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 
Earth to Foles
I think we best be rooting for those Cowboys next week. I don’t think I want to play the Eagles right now. They’re just young, talented and hot enough not to know any better about playoff pressure. Their D has also come around a bit from an inauspicious start. You can have the Eagles. I don’t wanna play ’em.
Any given Sunday and all that but I don’t see (D)allass getting past the Eagles with their stinking D.
They beat ’em earlier this yr IN Philly, so…
Not the same team now Dennis
Wholeheartedly agree. But just tell me you’ll be rooting for the Cowboys. I know it may be hard, but it’s what’s best for the team. And if you believe Harbaugh, it’s “The team. The team. The team. The team.”
Sorry Dennis, over my dead body will I root for the Cowboys.
So you’d rather play a hot Philly team in likely inclement weather > a DAL team known for choking in a dome? Doesn’t sound like a team player to me.
And just think about all the blog fodder leading up to playing Tony Romo. Speaking of who, I heard he’s going for an MRI on his back that he supposedly tweaked today. Might wanna scan that brain of his for 4th quarter memory loss and brain farts while they’re at it.
Romo made a few more good plays than stupid ones today and they squeaked a win against the god awful Skins but they are no power house.
Yeah, I guess tonight will not be the night Foles slips off the clouds against this D.
That’s him waving from the space station!
good one.
So much for Chicago O on fire, they need burning.
Looks like you’ve already racked up 28 points or so, if it’s 6 points for passing TDs. A couple more if it’s PPR, too. Not too bad for a quarter.
Bears D can’t tackle for shit.
Tackling as a whole in the NFL has hit an all time low. It’s atrocious. Main culprit is the lack of wrapping up properly. Too many guys don’t even look like they know the proper technique. I think it’s not practiced enough throughout the year. And even with these new “No hard hit” rules, guys still looking to make Sportscenter highlights with the big hit rather then making the sure, but nondescript tackle.
agree, lack of padded practice I reckon.
Foles has a ton of weapons and a killer running threat. Like Kelly and the old run and shoot no huddle.
Disclaimer: I’m only an amateur and I do this by hand!
Next week gives Phi@Dal and GB@Chi – 4 possibilities.
Niners at #5 seed gives: Niners@ Chi,GB, or Dal
Niners at #6 seed gives: Niners@ Chi,Phi, or Dal
Still open – Niners winning #1 or #2
Niners not qualifying
Whew, I think I’ve got a headache. Doc said, “Take 2 Cowboys defenses and call me in the morning!”
Maybe the Shawks lost just to F with the Niners. Now, the Cards have a real reason to play the Niners tough in the last game as they’ll still be in the hunt for the POs, I think, even if Niners win tomorrow, because Saints might lose next Sunday. Shawks probably not real interested in the game today. With Panthers beating Saints, that keeps open the possibility of Carolina going to Seattle and beating Shawks, and Niners hosting the NFC champ game at the Stick. They better not rip up the field tomorrow night after the “last game” at the Stick…
If Niners win tomorrow they are in.
AZ’s out if we win tomorrow. The Saints crushed them earlier.
Oops, I told you I was an amateur! I’ve already assumed a Saints win at home over the Bucs.
Squawks have now lost 2 out of the last 3 games, both against division rivals. Not the best way to head into the play offs even if they beat the Rams which is also not a given.
9ers play off scenarios:
http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Outlining-the-49ers-Playoff-Scenarios/c62286f8-af40-45e5-9e6b-db1ebf82f0ee
Now that RTF did his homework (thanks, btw) good chance we could miss PHI in WC rd. PHI wins out and they’re the 3. We’d play either CHI/GB mostly likely.
And I think there’s something more wrong with Rodgers then they’re letting on. GB could make the SB and I still think he wouldn’t be cleared medically. And if he says he can play, and it’s truly a medical decision to keep him out, I’d tell ’em I’m signing a medical waiver and you play my ass. Enough of this BS about legality and suing the NFL. Sign a waiver and play. You get hurt further, tough shit. You knew the risk.
Its still the teams choice no matter what the player wants. May be better to save him for next year. RGIII aside.
It’s controversial and John Madden had a point but i agree with resting RG3. He was misused badly last year and was not ready this year. I also think he is somewhat over rated but still.
With Rogers I have to believe his injury is more than they have said. GB is still in the hunt yet their star player is not playing over 7 weeks after a broken bone? Has to be more to it. No team risks missing the play offs if their star could play.
Also, no way Squawks tanked a game at home. Their mystique was shattered today. Things like that can bring down a house of cards. Confidence has to be shaken losing 2 of last 3 and a division foe to play next week.
