Niners “Lose” Another Family Member . . .

The Niners lost another member of their family this month when Harry Roy Gilbert passed away July 14th, in San Francisco, at age 92 (actually, 92 1/2) . . . You may not know his name, but you’d certainly recognize his face if we showed you a photo . . . “Roy,” who worked for the 49ers in various positions for 32 seasons, joined the team way back in 1958 and didn’t retire until 1990, at age 76!  His favorite team assignment was the annual NFL draft when he’d work the phones back in New York — usually at the side of Norb Hecker and/or Paul Salata — but the reason his face would be familiar to so many football fans throughout the world, especially Niner fans, was his “work” as Bill Walsh’s ”Get Back Guy” on the sidelines of every 49ers’ game, both home AND away, in the late 1970’s & through most of the 80’s . . . As the team’s ”Get Back Guy,” Roy’s job was to keep the players and coaches IN the bench area and BACK from the playing field . . . find an old Niners video or even a snap shot showing the Niners’ sidelines or just about any team celebration following a victory — and sure enough you’ll see Roy proudly there, front and center!

Like others from the 49ers’ family that have gone before him (i.e. Norb and Bill), Roy Gilbert will be missed!

– JayDub

Trent Dilfer News & Rumors . . .

You’ve probably heard the news about recently retired Niners’ QB Trent Dilfer being added to ESPN’s staff as a studio analyst, right?  Well I think that’s great and I’m sure he’ll do an oustanding job at that!

But have you heard the news about him injuring his achilles?  That was THE rumor I heard while attending a fund-raising golf tournament, recently, in Hanford, CA . . . 

In real life (when not writing for this web site, appearing on the “Hooked on the Niners” TV Show or working one of my NFL assignments as an Instant Replay Communicator), I make a living helping organizations raise funds (i.e. I supply sports & entertainment memorabilia to charities as auction items for their fund-raising events) . . . and I was in the central valley recently working with the Joshua Barba Memorial Golf Tournament at King’s Country Club when I heard that rumor about Trent . . . seems he was injured playing hoops . . . so, GET WELL SOON Trent & Best Wishes on your new ESPN assignment!

– JayDub

Favre to un-retire, what a suprise!

Ah, the “startling” news that B. Favre is thinking about reporting to the Packers training camp this summer should have come as no surprise to anyone….. should it? Yah, Farvre is gonna hang around his pad and cut the grass, and go fishin’ and huntin’ all right. This guy is way too competitive and his team got way too close to the prize last year for him to hang ‘em up. Besides…………he can still play in this league. He knows it, and so do the Packers.  I kinda feel sorry for young Aaron Rodgers who has been diligently preparing to be the starter. Looks like he may need to get re-acquainted with the clipboard for at least another year. Then there’s 2008 Draft picks Brian Brohm from Louisville, and Matt Flynn from LSU. Certainly both thought they’d be in the NFL this year. If #4 really does come back to the Frozen Tundra, then one of them probably won’t be. All in all it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Any NFL fan wants to see Favre back on the field. He is, and remains one of the very best who has ever strapped on a helmet.

MN