21. cartman69 - Jan. 1, 1999 - 2:06 PM PT
phillipdavid:
I've heard the same stat, and that sounds about right. But look at this year's non-division games that the Niners won: Jets - barely won in OT. Colts - refs gave 'em the game. Lions - did a good job in shutting down Sanders, but we're talking about the Lions. Redskins - same as Lions. Giants - same thing.
It *is* a hallmark of a good team to be able to put away a bad team; the Raiders have inadvertently proven that this season, by losing to the lowly Ravens & Redskins. So the Niners have earned their good rep to a certain extent. But they seem to get more than their share of easy schedules year in and year out.
22. jkuzmak - Jan. 1, 1999 - 2:24 PM PT
I like sports. I hope to coach a high-school level soccer team next fall, but I also like Christopher Lasch's treatment of sports in America in THE CULTURE OF NARCISSISM. Much negative stuff. As to the typical sports fan, (and this is me talking), I think he likes to talk about sports because it is out there in front of him and he is able to make a pronouncement upon it.....easy stuff. We all see precisely the same thing, the problem of perspective and perception play little role in the analysis. One gets to expound upon the obvious. Throw the finances of professional atheletics into the mix and one is off for a long, but closed, dissertation on the obvious..
23. arkymalarky - Jan. 1, 1999 - 2:26 PM PT
What a disappointment. I didn't even watch the end of the game. I was so looking forward to making a New Year's Hawg Call in the new sports thread!
24. patsyrolph - Jan. 1, 1999 - 2:31 PM PT
There, there Arky; they put up a good fight so go ahead and make a hawg call.
25. arkymalarky - Jan. 1, 1999 - 2:36 PM PT
Thanks, Patsy!
You're right. I think I need to get it out of my system.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PIG SOOIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much better.
Y'all just wait 'til next year!
26. Fraaank9 - Jan. 1, 1999 - 3:29 PM PT
Here is a sprinkle of some of the 99 things some of the Sports' writers from the local rag ( San Diego Union-Tribune ) would like to see in '99 from today's Sports page.
By the way --- HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL !!! ( I also hope none of my fellow Fraygrants are being blinded by their monitors as they read this...Too much drinking will do that ya know )
1.Peace,happiness,and goodwill to mankind throughout the year.
* Kevin Brown goes 8-20 with a 6.44 ERA for the Dodgers.
* Student-athletes in that order.
* A salad bar opens in Poway across the street from the (Tony) Gywnn residence.
* No yacht races in 90-knot winds with 35 foot seas.Get a clue.Some of the boats are only 28 feet long.You do the math.
* Fewer Little League moms and gymnastics dads ( Listening Mr.Moceanu? )
* Rupert Murdoch files for bankruptcy.
* The BCS drops the "C" from its title so that college football fans get a true measure of what it stands for.
* Two small-market teams in the World Series.
* A college basketball player without a tattoo on his shoulder.
* An athlete praises God after he has had a bad game.
* San Diego products Terrell Davis and Ricky Williams battle it out for the NFL rushing title.
* A free agent who signs a huge contract and says in the news conference " Yeah, the only reason I signed was for the money".
* A major sporting event where the starting time is not beholden to television.
* Dennis Rodman runs out of tattoo space.
* Wooden bats in college baseball.
* A flat-bellied sportswriter.
* The Dodgers finish in last place in the NL West,just behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.
* Everyone in the International Olympic Committee is bribed to step down.
* Mike Tyson loses.
* Mike Tyson loses again.
27. cartman69 - Jan. 1, 1999 - 3:34 PM PT
Oops..I only caught the first half. Did Michigan slap Arkansas around or what?
BTW, pd, I agree wrt the Falcons. Chandler is a fair-to-middling QB, nothing spectacular, but he's been reliable and solid. Anderson and the defense are doing great, and that should be enough to get them to Minnesota anyway. Reeves should probably get Coach of the Year, as the Falcons really don't have much of an offense, aside from Anderson and Terance Mathis. But they don't make mistakes, and that's made them look even better.
It's kinda nice to see some different teams in the playoff hunt for a change.
28. enochsmoky - Jan. 1, 1999 - 8:09 PM PT
Once Ohio St. finishes mopping up Texas A & M, the Big Ten will be 5-0 for the bowl season. All those overpaid football analysts have been saying that the Big Ten is weak and overrated. I think not! The highlight of the day was Michigan running over Arkansas in the last quarter of their game. The only thing that would have made the day better would be if Fat Boy Willie Clinton was playing noseguard for his alma mater. Wolverine cleat marks on his face may help cover up the bruise Hillary supposedly inflicted on him last week.
29. phillipdavid - Jan. 1, 1999 - 8:28 PM PT
Ohio St is looking like the best team in the country!
