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 
Think that’s one where Wilson shoulda taken the fer sure 1st dn and continued to run.
But you can’t blame ’em for the throw.
He had it easy, got greedy.
Another Seattle INT at home. Shocker.
Man that luck just keeps going the Squawks way. TO.
They do get more than their share of the bounces.
Didn’t get the bounce that time. Doink!
Play action or boot leg?
Good defensive stand.
Wow! A bounce for AZ.
Looked like they were gong into half time tied or losing, ball bounces off a helmet and it’s a TO and leads to a probable Squawk score. Unreal. Great Arizona D again.
HA, gotta love it, missed a lay up. Tie game.
Arizona very much in this game today.
I was telling Berger just earlier this morning that those play fakes and roll right don’t fool anyone any more. Defenses see that play coming a mile away. Especially in those close goal line situations. Bad play call on 3rd dn doomed Petey.
It doesn’t have to fool anyone to work. Especially with Lynch. You have to stack the LOS against him on the goal line AND defend the options. Not easy for 31 other defenses.
It was 3rd dn and SEA was out of time outs. Slim to none chance they would run and risk the chance of having to run out the FG team in a rush. I saw it coming sitting at home in my Santa hat. I think ARZ saw it coming as well. Maybe they should ditch their helmets in favor of Santa hats for the 2nd half. Brings me luck.
Maybe Dennis but that isn’t what you wrote. You said those plays don’t fool anyone anymore. It’s too easy to say bad play call after one that doesn’t work. I’m just saying I give the AZ defense more credit than that on the stop.
My fantasy team needs to start wearing Santa hats. Dump City today.
Finally a Seattle DB mugging a receiver gets a PI call.
I feel more confident in AZ’s chances when their D is on the field.
They are getting to Wilson enough to put him off his timing and containing the scrambles. Palmer is the big question, can he limit the TO?
There’s the break they need.
could be huge.
Certainly will be if they can put up seven here.
twice, unbelievable.
How the fuck does Palmer throw that ball?
He’s Carson Palmer. Unbelievable.
Great D again from Arizona. These guys won’t be a cakewalk for the Niners either.
PIT blocks the FG then gets hosed on some BS possession/batting the ball call.
GB scores TD next play. If I’m Mike Tomlin I stand in the middle of the field on the 50 yd line during the next kick.
And trip somebody on the KO, right?
Stupid penalty helps AZ offense. Someone has to.
nice. PI on Sherman.
Arizona keeps it I think
The PIT guy didn’t have the ball for a fraction of the time the KC did earlier in the day. The zebras are making the game a big joke.