With Browner out suspended however long, Shawks are now officially PEDs central for the NFL. Where’s Goodie with some kind of sanctions on an NCAA-like “institutional lack of control”? Oh, too busy flagging D-linemen for smashing QBs in the pocket…
About Falcons per 49erwebzone.com podcast mentioned above:
-Mike Nolan is D coordinator likes to play cover 3 pass D (prevent?) and that not very well. We should make hay with our deep passing game which is Kaps forte. Best defeated by deep passes (VD) should see a lot of that to test vertically.
– Easier to stop Falcons run w/ our base nickel. Falcons are Last # runs/game (we are first in runs/pass ratio)
– pressure on their OL = falls apart
– lack personnel on O
– T Gonzales te exception
1:00:00 mark
Niners building on new and previous concepts structurally, conceptually on D against cover 3 not read option. For instance in particular on O: reading DT on read option play by LMJ, inside power run to Boldin, fly sweep to LMJ, outside runs, sweeps by KH
Should a good game on MNF. May the better 49ers win big
Will you be up in time for the game Phil?
Yeah MNF comes on here about 9:30 AM Tuesday. Piece of cake.
Sweet. Niners win big.
I didn’t understand a thing you wrote, must be right!
Ha, I didn’t either. I think he was pasting from their website.
LOL that makes 2 of us. Best.listen to the original podcast. Basically Falcs are weak on stopping the run so the new (this season) stuff we are now doing, sweeps, etc mentioned above should work well against Falcons. They recommend deep throws to test the cover 3 D
There is a great discussion of the inside power run by Boldin, how it was set up by fly sweep, etc.
Its a synopsis of a podcast here:
http://www.49erswebzone.com/podcasts/
Look under “Multimedia” then play first podcast “We’re Not Getting Hot, We’re Getting Better”. Starting at the 38 min. mark for CK. Good analysis (and opinions) backed up by factual examples.
Thanks Phil, I’ll give it a listen.
This game is embarrassing for the Bears. Division winners don’t usually play like this in December. NFC North and NFC East .have been a tallest leprechaun contest but the Eagles are separating themselves from the rest.
Good teams: Niners, Squawks, Panthers. Second tier Arizona, NO, Eagles. Wannabees: Bears, Pack, Cowboys.
I am biased of course but I would take the Niners over any of them right now.
Their defense is better than shows tonight and they made a mistake sitting McCown IMO.
I like our chances as well. But we’ve been known to throw up a real stinker, too, when the opposing D surprises us.
I know the Bears won last week in CLE w/ Cutler, but I still think Trestman made the wrong move in ditching the hot hand w/ JM. Not that McCown woulda made world of difference tonight, but I’m just thinking w/ the overall continuity of the club. But I’ll give Marc credit, he said all along Cutler would be the starter again when healthy and he stayed true to his word.
Good point you bring up. Should a coach stay “loyal” and bring back the injured QB over the hot back up?
Harbs took a lot of shit for benching Alex but he was right and I think Trestman was wrong. Cutler did get the win last week but barely. Having said that Cutler is a good 4th qtr QB so maybe an epic comeback tonight?
The HC should always go with what’s best for the team, short and long term. That includes hurting the million dollar QB’s feelings beyond recovery in this instance I guess.
That’s my stance too, if it improves the team do it.
33-11 at the moment. You don’t see that score too often.
Does it have Myan significance?
Or Mayan even???
Mayans are on my shit list. They got me all excited last yr for some big fireworks. Nothing but a dud.
Maybe they are just fashionably late?
What are the playoff implications for us if any for PHI win?
None, in fact this win means nothing for the Eagles either, they have to beat (D)allass next week either way.
Phil, I think it all comes down to next wk when they play Dallas. PHI wins and they’re the 3. DAL wins and they’re the 4 and going to be seeing red and gold in their sleep. Unless of course We and/or SEA lose tom and/or next wk.
Ok thanks
Dallas wins and the Pack win in Chicago and Dallas is #3.
Philly wins means we go there if we’re #6.
We’d play at the winner of GB@Chi if we’re #5.
Clear as mud.
The Bears run D is just flat out god awful. No two ways about it. We play the WC game in the Windy City and we might rush for 300 yds. that day. They stink.
#5:Root for the Iggles AND Bears
#6:Root for the Boys (sorry, impossible) and Bears
I love this permutation shit. That said, just brīng ’em on, anywhere, anytime, and keep ’em coming. I don’t give a rat’s ass who or where.
Only exception is that I’d love to see the Saints/Panthers@Candlestick for the NFC Championship. Candlestick would go out like “Camille”. Just when you really, truly think she’s dead this time, she hangs on for another act.
C’mon man.
Now 12 let the dreamer dream. How cool would that be?
Honestly it would be amazing. I haven’t given up hope of home field throughout yet 🙂
My Man!
Tackling has been atrocious.
I think some of the Bears LBs are running away from the ball carrier.
So much for defending soldier field.