Elitist mentality has returned to San Francisco

Thanksgiving night was the biggest challenge this Niners team has faced all season and the Niners flat out got their ass kicked in every aspect of the game. Some fans latched on to coach Harbaughs excuse machine, claiming the short week and cross country flight would prevent them from playing their A game. Last time I checked, professional football players don't travel Southwest, despite the "your bags fly free" promotions. They fly on chartered jets, shack up in 5 star hotels and get treated like royalty. Yes, if guys were banged up in the game versus Arizona, then likely guys were not playing at 100%.

I don't want to spend much time on the game itself, because sadly, I didn't get to watch much of it. What I'd like to talk about today is the mentality of some of our fans. Some of the fans have reverted back to the mid 80's and 90's, a time in Niners history when the team was favored by double digits every week, went on the road in the west coast time zone, east coast time zone, against good teams and bad and beat the living crap out of teams regardless of when and where they played. This team is not that team. Not only are they not made up of future hall of famers they way those old teams were. This is a team that had 10 seasons of mediocrity, a number of 10 loss seasons and practically gave up once the team was losing a game. The entire franchise was a complete disaster and they were clearly a laughing stock in the NFL. Jim Harbaugh has changed the mindset and focus of his team, in a very short period of time, but let's keep in mind that he has only been around for half a football season. It's easy to forget this because the team has been playing so well, winning games on the road and si.com had them ranked #2 in their power rankings going into the game at Baltimore. Let's not lose sight of the fact that this franchise is in the process of rebuilding their reputation, rebuilding the winning mentality of it's players, coaches and fans.

All of that being said, I am guilty at times. I am overly critical of Alex Smith when he doesn't play well and refuse to give him credit when he does play well. I still want to see Steve Young on the field, dropping back to pass, avoiding the pass rush and refusing to take a sack and rushing toward contact, beating up linebackers before he takes a vicious hit fromt he safety because he refuses to slide. That's what is still fresh in my mind as a Niners fan it's very difficult to accept anything less, but this team isn't the team I watched growing up. It's a new team, with new coaches and players trying to make a name for themselves and I need to embrace that because despite a tough loss to a very good Baltimore Ravens team, we still have an opportunity to clinch the division this coming weekend and that's a beautiful thing, if I allow myself to accept it, which I probably won't.

Play of the game

The final play of the Niners/Giants game on Sunday was truly incredible. Yes, Justin Smith got his hands up and blocked that ball, preventing a completed pass. But, if you watch the play again, you will see Giants tight end Jake Ballard, who made two great catches during the game and runs 6'6" 275 lbs. covered by Patrick Willis, the best linebacker in the entire league. Willis didn't just cover him, he was all over him. He stuck with Ballard's every move and prevented Manning from being able to make a big play to tie the football game. Patrick Willis was quoted in the San Francisco chronicle recently, saying " To be on track the way we are, to be able to be winning, I'll do whatever it takes. I don't care if I have to go back and play in the middle of the field." Well, that's EXACTLY what he did on the final play of the most important game in Niners football this decade. He covered the guy that was going to get the ball, he made sure that there was absolutely no way the ball would be completed to his guy and he put his teammates in a place to make a big play, which Justin Smith did.

Willis was asked about his stats (he is on pace for a career low 123 tackle season) and it was brought to his attention that his stats were down and he wasn't on track to have as many tackles as in years past. He said "It's not about the tackles or sacks or stats, It's about winning, that's what we're doing and that's what I am all for." Often times we hear players say that and then with their actions on the field, they tell us a different story, but not Willis. He's the team MVP on defense, he's the captain of men, but he's the consummate team player on a football team that has proven that this is not about one guy, it's about everyone on this team pulling in the same direction, doing what's best for the team.

Seeing is believing

Leading up to the week 10 matchup between San Francisco and The New York football Giants, I was anxious, excited, nervous and uncertain of our chances to beat a very good football team. Eli Manning is a top flight QB in the NFL and our defense hasn't face anyone like him this season. Across the sports world, specifically on the East coast, we are lead to believe that the Giants are the better football team and San Francisco is just not good enough to win this game. As much as I wanted to believe this team would win, but honestly, I was doubting our abilities. Alex Smith has been a player that fans have blamed for the dreadful offensive play over the past six years and I was starting to think that the old Alex Smith would eventually show his face. As a fan, I always want my team to win; as a Niner fan, I expect my team to win. That includes all the seasons when we lost ten plus games, when Mike Nolan and Mike Singeltary were coach, it didn't matter. During yesterdays game, I still had this feeling deep inside my gut that lead me to believe that we would lose.
As the game began to unfold, I started to think that maybe this team was different. Maybe they would step up when the game got tough and when New York started to drive the field, score points and inflict their strengths on this great defense. I kept thinking that they would find a way to lose this game, as they have so many times before. I was unable to sit still, the stress was overwhelming, I was screaming at the TV, yelling when things went bad and fist pumping and screaming at the top of my lings when the team made big plays to shut down the Giants. It was easily the most incredible football game I have watched in the last ten years. All of that being said, I needed to see this team win a big game, when times were tough and a great QB was trying to rip victory from our hands. I needed to see Patrick Willis sack Manning, I needed to see Carlos Rogers step between the ball and the Giants receiver and take the ball away. I needed to see how this team responded when Manning threw a touchdown pass and put the pressure on Alex Smith to score again. All of things I saw, lead me to believe that this team has what it takes to make a deep run in the playoffs and cause problems for the elite teams in the NFL.

