From a friend (Anna) on another blog:
I am looking for people to participate in an online Farewell to Candlestick party. The purpose is, of course, to hold a going away party for the soon-to-be Great America 49ers. The second purpose is to test out software that I hope will become a significant part of and asset to social media and fan/user interaction. The software is at my.groupol.ogy, but you’ll need a private invitation in order to participate in this multimedia event that will feature videos, Candlestick memories, photos and live chat during the game. If you’d like to participate, please send email to anna@ekage.com). If you cannot attend, please contribute your own Candlestick memories on the “Jon Dowds Revenge” site listed in my blogroll (jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com). Thanks!
It still hasn’t really sunk in yet. Candlestick Park, Monster Cable Stadium, 3-Com, Shit-hole, The Pigsty, whatever you want to call it, it will forever in my heart be The Stick. Some time soon it will be imploded and forgotten. I can’t even begin to guess at how many baseball and football games I’ve been to at the grand old hole, but I do remember the first game I went to. I was in 2nd grade, and it was 1969.
My mom thought it would be a great idea to take me and all the 2nd grade boys (16 of us) in my class to Bat Day. Bat Day usually fell near my birthday (April 25th), and this game was on the day after. I don’t remember very much about the game, but it was a sunny gorgeous Saturday, we were playing Astros, and all my favorite players were out there. Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, Willie McCovey, and Juan Marichal. An old guy behind me said “watch that centerfielder for the Astros. Jimmy Wynn. They call him the Toy Cannon.” I don’t know if he did anything that day, but I loved the nickname, and he became a guy whose career I followed as a kid. We were sitting in the upper deck cheapies on the 1st base side. I think we won.
The coolest thing about the game was the bats. Every kid 14 and under got a regulation sized bat. During any rally, all the kids would start pounding the bats on the concrete in rhythm. A sound that I’ll never forget, since there were tons of kids in the stands that day. My mom put up with a lot of kid shennanigans, and I hve no idea how we all got there, but I do remember getting bags of peanuts, those Carnation Malted things with the little wooden spoons, hot dogs, and cokes. We had a lot of fun stacking peanut shells on the hats of the 2 drunk oldsters in front of us who had fallen asleep (passed out?) somewhere around the 6th inning. All in all a greeat day, and my introduction to The Stick. Mom did that for the next couple years, bless her heart, and from then on I went to games every chance I got. Scrounging up money to catch the bus and hit the bleachers for 50 cents, or glomming on to friends who were going.
There’s talk of opening the stadium up some time next year for one last tour, and that is something I will not miss.
If you have any pictures or stories to share about the ol’ shit-hole, let me know . . .
Forty Niners Forever 
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” sums up my visits to “The Stick”. Many games over the years, some stunk, some were magnificent.
Tragic, heat breaking losses in the playoffs (GB, Dallass)
Superlative, sublime wins in the playoffs (Dallass, Giants, GB)
My 2 fondest memories:
The Niners come back win over the Giants with Garcia at QB. Mind blowing.
The opening game in 1994 against the Raiders. T-shirts sold outside read “SB preview” as both teams were picked to go that year, I still have the shirt 🙂 By halftime the Niners had crushed the Raiders and their fans were leaving tails between their legs after chanting “Raiders in the house” before the game. Niners went on to fulfill their pre-season promise and Steve finally got the monkey off his back. Lombardi #5 was glorious.
Best individual moment I was there for: The catch II, stunning.
I have loathed and loved the stick over the years but will surely miss the dump when it’s gone.
Hello tap, tap, tap, is this thing on?
Nobody interested in the NO-Panthers game? Dallass-Skins?
Too busy doing Christmas shopping?
Word is, from Rex Ryan, that Rex Ryan will be fired on black Monday or shortly thereafter. Is that the horses mouth or ass?
The D is missing in Dallass. Does that make them Allass?
It was the best of calls, it was the worst of calls. Rodgers-Cromartie called for late hit for nailing A. Johnson a split second after the ball flew over him. 15 yards for a clean hit.
Let’s just go to flag football now for the playoffs. Then go to the ref film and freakin’ clean house and replace them with Full-Time refs!
yup. Whitner last week, shoulder hit, flag, 15 yds horseshit calls.
My question is obvious. What if RC didn’t try to tackle AJ and AJ caught the ball?
Agree RT. Too much responsibility is being placed on the D players in split second timing. If it is even close the refs throw a flag.
Vaccoro carted off with an air cast on his leg. Bad time to lose a quality player. Speaking of which Von Miller done for the day at least, knee injury.
oops, Vaccaro, Chucks fav safety after Reid, at least he is now.
Wow. Yates of Houston throws the ball straight into the ground (obviously slipped). Great example of Texans football this year.
You see that call on the Chiefs? Receiver catches it and goes 2/3 steps depending on interpretation, gets tackled and loses the ball recovered by Colts. TO right? After review the call is incomplete catch. Using my new fav word HORSESHIT!
Missed that one. It’s because of how great Alex is.
Horseshit call of the week, so far.
12th, I just don’t see AZ remotely coming close to beating Seattle, so we clinch. I’d love to get the 1 seed, just don’t think it happens. If it DOES, Seattle is I trouble.
If I could choose I would take an AZ win and believe in the Niners winning out. It would be an amazing win for AZ but like you I doubt it. Division game though so we will see.
RGIII, and his dad, hatin’ life and Shanahan today. Worse if they beat the ‘boys/
Cousins playing well. Unlucky he got a tipped ball TO.
PI and actual football move after catching the ball are the most stupid things in the game now. Bowe (?.) took 3 steps turned up field and that’s not a football move? Plays in athe end zone are overturned all the time.
I think they are going to have no choice but to review penalties as they are directly affecting so many games these days.
Skins make a game of it. 14-13 (D)Allass at the half.
Romo strike again, dumb throw. Skins ball.
Indy playing the Ciefs tough despite the ref. 13-7 in the 3rd, colts possession.
Interesting bit of (D)allass sideline camerwork. Dez being a prima donna as usual but Demarco Murray chastising/lobbying the HC to give him the ball more and the coach nodding.
Don’t see Garrett making another season.
Garrett could probably stop the run better than the guys he has on the field.
True. I heard the announcer say (D)allass has played 18 guys on the D line this season. Crazy.
Sure worked LOL. Two incompletes and a sac. Murray’s 6.9 YPC watching.
Skins up over (D)allass. D is still missing in Dallass, can’t stop the Skins RG. (D)allass is in trouble win or lose.
Yeah Dallas sucks big time.
NO takes the lead! #5 here we come!
Flipping back and forth between the RedZone channel and DAL/WAS and NO/CAR the announcers all think they’re better coaches, offense and defense, then the pros doing it. Funny and irritating at the same time.
DAL/WAS announcers preaching run as Romo extends play and completes for 50 plus.
The corner slipped and was on the ground. I’d throw it too.
I think they were past the point of running it then.
Another great run, uh stuff! Good play.
Nobody hoping the ‘Boys make it here more than RGIII.
Damn Romo! What a bum!
Romo is Favre with less skills. Boom or bust.
Damn! Beeeautiful throw and catch by Peyton to Decker to tie the season TD record.
Great desperate play by Romo! Sets up the choke to the Eagles next week at the Playpen.
How bout dem Cowboys!
No fat lady yet
The late great Kate Smith not only warmed up, she hummed a few bars.