Here is the opening to my Thursday column: SANTA CLARA “Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you.” Who knew, big Jim Harbaugh is a spinner of fairy tales? God love him. When did Jim Harbaugh tell a fairy tale? He told a fairy tale on Tuesday. What fairy tale did the 49ers’ coach tell? The 49ers’ coach said his players are squeaky clean when it comes to taking performance-enhancing drugs. Harbaugh didn’t merely say his players are… Read More »
I just love how the Niners brought in Eric Mangini to help them with their offense. Right. Get this Q&A with 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on Wednesday: Will you talk with senior offensive consultant Eric Mangini at all? I know he’s more on the offensive side. But, will you talk to him about some ideas on defense at all? “We haven’t to this point. And right now he’s knee-deep into the offensive side trying to learn our offense and… Read More »
Here is the opening to my Tuesday column dealing with sports writing. I am having some trouble posting this. If it doesn’t come out right please let me know: I guess this is a criticism of sports journalism. This probably means I’m criticizing myself. In the past few weeks, journalists reported on two local developments — the firing of Raiders public-relations operative Zak Gilbert, and the 49ers’ hiring of Eric Mangini as an offensive consultant. Local journalists tried to explain… Read More »
Here is the opening of my Thursday column about the serious injured sustained by 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree: Tuesday was quite a day for the San Francisco 49ers, all things considered. They received the good, approaching glorious, news that they will host the 2016 Super Bowl in their new stadium. And during a routine offseason practice, wide receiver Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon. Talk about bittersweet, or in this case, sweet bitter. The Super Bowl still stands, but Crabtree… Read More »
Here is the opening to my Wednesday column about the 49ers hosting the Super Bowl in 2016: All praise to Jed York and his father John for bringing the Super Bowl to the Bay Area. The 49ers will host the 2016 version in their soon-to-be-completed, state-of-the-art football palace due east of Great America in Santa Clara. If you’re counting, it will be Super Bowl “L.” That’s the number 50 in Roman numerals. And it will be known as the San… Read More »
Mark Purdy, sports columnist at the SJ Merc, is a friend of mine. We’ve been friends since we were young men and I generally admire his work. As you know, the NFL will decide on Tuesday whether the Niners will get to host the 2016 Super Bowl. And I sure hope they get it. What I’m writing has nothing to do with the Niners. It has to do with a small-minded, narrow South Bay point of view exemplified by Purdy’s… Read More »
Here is the opening to my Sunday column about Jim Harbaugh’s clothes and his look in general: Jim Harbaugh is not your average below-average dresser. When it comes to having a sense of style, he is a pre-teenager. At public occasions when he is representing the 49ers, he often looks like he crawled out of the hamper. But this is not a Harbaugh-bashing column. I myself am no Beau Brummell when it comes to dressing up. I believe Harbaugh has… Read More »
My two blog posts explaining why the 49ers loused up by not seriously drafting a cornerback drew lots of comments. That pleases me because we engage in spirited and polite give-and-take on the Cohn Zohn. Almost none of you agreed with me, and that’s fine. I like to debate and I ain’t done yet. Please bear with me. Most of you, I believe, support the 49ers in their choice not to be serious about corners because you are fans and… Read More »
Most of you disagree with my grade for the 49ers’ draft, a C-plus — not the worst grade anyone ever got. But, OK, fair enough. I hear you. On this blog we are a community used to polite discussion and disagreement. So here is my challenge. What grade would you give the Niners? Please provide reasons — I sure did. If you give them any form of “A,” you really need to explain yourself.
Here is the opening to my Sunday column about the Niners’ draft: SANTA CLARA — It’s customary to give football teams letter grades. We write report cards after games, and we write report cards after the draft, which concluded on Saturday. Here’s a fair grade for the 49ers’ work in the draft. “C-plus.” C-plus is not a good grade, but it’s also not a bad grade. It’s not failing, and if you get a bunch of C-pluses, you can graduate.… Read More »