Paterno and school president fired; Investigation begins

I put a few soap boxes together this week, stood atop them and shouted for Paterno and the entire athletic department to be fired, effective immediately. Last night a board of trustees in Pennsylvania ended the 61 year career of college football legend Joe Paterno and fired the school president, Graham Spanier. This is the first step forward and the first clear sign that Penn St. is taking this matter seriously.

I understand that we live in America and the phrase "innocent until proven guilty" has been uttered by many in the past few days in regards to Paterno and also to the man charged with over 40 counts of sexual assault on minors, Jerry Sandusky. In this particular case, after reading all the grand jury testimony, of which I consider to be the facts, I believe that Sandusky is guilty until proven innocent. This case has brought up a lot of emotions that I'm not used to feeling when writing about sports. Before I read the grand jury testimony, I was shocked and frustrated. After reading those documents, I became angry and wanted to hurt all the people named in those documents. I felt deep sadness for the victims of these terrible crimes and somehow wanted to step up on their behalf and do something, anything to help. The reality of the situation is far more complicated than that. All I can do is have a voice, express my concerns and help make others aware of how serious this matter really is.

Two of my friends, who don't sit in front of a computer all day as I do, feel strongly that Joe Paterno is innocent and did everything he was supposed to do as a football coach. As I was trying to help them understand and asking them to read the grand jury documents, I had to come to terms with the idea that not everyone sees this the way I do; not everyone wants to know every last detail and not everyone feels the deep sadness and anger that I do. That's a tough pill to swallow, but I am doing my best to accept that this is a case that has rocked the entire country, not just the sports world and not just a small town in Pennsylvania.

The investigation was literally set in motion within the last 24 hours and this case will get much uglier before we have a resolution. We will definitely have more questions than answers in the weeks, months and years to come. The violence that broke out last night was a simple reminder that college students are not as smart as they think they are. The streets filled with cops, cars and news vans flipped over, a city burning because the football coach of their college was fired. Were those people really out in support of former coach Paterno or have they been wrongly inspired by the occupy movements taking place across the world? I believe it's the latter and that makes this even more disturbing. I will continue to follow this case, with a heavy heart and open eyes because This is not about players taking money from boosters, it's not about Terrell Pryor driving a brand new car for each day of the week and it's not even close to what many called the "tragedy" of recruiting violations at USC. In my mind, it's not about football, coaches, legacies or wins, it's about protecting our children and standing up when we know something just isn't right, instead of looking the other way.

Jerry Sandusky Grand Jury Report

If you have only heard bits and pieces from the talking heads on the radio and actually want the facts centered around the 40 sexual assault charges against Jerry Sanduski and the Penn St. scandal, click on the link below and read for yourself. I must warn you, this is the most disturbing, graphic and brutal document that I have ever come across in my entire life. As a little side note, I am the guy who likes to read the 9/11 commission report, the transcripts of high profile murder cases, etc. That being said, I want to warn my followers that this document will blow your freaking head into a millions pieces, but it was necessary for me because I tend to look for facts, not opinions.

Grand Jury report

Not good enough

Below you will find a giant, hot, steaming pile of dog shit, which was released by Joe Paterno this morning and likely drafted by his son, who is a lawyer. I want to make myself perfectly clear. That is not enough for me! Many familiar with Penn St. football have pointed out that Paterno is king in that part of the country. His power over the entire state and all the people in Pennsylvania was given to him because he brought in tremendous amounts of revenue for a state run football program and when he wanted something, he got it. If he said the sky was falling, everyone ducked for cover. I am absolutely disgusted by his disregard for all that went wrong on his watch and his apology is not accepted by me nor do I believe a word that comes from his mouth. For the past 16 plus years, he tried to make the sexual assault and rape of children go away; he forced his friend to retire to avoid criticism of the football program and to make sure the program was able to thrive despite the presence of multiple felonies taking place on campus, in HIS locker room and he turned his back. To apologize now sounds more like "I'm terribly sorry we got caught, not I'm terribly sorry for my friend raping young boys and I can't imagine living each day thinking of how I was raped by an adult."