30. alistairconnor - Jan. 2, 1999 - 3:11 AM PT
MEMO TO MARJORIBANKS...
Come out of the woodwork, you worm, and take your thrashing like a man. Yes, the international sporting event of the year is taking place... The test cricket series between New Zealand and India. The first test was cancelled due to rain; NZ won the second by four wickets; and are in a strong position after the first day of the third and final test, at 283 for five wickets.
If Marj chooses not to comment on all this... well, we'll understand.
Worm.
Never mind, there's the one day series still to come.
31. alistairconnor - Jan. 2, 1999 - 3:22 AM PT
Other sporting event of the year: The arrival of the "Around Alone" solo round-the-world yacht race in Auckland, the halfway point of the race. Giovanni Soldini won the leg handsomely; his three pursuers have all run into obstacles on the final run down the north-east coast of New Zealand. Overall race leader Mike Golding hit a sandbank and sustained major damage; another boat hit a submerged container; and Isabelle Autissier hit a whale this afternoon. The last two times she sailed this race, she had to abandon in the southern ocean, and she had a close call this time too. If she finishes this leg second, she will be overall race leader. She is expected to finish tomorrow afternoon, I think I'll take my daughters to see her boat, as she is an excellent role model for little French girls.
32. FreeToChoose - Jan. 2, 1999 - 8:25 AM PT
Phillipdavid
Actually, I watched part of that game just to see if they deserved to be number one.
Sorry, I don't agree. They even score in the second half. They needed to make a much stronger statement to deserve number one.
33. FreeToChoose - Jan. 2, 1999 - 8:25 AM PT
They "didn't" even...
34. phillipdavid - Jan. 2, 1999 - 9:17 AM PT
FTC,
They won the game in the first half. The Aggies came out all fired up and scored right away, then the Buckeyes put them in their place, totally dominated them for the next quater and a half, running through, around, and over them, and hitting medium range passes at will, and totally frustrating their offense.
Watching that game, you would have to agree with what Joe Paterno said about them -- they have the best collection of skill players he has ever seen. They have a good qb, excellent running backs, top recievers, a formidible offensive line, the best cornerbacks in the country, very good linebackers, and very good defensive lineman (all nine of them).
You watch Tenn and Florida St and tell me if you think either one of those teams could beat Ohio St. Also consider the apparent strength of conferences. Big Ten is 5-0, while the SEC has a losing record in bowl games. Arkansas, for example, which would have beat Tenn except for a fluke fumble, was beaten handily by Michigan, and Michigan was beaten handily by Ohio St, as were the other victorious Big Ten bowl teams.
Their one weakness though is coaching, especially offensive coordinater. The play calling ws atrocious. But it has always been so on John Cooper teams.
35. Jonesatlaw - Jan. 2, 1999 - 4:52 PM PT
As Corrhusker Alum and fan, I have to put my 2 cents in for Tennesee. They had the makings of a great team last year, and seem to have done remarkably well with Tee Martin. Bobby Bowden is not easily outcoached though, and FSU has a solid team.
My prejudice is this. Teams that have played Nebraska well have gone on to considerable success. Florida State was put on the map with an upset of Nebraska in the early 80s. Miami won their first championship over the '83 "scoring explosion." Tennesse learned a great deal from their experience against NU last year. They have the stuff to win the big one.
Perhaps it's not just Nebraska, but playing the best has a positive net effect over the long run. Are you listening K-State?
36. OhioSTOPAS - Jan. 3, 1999 - 9:11 AM PT
I've said this before, but that Philipdavid does know his football!!
37. phillipdavid - Jan. 3, 1999 - 9:30 AM PT
You are very kind OhioSTOPAS, but just don't bet on any picks I make -- I have been known as an almost perfect reverse baraometer.
I just read the 49ers signed Charles Haley to help put pressure on Farve. Nothing would make me happier if he can pull it off.
38. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 4:33 PM PT
If anyone had any doubts about whether or not instant replay should be brought back, the end of today's SF-GB game provided a perfect example of why it should be. 45 seconds left, SF trailing 27-23, Rice catches the ball -- and fumbles it. Except of course, this is Candlestick, so Rice does not fumble, as far as the refs are concerned. Three plays later, Niners score a TD and win.
That's at least two games this year that the refs have handed to the Niners. I sincerely hope Eddie DeBartolo is sharing his riverboat gambling profits with them.
39. CalGal - Jan. 3, 1999 - 4:56 PM PT
They didn't mention it on local coverage, but I watched the wrap-up on ESPN. It wasn't even close. How could it not be a fumble? It was Rice's only catch of the game, too, if I understand the babble that always goes on over the replays.
