The San Francisco 49ers will be wearing the throwback 80’s uniform and walk past the a plaque with Bill Walsh’s picture on it as they walk through the tunnel and onto the field that has now been named “Bill Walsh Field.”
Bill Walsh has also -- rightfully -- been placed with the ring of players (retired player numbers such as #16 Joe Montana). I say, “rightfully” since he is responsible for many of those numbers being there.
The Mike Nolan era has an 0-4 record with the Cardinals; so what?
Nonetheless, I cannot continue with this article. The very thought of Bill Walsh is too much of an emotional pull for me.
Still, I’ve done this article for the those football fans on Gather I’ve picked at; win or lose I am rather to stand tall for my team and let you post your comments before and after the game. I just can’t finish -- getting into the specifics for each team, etc., etc. Hope you enjoy it on ESPN, if you stay up that late.
I hope this one is for you, Bill Walsh. Were it not for you, I would never have become interested in the game of football. The 49ers will always be YOUR TEAM and you will always be my coach. You made football exciting and revealed the art of it, especially with your unique plays and formations. You are football. You are gold.
The half-time ceremony will be dedicated to the man -- Bill Walsh -- a tribute.
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Comments: 16
There was another game tonight, I swa it breifly , but didn't pay much mind to it.
It's going to be an interesting season. If the Bear can go 5- 3 the first half they will be ok.
They still have in the 2nd half of the season these tough ball games.
Seattle
Denver
NY Giants
Washington- Joe Gibbs is a great coach
New Orleans
I'ts going to be a lot of fun playing these teams.
Not here to gloat. Just to respond to your comment. Think I am delighted about the 49er victory. Not at all. It wasn't Bill Walsh football, not at all. It was sloppy and pathetic. They are going to need to do much better to have a winning season and you know it, although the defense is greatly improved from last year or least this performance looked it. The receivers need to realize they are not Jerry Rice and STOP playing as though they think they are.
I guess I am a little disappointed they didn't show the half-time tribute to Bill Walsh; the local channel (I didn't watch ESPN) switched over to ESPN and they didn't cover the tribute but some junk about baseball and some other sport that we just fast-forwarded through. If you watched the game I hope you enjoyed it, even though we won (I have a smile not about winning but about your not maybe wanting us too.)
Brian, the most disturbing thing about Walsh is that he -- so much -- resembled my dad, even his expressions, his very posture, his quiet, humble personality, but mainly his face. Then when he died of cancer like my dad it was a bit much. Every time I see him I see my dad, so . . . I am getting off the computer now. What ESPN did not do (they don't care), I think the local stations will, which is to show some coverage of the tribute for Walsh.
Have a good evening and I look forward to talking to you soon :=)
Bad, bad, bad Nalita! Perish the thought!
I must agree with you. I am concerned. My friend got in about the 3rd quarter and saw me crying. He thought in was because the Niners were losing the game (lol). Isn't that pitiful? I told him it was because -- this was the truth -- they didn't show the Walsh tribute. But you see how bad it is.
The spirit of Niner football is a mix of passing and rushing/running. I cringe every time I see a Niner passer (I don't care about the other team) put that ball in the air. All bets are off.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE A TEAM WHO CAN SUCCESSFUL RUN THE BALL AND HAVE PLENTY OF TALENTED GUYS TO DO THAT; NOT? YOU WON'T HAVE A WINNING BALL TEAM. PERIOD. YOUR SEASON ENDS IN 2007.
Now, I'm no coach, and I understand that. Why -- I am starting to get frustrated -- are they not playing Walsh football? The man was a GENIUS at this. Tire the other team's defense out. Make them work HARD. Keep systematically running that ball, play by play -- the Walsh playbook,
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
first down
BOOM
BOOM
BOOM
first down
over and over again
with patience and diligence
until that defense is so exhausted from being on that field they can't see straight -- they're seeing cross-eyed, they're staggering, drunk, frustrated, tired--start making mistakes.
The Walsh system.
I think I even heard our jinx (your guy Ditka) mention it last night, the same thing Walsh would do to the Bears' defense.
See? What does this Nolan think he is doing? Re-inventing the wheel?
I just don't get it. Putting that ball in the air so much spells disaster (that word doesn't look right). You cannot expect to have a winning season with turnovers and turnovers are an inevitable consequence of that ball going in the air unless you are a Joe Montana; of course, even HE had turnovers, but much more so for this little Smith;
and expecting your defense and/or special teams to carry the game for you!!!!????????????
Offense has got to get involved in this, too, and you cannot expect little Gore to be your offense en total.
