Meeting A Niner

At the recent SF PAL fund raising golf tournament, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting one of the celebrity participants, Donald Strickland, Niner defensive back.  It is always nice to report that one of the home town heroes is a nice guy.  Strickland has a shy demeanor and is a good sport.  He was playing in the event with his grandfather and it was easy to see that the two were truly the best of friends.  As the emcee of the event, I took several liberties to make fun of the hard hitting corner and he took it all in stride.  On the spur of the moment, he even offered an autographed jersey that fetched a handsome price.  As for Strickland’s golf game, he attacks the game the same way he attacks life on the gridiron: he hits hard!  Drives in the neighborhood of 275 to 300 yards are not uncommon for him.  However, as my old pal and former PGA Touring Pro, Moon Mullins, once told me, “There are only two things in golf; straight and distance.”  Take it from me,  Strickland is half way there. 

Toodles,

MJ

Addios Mr. Vick

The Falcons signed Boston College QB Matt Ryan, the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, to a six year, $72 million dollar contract. This almost certainly means that Mike Vick, despite the $130 million dollar contract extension he signed in 2005, will not be a Falcon when he’s released from prison. I’m sure the Falcons and their fans are breathing a collective sigh of relief that they will no longer have Vick in town. But, there ceratinly will be suitors for Vick once he hands back his prison overalls, just as there was for Packman Jones, for T.O. and for Randy Moss. Some teams just can’t stay away from these super athlete/problem children, and are sure they can turn them around, in “their system.”  The Falcons now have a new face on their franchise, and his name is Ryan.  The Falcons also had a very nice 2008 draft overall aside from Ryan, adding USC Offensive Tackle Sam Baker, Oklahoma Linebacker Curtis Lofton, and LSU Corner Chevis Jackson, among others.  Things indeed may be looking up in the capitol city of the great state of Georgia.

MN

Dave Parks, College Hall of Famer . . .

Dave Parks, who played for the SF 49ers back in the 60’s (1964-67), is headed to the College Football Hall of Fame next year . . . There, he’ll join other recent (current decade) Niner selections:  Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State, inducted in 2006), Charle Young (USC, 2004), Ronnie Lott (USC, 2002), Brent Jones (Santa Clara, 2002) and Steve Young (BYU, 2001) . . . Parks, the first player chosen by SF (out of Texas Tech) in the 1964 draft, will be honored with other 2009 inductees at the National Football Foundation banquet in New York in December and then formally inducted in the Hall next summer in South Bend, IN.

– JayDub

John Paye Back Coaching Girls Hoops At Menlo School

After coaching girls basketball at Notre Dame-Belmont the past two years, former SF 49ers QB John Paye is back at his HS alma mater (Menlo School).  Back to where he coached the Knights to three state titles (1989 to 1991) in seven seasons in his previous tenure there.  He is a member of the Menlo School Sports Hall of Fame, the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame and the Stanford University Sports Hall of Fame. 

– JayDub

“R.C. Owens - This Is Your Life” Dinner - September 27th

Don’t know if you’ve heard, but the NFLPA Retired Players Association and the Providence Foundation of San Francisco (Nate Thurmond, Chairman) will be honoring R.C. “Alley Oop” Owens with a “This Is Your Life” Black Tie Dinner, September 27th, 2008.  The event will be held in the grand ballroom of the Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA.

A celebration to honor “Oop” is, in my opinion, a GREAT IDEA . . . and LONG OVERDUE!

For more information, especially in regards to purchasing tickets or buying an ad in the evening’s souvenir program, you can contact Carolyn Hoskins at 650/921-4191 . . . Larry Bates at 408/9811-5668 . . . or Lynette Sweet at 415/642-4874.

– JayDub

 

Season Ticket Holder Letter From The Niners . . .

When people ask me about the 49ers, my response is usually that I think they are doing “all the right things” . . . and, along those terms, I think they’ve done it again . . . as a season ticket holder, I recently received a letter from Andy Dolich, the Niners “new” Chief Operating Officer . . . and, basically, it thanked me - on behalf of the organization - for renewing my season tickets, for my “investment of time, money and emotion” and for my “unwavering support!”

That, my friend, is a touch of class . . . but coming from a classy guy such as Andy, I’d expect nothing less!

Nice going Niners!

– JayDub

Backs against the wall!

While the NFL is always about what have you done for me lately, the Niners have four people whose careers are on the hot seat. Going into last season Mike Nolan was on top of the world. QB Alex Smith was a young budding star on the rise. Vernon Davis with all the physical tools in the world was set to become one of the best tight ends in the NFL. After a fast start in Detroit offensive coordinator Mike Martz was regaining genius status.

This season all four face the possibility of being relegated to NFL purgatory. In many ways there futures are inter-connected. This quartet is dependent on each other to rise to the occasion. All of the pieces are in place, the question is can they work together? Do they have what it takes to perform when there backs are against the wall? Do they each have what it takes to make the people around them better? All of these are open questions, however the Niners success and each of their futures are on the line in 2008.

RM

A look back the HOTN Mock Draft

Well, we had Kentwan Balmer going 13th to Carolina, Philip Merling, the DE from Clemson going 17th to the Vikings, and the Niners taking Miami (Fl.) DE Calais Campbell, with the 29th pick. It didn’t turn out that way of course. Balmer dropped to 29th, and is now a Niner. Merling went 32nd to the Doiphins, and Campbell plummeted all the way to 50th, and is on his way to the Arizona desert. I guess this firmly substantiates why NFL franchises draft players, and mock drafters don’t.  Balmer has surfaced as a bit of a controversial selection, not so much athletically, but more in the area of having the mental focus and commitment to really be an impact player in the NFL.  It will be quite interesting to follow the careers of Balmer, Merling, and Campbell to see who really turns out to be the best NFL player.

MN

J.T. O’Sullivan?

Allright, I admit open competition is a good thing.  But according to what Iread in the paper today, J.T. O’Sullivan has an equal shot to be the Niners starting quarterback?  Please!  He played Division II, albeit well, it was still Division II.  The Niners are his eighth team.  If these credentials qualify him to have a shot as our opening day signal caller, we’re in trouble.  And since Shaun Hill didn’t take a snap in his first six years in the league, I think Alex Smith is in the saddle opening day.  The Niners have 49 million (about 25 guaranteed) invested in Smith.  How will it look if he doesn’t start.  I know if I was the owner I’d be asking questions if he didn’t.

MJ

Good Draft? Bad Draft?

I think the niners did what they needed to do. In the end if Balmer and Rachal become starters this was a good draft. I think the Niners Defense is close. Sure they need a stronger rush but Balmer can anchor the front in a way that Franklin and Sopoaga cannot. If you look at Justin Smith’s career numbers he has 43.5 sacks. Granted last year he did not set the world on fire but he was playing on a very bad defense. It is no secret if the Martz offense is going to work, you need a strong athletic offensive line. Step one is keeping Smith, Hill and O’Sullivan in one piece, allow them  to learn and gain some confidence next year and hopefully add the Number one wide out down the road. As for the rest of the choices they add some depth to the pool of people drafted last year. We may see something from Jason Hill, Dashon Goldson, Jay Moore, Tarell Brown in the upcoming season.

RM