However. Hell of a game, from what I watched. (Spawn is watching it at his father's, or I would have been subjected to every minute of it).
40. CalGal - Jan. 3, 1999 - 4:59 PM PT
And thanks for mentioning it, because I turned on ESPN to watch the coverage and saw one of those hysterical SportsCenter commercials.
"Charles Barkeley doesn't want to be a role model? I do. I'll even be a role model to *his* kids."
And the other announcer in the gym, talking about the screw ups--"It was the teleprompter!" and blaming it on the cheap management or Soviet technology or something.
41. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:06 PM PT
Cal:
Yes, it was Rice's only catch of the game, and it enabled him to tie yet another meaningless record (most consecutive post-season games with a reception).
It was a good game though, despite the Packers' sudden collapse on both defense and offense. There's just been an amazing amount of bad officiating this year. Yesterday's TD by Andre Reed of Buffalo (which was called as down at the 1) is yet another example.
You're absolutely right about those ESPN commercials. Best on TV, bar none.
42. Fraaank9 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:06 PM PT
Cartman69,
What surprised me was how the Fox cameras and mouthpieces didn't make it an issue out of that play.I waited for several replays of it and nothing followed.Unless I'm mistaken,the fumble was not really an issue to them until the game was over.
I hope other networks tonight make it more of an issue in their coverage of this game.Green Bay was definitely robbed.
Yep, Rice was definitely afforded the Jordan treatment.
Hey Eddie! The cards have been cut, ante up !
43. CalGal - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:16 PM PT
Fraaaaaank, Cart:
Yes, it was the Fox coverage I watched that didn't even mention it. I thought it was local; I can never tell the difference.
I am odd in that I prefer watching only 2-3 games a year and either reading or watching the highlights of the rest of them. The pressure gets to me. But this game looked awesome.
As for the bad call--yes, I've read that this year has been horrendous for that sort of thing. But the ESPN folks didn't mention it *after* they showed it, so it didn't seem as if they thought it was a major factor in the game.
Spawn informed me today that Rice is getting old and won't be playing much longer?
44. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:24 PM PT
Frank:
Actually, Fox replayed it in slo-mo, and both Madden and Summerall pointed out how obvious of a fumble it was.
The Niners have ALWAYS gotten the Jordan treatment at home. It's just more apparent this year, as the officiating has gotten radically worse. Last year's visit by the Chargers to SF was a good example. They were all over Metcalf on a drive, and didn't get called for PI. They NEVER get called for PI, unless it's painfully blatant, like Pope was today.
Do you recall Deion Sanders manhandling Michael Irvin in the 1994 NFC Championship Game? Not only was he not called, but the *Cowboys* got penalized 15 yards when Switzer went on the field to berate the refs. I don't know if Eddie D has a collection of pictures of refs in compromising positions or what, but it's Christmas almost every week for him during football season.
Green Bay played awful today, but you're right. They were robbed. Oh well. I don't think either SF or GB can beat Atlanta or Minnesota, so it may be a moot point.
45. Fraaank9 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:29 PM PT
Cal,
Replay is needed without question.In San Francisco's case,they have been awarded two games this year ( the other being the game with Indy) because of terrible officiating.Something has got to come from all of this.
Todays game is a lot faster than previous eras, and the game, fans, players, and organizations warrant that we move beyond some middle-aged full time dairy farmers making terrible calls that ultimately end up costing some team their rightful spot in the standings.
I never saw what was wrong with the old system,except for the fact that it took them forever to come to a decision on the obvious. It's time to bring it back,and bring it back with a vengence!
Spawn is right. Althought Rice is a tremendous athlete, Father Time has made him a shell of his former self.
46. Fraaank9 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:35 PM PT
Cartman,
Yes,I remember the 1994 NFC Championship and you are absolutely right about what the 49ers got away with.
Just what is it that the 49ers have ? Does Bartalo have a seat on some officiating board or...?
The same was infered about Don Shula when he coached the Dolphins.It was written that he served on some committee overseeing officials...His Dolphins were notorious for holding,but rarely called on it.
47. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:39 PM PT
Rice dropped a LOT of passes this year, something he's never done before. His selection to the Pro Bowl was a joke, especially when compared to Terrell Owens' stellar performance this year (though not today).
Don't be too surprised if Rice gets traded, a la Joe Montana. He may have two or even three seasons left, but he's not near what he used to be. His best talent anymore seems to be sweating the refs for a PI flag after being jammed 3 yards off the line.
48. phillipdavid - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:41 PM PT
cartman69,
That fumble would not have been reveresed with instant replay because the whistle had blown. And it was a close call, the kind of call that gets missed 5 times a game.
The 49ers had that call coming though since the Pack has benefited from bad calls in games against the niners in the past. What goes around, comes around.