Wow. :=[
My apologies. I got so caught up in the game that I forgot about your comment, but only for a sec. Only 49er faithfuls can wear that dress, Girlfriend. Feeling me? Ready to convert?
By the way, I get more compliment in that dress than any other in my closet, which means you probably would as well (hint, hint.) Soooo, the dress is yours for the price of conversion to our side. :=). I am serious, too. I'll give you the dress. Heck, it's just a dress.
GO BEARS
Here are a couple of my GIANTS connections, one Bill Parcells and his Big Blue Wrecking crew had a winning record in the playoffs against the 'Niners and one I find an odd what if scenario was that the GIANTS passed on Joe Montana for Phil Simms.
THe 'Niners GIANTS rivalry was agreat one, one other note is that Steve Young is a local boy from right down the toad in Greenwich, where he played ball with another future professional ball playre Tim Teufel, who when he was with the Mets woud do what was called the Teufel Shuffle when he was at bat.
Those were the days when I had time for all this focus on sports, now with three little step kids to handle, my work, being with my lovely wife, taking care of my Siberian Huskies,.... I've barely the time to glance at a newspaper
Lackluster doesn't begin to describe the disappointment, the dinginess of that game. Yes, they're young, but I don't totally blame the quarterbacks. I don't believe the coaches (at least the 49er coaches executed the proper plays -- what's the quarterback to do? Smith does exhibit a lack of self-confidence, okay maybe that is from not being "seasoned", but it's also a statement about what these coaches are doing and/or NOT doing with these players. Shall I mention a name I have noticed hasn't been mentioned much on Gather . . . Dungy?
I'll leave that one alone for now. Nicholas, I don't doubt their potential; it's obvious. I guess I just see some mistakes that aren't necessary, like putting that ball in the air so much. Too, I must be honest and say I don't give a rat's butt about the development of the other team's offense/defense/specials teams -- really don't. What they do and don't do doesn't interest me, except, well AZ does because they're NFC West, so to that extent they do interest me. lol -- as long as they keep racking up lots of penalties I will continue to LOVE them. I know that sounds terrible, but that's how I feel. lol.
(As least I am honest, yes?)
Thanks Nicholas
I feel the same way. I have such good feelings for Bill Walsh. He developed/mentored many of the great Niner players, plus he had an eye for what I call "hidden talent". Hidden talent such as Jerry Rice. I thought Jerry Rice was a loser his first season. You can see how well I call them. There is a story behind Jerry Rice, but this is not the time/place.
The thing about Bill Walsh Field is that Stinky York wants to take the team to the very affluent Silicon Valley, aka San Jose. What may be unknown to a few is that San Jose, not San Francisco has the largest (population) city in the Bay Area. San Francisco still has its economic advantages, but so does computer strong San Jose (everyone on Gather is using SOMETHING that is manufactured or produced from a company there), guaranteed. 49ers want to retain the name "San Francisco", move out of San Francisco County, but ex-mayor, now Senator Diane Feinstein is saying, "no way!" and so is the city of San Francisco. You can't blame them. It was because of this controversy that San Francisco was shut out of the possibility of have the Olympics here. Now, that was major. You can imagine how upsetting (economically) that was, can you? So, this naming of the field, while York has made no solid commitment to stay here is very interesting. We'll see how it plays out. What to do? Name the new field in Santa Clara county, one in which Bill Walsh never set foot in after him? Now wouldn't that be "special".
Thanks, Elaine.
You said:
"The price is too high. I have my honor.
GO BEARS "
THERE IS NO HONOUR AMONGST BEARS!
I have always digged the Giants -- always. Here is my take on what you said about Montana and Simms. Simms was no joke himself. Truth be told, I found him quite formidable, and ranked him up there with Elway and Montana. I think had Walsh taken him he would have had the ranking/ratings of the Montana because I think much of Montana's success came from the schooling of Walsh.
I guess what I am saying, Keith is that the "what if" I would have envisioned is,
What if -- instead of Parcells -- you had Simms and Walsh? Uh-oh. That would have spelled no 5 SuperBowl successes for the 49ers. That's my scenario, at least.
I didn't know Young was from New York, or maybe I did and forgot.
Yes, we did have a great rivalry and I thought it was fun. You all are a great ball team; I alway respected Parcells, as much as I respect several other coaches today.
Your choice -- wife and family -- is a better one than football (for you). Me? I'll choose football any day over marriage -- well . . . hmmm . . .one of the guys I know is a 49er fan and that is a great plus. We'll see. That goes a long way with me; maybe it shouldn't, but it does. Thanks, Keith!