Penn St. brass need to step in today and shut down the football program until the investigation is complete. If that means forfeiting games, scholarships and millions of dollars, then so be it. That school cannot continue to walk around and act like these acts are not important, not anymore. If anyone at Penn St. wants to take the first step to resolve this disgusting and horrific tragedy, they will step forward and shut down the entire football program, effective immediately, and that includes firing Joe Paterno and every single person involved in this case. Also, let us not forget that these are state employees who are set to receive a very nice retirement package, which they do not deserve. Rip their retirement package, their parking pass, keys to the locker room, etc. and leave them with nothing! How is it even possible that Joe Paterno and everyone who knew about the rape walked through life without a care in the world? How do you go to work each day for fifteen years, knowing a child was raped in your locker room? How can the players take a shower in that locker room from this day forward? I will say it again, the entire sports program at Penn St. should be shut down right this second! Forget about investigations, rules, protocol, and all the other politics involved, this is the worst scandal in the history of college sports.

"I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.

I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.

That's why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.

My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University."

Smart Money

The San Francisco Giants fans are excited about the possibility of signing a big bat now that free agency has begun. Giants brass, on the other hand, have other plans. When it's your responsibility to make a team better, your blueprint may not be in line with that of the fans. When CC Sabathia signed an extension with The Yankees, I would imagine that got phones ringing across baseball. However, the people on the other end of that phone were not players, but agents for Time Lincecum and Matt Caine. Here is where things get complicated for San Francisco. For the last four or five years, the team has been successful strictly based on their ability to send great pitchers to the mound each game and that's how they want to continue playing the game. The agents for the aforementioned pitchers will likely hit up SF for huge contracts or they will find teams willing to pay them what they are worth. That means that SF will not be able to sign Prince Fielder, even though they need to. They won't be able to sign Albert Pujols, even though they want to. They won't even be able to sign a guy like Jimmy Rollins, who isn't a top tier free agent, but is a free agent that could definitely find comfort in a terrible lineup in SF. So, I want to make this crystal clear for those of you who have extremely high expectations for the Giants during the hot stove season. You can get on your soap box and scream and yell and beg all you want, but you will not see Fielder, Pujols or any other substantive free agent bat in the lineup in 2012. What you will likely get is more of the same. More bats who are on the cheap either because they are hurt (see Grady Sizemore) or because they can't play at a high level anymore, as has been the case for many years in SF. The smart money will be spent to sign the young pitchers to long term deals and the fans will have to face facts. This team pulled off a miracle in 2010 and in order to taste champagne again, this team will have to do it all over again, which they will not do.

Student Athletes are different from College Athletes

College athletes are often referred to as Student Athletes, but let's get real. Most of them get paid to play and they get a free education, if they actually care to show up and use those brand new books they were given. For example, USC hosted the Stanford Cardinals in a thrilling game last weekend. This is an extreme example of course, but an example nonetheless. USC has the highest paid players in college football and that isn't my opinion, that's a fact. Just ask the current players why they are not allowed to play in a bowl game this year. If they won't budge, allow me to expand on that. They are serving a one year probation for numerous players taking money from boosters. Now, let's talk about Stanford for a moment. Stanford has the highest academic standards of any FBS school in the entire country. Simply put, if you don't have what it takes to meet the academic criteria, it doesn't matter if you have Lebron James' jump shot, you can't get in. If you are accepted to the school and play sports, but don't meet the criteria, you don't play and likely won't last long because they will rip your scholarship and give it to a kid who meets the requirements. Oh, you also won't be handed envelopes of cash by boosters, you won't be given cars, homes, jewelry, tattoos etc. They likely handle this in a different way. I would presume that if you get in good with boosters, you are good at your chosen sport and you graduate on time, you might get an interview for a job and it's likely you will get that job because of the people you have met while playing sports at Stanford. That's a far cry from what's happening at USC, LSU and hundreds of other schools across the country.

Stanford football has climbed the ladder faster than anyone could have imagined. When Jim Harbaugh took over this program, they couldn't win games, they didn't play hard and they were over their heads in every possible category. Just five years later, they sit 4th in the BCS standings and have the longest winning streak in the nation at 16 games. The program is flying higher than ever before and for the most part, they are beating college athletes with student athletes and have raised the bar in their conference. This team and it's student athletes are kicking the crap out of bigger, faster, stronger athletes and to make things even more embarrassing, they are beating the other team mentally. Before the game even starts, these players have worked harder in the classroom than their opponent, then they hit the football field, bus their humps out there and after all of that, they hit the film room and figure out how to outsmart the other team. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that Stanford has the #1 NFL prospect in 20 years taking snaps from center. A kid who has an NFL pedigree and came back to school for this season because he wanted two things, in this order. He wanted to graduate from college (he's an architectural design major) and he wanted to win a national championship with his teammates. I don't know if he is going to win a Heisman or a national title, but I know he will graduate and that's what student athletes really care about when they leave college.