The Pack didn't have a sudden colapse in offense or defense. They did what they wanted to do: had good balance, easy passing in the first half when the niners played a loose zone, hit the long ball when they tried to at the end, Levens had over a hundred yards, Farve connected on the long passes and medium passes, and even the little dump-off passes to the backs (when the coverage downfield was good) were very effective. Defensively, they held Young to under two hundred yards passing, created turnovers, stuffed every screen attempt and didn't let the little dump offs amount to anything, and their coverage downfield was excellent. They wanted to do exactly what the 49ers wanted to do, and they did it better. Hearst's ability to break a few runs and to earn first downs was what won the game for the niners -- exactly the ingredient the niners have been missing the last few years. Other than that, the Pack had them pretty much stuffed.
Haley was a good move. He was able to put a little token pressure on Farve. Hearst looks to be injured again, so the niners will miss him big time next week. Kind of funy how they must play on Saturday instead of Sunday -- disadvantage of being a wildcard team I guess.
Only a fluke or some really bad calls will let the niners win next week, imo.
49. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:49 PM PT
pd:
The Packers did indeed collapse on offense and defense today. Favre's timing and throws were erratic, the running game got stuffed way too often, and they turned over the ball far more than they ever had before against SF. The pass D was OK, but the run D was pathetic; I haven't seen such piss-poor tackling since the '97 Raiders.
I keep hearing, about bad calls, that they "would not have been reveresed with instant replay because the whistle had blown". Well, then they blew the whistle too early, because he *did* fumble the ball. The outcome of the game should not come down to the erratic play-calling of the refs.
I see *far* more questionable calls favor the Niners, than go against them, especially at home. It's not even close to being close.
That's OK. I hear Seifert officially is coaching the Panthers next year. Shit is about to happen.
50. Fraaank9 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:49 PM PT
Cartman,
I hope he retires this year.He has given football all he could and there comes a time to look in the mirror and say it's time for another frontier.Continuing to play beyond this year will definitely tarnish what has been a spectacular career.
Football shouldn't turn into Boxing,where so many have not known when it was time to hang the gloves up -- for good.
51. phillipdavid - Jan. 3, 1999 - 5:51 PM PT
This stuff about how the niners never get called is just wrong.
True, they have benefitted from a couple of bad calls (or no-calls) this year, but they have historically suffered from bad calls just like everybody else. I remember plenty of bad calls that cost them games, even bad calls that cost them a trip to the superbow -- remember how the invisible holding call on Ronnie Lott away from the play allowed the Redskins to play superbowl? (I always thought the Raiders total demolition of the Redskins that game was poetic justice because everybody in the country knew the Redskins didn't belong in that game).
The replays of today's game showed an obvious pass interference that was not called against the Packers that cost the niners a drive. So cartman69 and Fraaank, you two are going a little overboard, imo.
52. Fraaank9 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 6:01 PM PT
PD,
I am not anti-Niner.Only the examples mentioned so far have been dead on.
If the whistle was blown,why was it blown so soon...It makes me wonder.
I didn't get to see the whole game,but I came home just in time to see the play in question,and I believe,the Packers were robbed.
The real 49ers will be displayed when they take on either the Falcons or Vikings.I don't think they are gonna be able to hang.Both of those teams are playing inspiring football,and I believe today's Niner game possibly saw them "shoot their wad">
53. phillipdavid - Jan. 3, 1999 - 6:10 PM PT
"The Packers did indeed collapse on offense and defense
today. Favre's timing and throws were erratic, the running
game got stuffed way too often, and they turned over the
ball far more than they ever had before against SF."
The Packers didn't collapse, cartman69. You have said that twice now, but it isn't true. They moved the ball up and down the field, converted lots of third down plays, ran succesfully on third and short and fourth and short, hit long bombs, successfuil screeen passes, etc. Erratic throws by Farve? I saw a couple low throws, passes that had to be thrown low because of good coversage. But I saw mostly good passes out of Farve, especially in the first half. They took what the niners made available to them, and in the final analysis, they took quite a bit. Dorsey Levins ran for over a hundred yards too. Watching Levins run for over a hundred and Farve hitting numerous medium range passes, and a long bomb when it counted most, hardly amounts to "collapsed."
The fumbled punt return didn't even hurt them *because* they played such good defense, and their *good defense* stuffed the niners a couple of times and took the ball away from them. They held Young to under 200 yards -- hardly a "colapse."
54. phillipdavid - Jan. 3, 1999 - 6:16 PM PT
Actually, Fraaank, the real 49ers were on display today. They gave everything they had, and even (for the first time in memeory) had a decent game plan. But I agree that they don't have enough to beat either Atlanta or Minnesota.
