a result of the Tuck and the No-PI-here call, these two fan bases might not mind a tie? Can't argue with the success of Brady/Belichick partnership--in fact with a little luck, they may have won a couple of additional Lombardi trophies? (How many other character-perhaps lurking in the shadows--have contributed to the Pats winning ways?) This might be a great game...I envision overtime, both teams score a FG (just to add the angst of previous said fan bases), and then Brady proceeds to lead the Patriots to a dramatic 27-24 win. Cokes on the Krafts! (Coca-Cola is located in Atlanta.)
*MEMORIES: While naturally I have my parents to thank for most of my early sport and fondest memories, today I lift the glass to a couple of old-school colleagues of my father, Lincoln Chan and Frank Spingolo Sr. Mr. Chan built a large and successful farming and trucking company; along with a great deep laugh, two stellar German Shepard guard dogs, and a stogie ready to go, he was THE MAN, and a great 49er fan. Mr. Spingolo was an old-school Italian who for many years ran a prominent trucking organization in Stockton California (the home of Rickie Fowler who is struggling to hold on in Arizona today!), and held more than his fair share of Raider Tickets. His daughter Mary hosted the best tailgates in that cozy little venue the Oakland Alameda Coliseum. To both Icon's and their families, enjoy the bouncing pigskin today.
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