Comments on: How 49ers are bullies like Mike Tyson — and is that good?

By: Stan

Stan — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:20:59 +0000

Its good if he wins Lowell. If he loses,nothings good. On the other hand,if he picks on you-and he has- you have a right to answer back.
btw- Jim is doing his best to make the 49ers look like the SF Raiders..his black hat and black clothing..he’s sure not into the fire engine red and gold.
What a change in philosophy from Pope Mike..and reddest reds,brightest whites, stiff priest collars and biggest durn rosary beads around. Is it a game or a Holy War when Mike is around?

By: chris

chris — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:45:14 +0000

great column Lowell. The Niners bully days from last season are over. Minnesota proved that and so did the Rams. Both of those teams figured out how to difuse the Niners “bullyness”. As far as Tyson goes, even though he didnt have any great fighters to go against in his prime, I’d still rank him as one of the greats of alltime. It wasn’t his fault he had nobody worthy to fight at his peak.
And he was clearly a better fighter from 1985-89 than he was in the 1990′s.
You really cant count any of the Holyfield fights for much because he was already a shot fighter by the time he met Buster Douglass in 1990, before the fights against Evander. The amazing quickness he had at his peak was gone. And even as bad as he looked in the Douglass fight, he still had Buster down with that uppercut.
That was the last great punch Tyson ever threw.

Great quote from Bill Walsh. The Raiders in the 70′s had the edge on teams because of their brutal play. But then the Steelers copied their style of being tough on defense and gave the Raiders fits.

Pittsburgh won most of the Super Bowls that the Raiders would have if the Steelers weren’t around. The Raiders were too much of a high risk team which was great for entertaining games, but not good for winning against
a low risk conservative offensive team like Pittsburgh that could stand up to the Raiders bullying. Even though the Steelers won more Super Bowls in the 70′s than the Raiders, I think the Raiders were as good or better.
In most of the games where they beat the Steelers they blew them out leaving no doubt, while the games the Steelers won against the Raiders they barely won, leaving plenty of doubt.

By: russell

russell — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 02:08:30 +0000

Tyson is such a sore subject for me, I have argued against that paper champion for years…. those that actually follow boxing, let’s look at Tyson in his heyday and name the top fighters that he actually got in the ring with….(the first person to say Spinks has exposed themselves). Bully, yes. Top fighter? Never was. The Niners at least play the schedule in front of them and are forced to be exposed.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:12:58 +0000

Lowell, Sorry, I was tied up all yesterday. I re-read it this morning, slowly, and my comments stand.

Boxing is one on one and intimidation can be a factor. But football is 11 on 11 and intimidation as a factor is difficult at best, in my opinion. That is why your analogy is lost on me. If the 49ers chose to stop the run and can then the “enemy” needs to adjust how it runs the ball or start passing. And if the 49ers can’t stop the run, then they need to adjust. To me, that is what makes the game special. There isn’t any bullying in football; you either got it going or you need to make adjustments. And if you have it, that doesn’t mean you will have it throughout the game, more adjustments.

So I repeat, I am at a loss in understanding your point. To me they are just playing football.

But I will say this, every time the pundits start saying the 49er defense is the best in the league, it seems like the 49ers go out of their way to prove them wrong.

By: Bray

Bray — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:45:07 +0000

I think part of the decline, is because they have already adjusted. The Niners pass D is much improved over last year, while the run D has declined. They are not ‘as much’ of a bully as last year, they have tried to focus more on pass coverage.
I think Harbaugh\Fangio are way too football smart to believe you can just roll out the same defensive ideals week in week out. Physicality will always be needed, but scheme and execution of scheme are just as important.

By: eatmycumulous

eatmycumulous — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:17:46 +0000

Pure brilliance Dr Cohn. Love these last two columns.

By: Jim Bancroft

Jim Bancroft — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 04:07:58 +0000

I was in college when the Buster Douglas fight took place and remember being shocked when I heard the news. (This was pre-internet and it was word of mouth, then to Sportscenter to confirm. )

It’s hard to explain to someone who wasn’t around then just how indestructible Tyson was regarded as. I suppose boxing experts like Lowell, people in the know, could see the flaws but for the general public the news of that fight was like learning Barry Bonds struck out four times in a slow-pitch softball game.

You could say Tyson was regarded as a good, though not great fighter after that. How will Harbaugh respond to hitting the ropes a few times, as has happened against the Giants, Vikings and now Rams?

By: CohnZohn

CohnZohn — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:03:40 +0000

Tiburon Dave, You’re right about Buster Douglas.

By: Dave T

Dave T — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:42:27 +0000

As I said before, it is about adjustments and the league is/has adjusted to the Niners, now how do they respond?

@Bray, very correct, you get 1 year and people adjust. Two teams and their defenses come to mind as every year being at or near the top. Steelers and Ravens. They makes adjustments for teams, player additions and subtractions and are still at or near the top.

Until the Niners show that they can adjust, then I am with Lowell, they are just bullies. And to me bullies are just want to be “tough guys” who when someone finally stands up to them, they get their comeupance and slink off into a corner….don’t look now, but they seem to be fading to that corner.

By: Mark M

Mark M — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:58:10 +0000

interesting suggestion

the best part is that we’ll see if it holds any water as the season goes