55. jexster - Jan. 3, 1999 - 6:43 PM PT
OK I wanna eat some CHEESE!!!!
Watch out for the Niners! Count us out at your peril. Mooch had the boys sky high and T. Owens just took us higher.
Besides, TO said that it was Jesus's doing. Let's blast Atlanta and on to the pretenders from the Icy North!
Go Niners! Onward Christian soldiers!
56. OhioSTOPAS - Jan. 3, 1999 - 6:45 PM PT
cartman69 (re Message #41): Yeah, Reed was in the end zone. And in the third quarter of the Jacksonville-New England game, Ben Coates looked to be in the end zone on a similar play, but the ball was placed six inches short (N.E. did get a touchdown a couple of plays later).
Does anyone else think referees might be thinking of Vinnie Testaverde's phantom touchdown a few weeks ago, and are therefore reluctant to raise their hands unless there's no doubt? From the Reed and Coates plays, it looks like the refs were overcompensating, afraid of mistakenly awarding "Testaverde II".
57. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 7:06 PM PT
Ohio:
Good point. The refs are probably a bit gun-shy on calling TDs right about now. (BTW, I think Coates actually *was* a bit short of the goal line. His knee had already hit the ground before he started twisting.)
Jex:
Enjoy it while it lasts. See you in Atlanta. I doubt God is *that* much of a Whiner fan, though it would explain the officiating.
58. jexster - Jan. 3, 1999 - 7:53 PM PT
Dynasties come, dynasties go, but the Niners just keep keepin on:
"Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- Reggie White didn't watch his career come to an end Sunday at 3Com Park.
He heard it.
White's view of the end zone was blocked on Steve
Young's 25-yard strike to Terrell Owens with three
seconds left that helped the San Francisco 49ers sink
the Green Bay Packers 30-27.
"I heard the roar," White said. "And I knew it was
over."
And maybe not just his magnificent career had ended,
either.
Perhaps it was the sound of an era ending, the
heavy-hearted pitch of a last hurrah for the green and
gold.
59. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 7:58 PM PT
Don't kid yourself, Jex. You're watching the end of TWO dynasties. (Three, if you want to count the Cowboys).
60. cartman69 - Jan. 3, 1999 - 8:19 PM PT
What's really scary about today's 49er win, if the SF media are correct, is that Steve Mariucci apparently dodged a bullet by beating the Packers. That's right, folks, Mariucci entered today's game with a 26-8 coaching record, and is 16-0 at home in the regular season. He's got coaching stats that would be the envy of most others, and certainly good enough to grant job security anywhere else in the NFL's cities.
But not in San Francisco. The letters in the sports section of the SF Chronicle, each and every Saturday, are filled with nasty, angry screeds from Niner fans indignant at one of the two Steves (Young, who is a cinch for the Hall of Fame, or Mariucci, who has done great with a diminished, aging team).
Being a longtime Raider fan, I've heard for years that we're down there with Jets fans -- violent, angry, obnoxious. Bullshit. The Raiders haven't put together a good season in years, and there's nowhere near the vitriol that Niners fans express towards their own team.
*Note-- I'm talking about the fans that write in to the paper, NOT the fans here in the Fray. Phillipdavid and Jexster definitely don't fall into that category, as far as I've seen. But the amount of shit that gets aimed at Young and Mariucci, who have performed at consistently high levels, is absolutely shameful.
61. BobaFett - Jan. 4, 1999 - 4:32 AM PT
1) The Packers, while having put together a nice run, have not been successful long enough to be considered a "dynasty." The Niners and 'Boys were dynasties; the Packers are/were just a "normal" great team, like the early-eighties Redskins. They were mediocre, then they were good, then they were great for one season, then they were merely good again.
2) Steve Young has been unfairly maligned, but then again he did succeed Joe Montana. But Mariucci-- I don't know. He's a good coach, but if Holmgren is available....
62. Ronski - Jan. 4, 1999 - 7:22 AM PT
jexster,
Actually, if I remember correctly TO said it was God's doing, not Jesus's, and indeed it may have been.
Perhaps the Almighty couldn't stomach Reggie White being rewarded with a team win after his descent into homophobic bigotry in the name of Christ.
Just a thought.
63. TabouliJones - Jan. 4, 1999 - 7:42 AM PT
Perhaps there is a legal-eagle type lurking in this thread who can answer a question that has been nagging me for some time. My question is this. How come you never hear of any professional athlete being sued for breach of contract when he holds out during the lifetime of a contract? I am thinking mostly of NHL players such as Pavel Bure, Petr Nedved, Sergei Federov etc., although I am certain that analogous situations exist in other leagues. Is this reluctance to sue under valid contracts a matter of owner policy, does it have something to do with the way pro contracts are structured, or is it related to problems in assessing damages?
