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 
One more stop for the AZ D.
bad time for a short kick
need a 3 and out
pick
You called it 12
Whats the review for?
if it came off the player or the ground.
I say Arizona ball
If the ball bounced off the player or hit the ground.
stereo?
Yessss
Unbeatable at home? Dennis, STFU
Stereo = STFU
win or lose today, they can be beat.
Damn old Palmer hit a big one now TO from Wilson
And were! OK Rams, make it 2 in a row.
Rams could do it too
division games Phil, ya never know
Yeah Fisher has them playing pretty good now
The Cards beat us next week, they’ll finish 11-5. And miss the playoffs.
only if Niners win tomorrow
Of course!
the sound of jaws dropping all over Seattle is all I hear now.
After reading all the crap their fans have been posting on Niner blogs… I wonder if they’re smart enough to know when to shut up? Nahhhhhh…
lol
Sweet sounds of silence. NFL got wise to all the muggings in Seattle
they called some but missed a lot too
Giants eliminate Detroit.
New coach?
I think the Lions’ fans have had it with the Schwartz.
agree.
Helluva bunch of late game finishes.
some great games today.
Pit knocks off GB, Bears likely win division now.
GB@Chi next week if Bears lose tonight.
Why didn’t Tomlin take a few knees and kick the GW FG as time expired?
Asinine to score (GB didn’t put up much resistance) and give ’em a chance w/ about 1:25 to go. Damn near returned the KO for a score and almost tied it anyway at the end. Humongous blunder on his part. He should stick to what he does best — standing on the field of play impeding opposing returners.
He probably didn’t want to get fired for extreme stupidity yet. Jacoby Jones always gets illegal help on his long returns. (see SB) Coach just trying to reverse the trend.
That SEA was just what the doctor ordered — for them to win the SB. The last 7 teams to win it have lost one of their two final regular season games. They now qualify. After we win tomorrow, we best take a dump in Arizona.
We break trends not succumb to them.
If everything goes according to Hoyle next week, and there’s always the chance someone has any extra ace up their sleeve, but it’s looking like we’ll be the 5 and play the 4 — How bout dem Cowboys!
I told you guys back before Halloween that’s how it would go. That’s a game we best not lose. Because on the off, off chance we do, well, it’s going to get mighty ugly around here. Mighty ugly.
(D)allass has to get by the Eagles right?
Ha! I’m probably the only other guy here that thinks Romo’s a pretty good QB and that Peyton would have a great season. But, yeah, I think you had it right.
Correctamundo, Potsie.
Chi has to win @Philly and/or GB as well.
Foles falls back to earth at some point. Is it tonight?
Should be a good game, Chicago O is on fire.
I got both he and Shady McCoy going tonight in a league that I’m a perfect 13-0. Chip Kelly best play those guys the whole game like he said. Don’t you fib on me.
How many points do you need tonight?
Not sure. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m superstitious. I don’t look at the score until the week’s over. And, besides. This league is a two-week championship. I have a little wiggle room.
Well, if you drafted Foles you’re a fantasy genius and if not how the hell do you get him out of free agency with the top w/l record?
No, I picked Foles up in FA. Just quick on the trigger. But I have to give Berger credit. He picked him up a week earlier in our yahoo league. I followed suit the next wk at ESPN and he was still there. Berger and I loved the kid at Arizona. We wanted the Niners to draft him.
Wow, all Eagles right now.