64. PsychProf - Jan. 4, 1999 - 8:49 AM PT
PD...Keto-steroids(androgen) can sometimes mimic corticosteroids...and different med's contain different steroids...muscles and tennis? A second/third test is needed...
65. trouserpilot - Jan. 4, 1999 - 9:15 AM PT
All this NFL talk and only one reference to the Cowboys.
Go Cowboys!!
Hee heehee heeheehee hee heehee hee heeheehee heehee hee heeheehee hee heeheehee heehee hee heeheehee heehee heeheehee heeheehee heehee hee heehee heeheehee heeheehee heehee heeheeheehee heehee hee heeheehee heehee heeheehee hee heeheehee heehee heehee ....
Signed,
A long-suffering Arizonan
66. jexster - Jan. 4, 1999 - 10:22 AM PT
Yeah Cart I guess you are right. The Dynasty of the Dirty Bird for the next 15 years.
Squawk!!!!
Envious fans from other pretenders have been singing your tired tune since 1981.
67. jexster - Jan. 4, 1999 - 10:25 AM PT
The Pitiful Pretenders and other Dirty Birds of the last 20 years:
- Washington Redskins
- Dallas Cowboys
- Chicago Bears
- New York Giants
- Green Bay Packers
Where are they now? I know where SF will be next week - what is it 10 years in a row???
68. JaDeGoLd - Jan. 4, 1999 - 10:27 AM PT
Go ahead and gloat, jex. The Niners have about 1 year left before Young, Rice, etc are put out to pasture.
69. PsychProf - Jan. 4, 1999 - 10:43 AM PT
For AC...
70. Jenerator - Jan. 4, 1999 - 11:01 AM PT
I do not want to hear anything about the Cowboys, I am still in mourning.
71. Fraaank9 - Jan. 4, 1999 - 11:06 AM PT
Hi Jen,
I was about to sign off for awhile,and up popped your pretty handle.My brother-in-law is from San Antonio and he is a big Cowboy fan,so he and his sons (my traitor nephews) are also in mourning if that is any consolation.
Incidently, Happy New Year !
72. Jenerator - Jan. 4, 1999 - 11:12 AM PT
Frank,
Will you email me? Purdy please.
sapient99@hotmail.com
Happy New Year to you too!;-)
73. BobaFett - Jan. 4, 1999 - 11:56 AM PT
The Niners are one of the most successful organizations in professional sports, ever. Up there with the Celtics and Lakers and Yankess. Anyone who says different is just silly.
For years they were either in the Super Bowl or at least made it to the NFC Championship game.
However, there is no heir apparent to Young, and they just aren't as good as they used to be. And next year they're facing a salary-cap overage of twenty million dollars. That's a problem.
74. BobaFett - Jan. 4, 1999 - 12:24 PM PT
Does anybody know the rules for the Cleveland expansion draft? How many picks can they take from the draft and other teams? How many players can a team protect? I assume there's a limit on how many players they can steal from the same team, so one or two teams don't get raided.
75. cartman69 - Jan. 4, 1999 - 1:02 PM PT
Boba:
I remember when the Panthers and Jaguars came into the NFL, each existing team had to leave three players unprotected for the expansion teams' talent pool. And each team got two picks at the beginning of the first three rounds. But I haven't heard if they'll do it the same way for Cleveland (or for the LA franchise in 2000).
trouserpilot:
I forgot, congrats to the AZ Cards. Excellent game Saturday. Plummer is awesome, and hopefully they can make it close in Minnesota.
76. trouserpilot - Jan. 4, 1999 - 1:05 PM PT
cart
Thanks. Plummer has been a pleasant surprise, living up to the local hype. Let's see if he lives up to that new contract.
jenerator
COWBOYS!!! Haw hee hee hehehehehe!
77. Jenerator - Jan. 4, 1999 - 1:12 PM PT
Bully.
78. Raskolnikov - Jan. 4, 1999 - 1:20 PM PT
Sorry, I have to vent:
The Packers were robbed! Rice Fumbled! Owens touchdown shouldn't have happened!
Now, I am fully aware that the Pack hasn't shown that they were capable of making it to the Superbowl this year, but dammit, I wish they would have gotten booted out of the playoffs on a defeat which was unquestionably earned.
79. Raskolnikov - Jan. 4, 1999 - 1:20 PM PT
Bring back the instant replay rule!
80. cartman69 - Jan. 4, 1999 - 1:29 PM PT
Rask:
That's the only consolation -- neither the Niners nor the Packers can beat Atlanta or Minnesota, imho. Dirty Birdz by 10.
81. phillipdavid - Jan. 4, 1999 - 4:45 PM PT
cartman69,
re 60
I have not been a Marriuchi fan because I can't remember seeing a good game plan from him -- until yesterday. But I know that the 49ers have been blesssed with exceptional offensive coordinators in the past (Holmgren, Shannahan, etc) and it is not Marriuchi's fault they don't have an exceptional one now.
Superb play calling has historically ben the hallmark of 49er teams. That is what allowed Bill Walsh's teams to succeed, and it is what won the big games for the 49ers under Seifert. And that is exactly what has been missing under Marriuchi. Holmgren and Shannahan have taken their gifts to Green Bay and Denver and the discrepency between the good/excellent play calling and game plans there and the so-so/mediocre play calling/game plans of the 49ers has been painfully obvious.
I suspect that is at the root of the 49er fan's vitriol.
82. joy991 - Jan. 4, 1999 - 6:48 PM PT
With Tennessee and Florida State playing for the number one spot, does Florida automatically claim number 3? I think so. The basically "tied" UT and Florida State put a whoopping on them. But they, in turn, did a good number on Syracuse. Haven't seen today's papers. Maybe that was discussed. But I believe the Gators are due some consideration. I'm ready for next year and the Fiesta Game isn't over yet!
83. cartman69 - Jan. 4, 1999 - 9:44 PM PT
pd:
Message #81: Yes, yes, Steve Mariucci is no Bill Walsh, anymore than Mike Holmgren is Vince Lombardi, or Chan Gailey is Tom Landry. Still, he has done an excellent job by any realistic standards, which are outside the province of the fans I wrote of earlier. If it was just an occasional disgruntled yahoo, I'd ignore it -- every team has those fans. Week in, week out, though, it's the same whining: "Mariucci sucks!", "Young is no Montana", etc., etc. Which makes about as much sense as a Raider fan crying that Tim Brown is not Fred Biletnikoff (which I've *never* read).
Niners fans are going to have to face some cold hard facts -- their draft picks have been sorry for the most part for the past several years, they don't have a QB anywhere near Young's league, and their defense has gone to hell. When not at "massage parlors", Rice seems to divide his time between dropping passes, screaming for a PI flag every time a DB looks at him cross-eyed, and crying that he isn't getting the ball enough. He's as spoiled as most of the fans are. Fans who, incidentally, were mostly Steeler fans back in the 2-12 days, when OJ Simpson was SF's RB.
I dunno. I lost patience with the SF organization and fan base because of the way Seifert was treated. In '94, they lost 40-8 to Philly, and people screamed for his head for weeks. Of course, they shut up when the team won the Super Bowl, but just two seasons later, Seifert got bounced after a playoff loss. A playoff loss! What kind of owner fires the coach after a playoff loss, just two seasons after a Super Bowl win?
The same kind of owner that bribes oily Louisiana pols for riverboat gambling licenses.
84. Jonesatlaw - Jan. 4, 1999 - 10:50 PM PT
The Vols learned just enough from the Orange Bowl last year to win the Fiesta this year. Congratulations UT, national champs!
85. BobaFett - Jan. 5, 1999 - 4:17 AM PT
Cartman:
I thought Siefert left voluntarily to coach Stanford.
86. PsychProf - Jan. 5, 1999 - 10:56 AM PT
Jimmy The Jerk
87. PsychProf - Jan. 5, 1999 - 11:01 AM PT
Here is the link you've been waiting for!
88. jexster - Jan. 5, 1999 - 11:26 AM PT
The BCS Bust -
- Poor play-calling esp Fla. State
- Poor execution both teams
- Bad officiating
But not to be outdone, ABC -
- the Cult of Keith Jackson - thank God he's officially in Ronnie Reagan Land
- horrid camera work - play action repeatedly faked out the camera men even though the viewers and the players knew what was happening
- play-by-play that ignored what was going on in the game
- color that was B&W or irrelevant
Even the award ceremony was second rate. Anyonelse wretch at the bag of Tostitos waiting to be awarded or the chicken shit Sears rep's award of the championship trophy???
Next year, I'll tune in CBS for some *real* comedy
- the play-by-play sucked
89. jexster - Jan. 5, 1999 - 11:31 AM PT
Damn - I agree with Boba!
Next year, the Niners, without a front office - Hello Cleveland! - will have to cut the hell out of over-priced and over-age vets plus acquire above-average, not super, talent at DB, LB, plus DE & OT.
As for Qb expect to see Steve Young for 2-3 more years and Jerry Rice same. Any anterior cruciate ligament repairee will tell you it takes at least 2 years to get up to speed.
In sum, give us a front office. No Paul T. first give us an owner and I'll be singing the praises of San Francisco's finest five years from now.
90. jexster - Jan. 5, 1999 - 11:36 AM PT
SF QB situation:
2 years ago Bill Walsh and Steve M. both, pre-draft, said Plummer was Da Man for the Niners. The team picked Steve Druckenmiller over the Snake.
Bad move then IMO. Whether it was a bad move in fact must await next years training camp.
QB development (Favre, Brunell, Detmer) was part of the reason Mooch was hired.
On the whole, I'd rather not be in Philadelphia.
91. jexster - Jan. 5, 1999 - 11:47 AM PT
The NFL is a strange beast.
One year ago the Niners, in their 10th playoff game in a row, easily handled the Minnie Vikes. Today, all power ratings place the Vikes at the top of the NFL.
What has changed? The Niners lost Stubblefield and Young and Woodson. The Vikes got Randy Moss and the Resurrection of Randall Cunningham.
Because Jesus is with us, we will roast Dirty Bird this weekend and get wiped by the Vikes next week.
Just goes to show 'ya that week-to-week, year-to-year is NOT the way to look at NFL football.
Pretenders come, pretenders go, the Niners UBER ALLES!
92. jexster - Jan. 5, 1999 - 1:21 PM PT
No Boba, Siefert was "retired" by Carmine Policia. He spent one year on retainer to the Niners as a "consultant" pursuing his favorite, deep sea fishing.
The next with CBS now with the Panthers and OUR playbook!!
93. phillipdavid - Jan. 5, 1999 - 8:14 PM PT
Is there any question that if Florida St had a qb they would have beaten the Vols? Coming so close with a third stringer who couldn't do much but run and get sacked is amazing, imo.
94. Jonesatlaw - Jan. 5, 1999 - 9:31 PM PT
Phillipdavid-
The Vols were fortunate that FSU was undermanned. I used to complain about Osborne's play calling. After seeing the Tostitos Bowl, I realize how good we had it.
Please college football fans, write the jerks who bring you Tostitos and tell them to keep the bags on the shelf and off the awards stand. God help us, they have less shame than Washington D.C. as an aggregate.
95. cartman69 - Jan. 5, 1999 - 10:50 PM PT
Boba Message #85:
You're thinking of Bill Walsh.
jexster:
The Niners didn't lose Rod Woodson. He definitely seemed to have lost a step last year, and was trying to make up for it by mugging receivers. They rightly decided he wasn't worth what he was asking. He did have a pretty good year with the Ravens this last season, but I don't think anyone could have foreseen that. Personnel hasn't exactly been the Niners' strong suit lately anyway, as drafting Jim Druckenmiller instead of Jake Plummer illustrates.
I've heard that Mariucci is supposed to be a QB guru, but Detmer didn't seem to have learned anything, by the way he played in the Panthers game that SF nearly blew.
PsychProf Message #86:
I read something about the Miami DB stomping Flutie Flakes in the locker room after the game, supposedly because Flutie had criticized their play earlier in the week. And I had the exact same reaction -- what's wrong with these guys? They ought to know better, especially considering that one of Dan Marino's sons is also autistic.
But that's why they're football players, instead of brain surgeons -- because they act before they think about it.
96. marjoribanks - Jan. 6, 1999 - 6:45 AM PT
Connor you irascible gadfly, enjoy this moment in the sun and cherish its memory during the one-day series and the upcoming World Cup.
Question: Why does India seem incapable of winning Tests overseas despite its superb batting line-up and smart captaincy?
Answer: Who the hell knows.
But it is nice to see Dravid come good with his last two tons, and even nicer to see Ganguly middling the ball as he did when he first surfaced in the international arena. You Kiwis are lucky to have seen these two in good form, and will be savaged appropriately in the one-dayers.
Hmph.
97. PsychProf - Jan. 6, 1999 - 10:45 AM PT
Latvian Express Signs
98. marjoribanks - Jan. 6, 1999 - 10:52 AM PT
Not that I particularly give a shit, but the NBA lockout is over and we'll see a short season this year. As far as I am concerned (fan of the also-ran Knicks and all) the only question remaining this season is whether the Bulls win in a sweep in the finals or if they lose a game or two when they get there. The reduced toll of the season is going to help those guys and no other team has the personnel yet to beat the Jordannaires.
Also, the real story of the day is Yogi making up with the Boss. If there was one downer this year as a Yankee fan it was the lack of small Mr. Berra in the celebrations. He'll be there next year. Bring on spring training already.
99. PsychProf - Jan. 6, 1999 - 11:02 AM PT
Sports Parents Website
100. Fraaank9 - Jan. 6, 1999 - 11:45 AM PT
The Chargers are supposedly hiring Mike Riley as their new head coach today,anyone know anything about him?
( Did I get the 100 spot? )