Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_Gamecock Sports_ San Francisco dynasty headed straight for Hell ji I David Cloninger Who Else? Break out the red and gold hankies, folks, because the great 49ers dynasty is about to end. Loyal readers of this column know that yours truly is a big San Francisco fan and no one is tom more by this shocking development than me. It saddens me deeply to say that, yes, the mighty 49er organization is on the way out. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the perpetra tors behind such a dastardly act are not free agency, retirement or the National Football League, but the 49ers own front office, led by former coach Bill Whlsh of all people. After a season that saw just about every long standing 49er record crumble to the ground, 'felsh and the rest of the cigar-smoking jerks in the front office have crassly announced they will let go of quarterback Steve Young and wide re ceiver Jerry Rice if their contracts cannot be ne gotiated to fit the salary cap. What? I’m no expert, but after the season that just took place, this is hardly the news that will keep fans coming back. - ■ Let’s examine the history. The 49ers, under the guidance of head coach Bill Walsh and his newly innovated West Coast offense, became one of the most storied fran chises in NFL history in the 1980s and ‘90s by winning five Super Bowls and featuring a slew of Pro-Bowlers, All-Stars and MVPs. Led by an unsung draft pick quarteiback named Joe Mon tana, the 49ers won their first Super Bowl in 1981 and picked up two more in 1984 and 1989. In 1990, Walsh stepped down, handing the reins to George Seifert, who promptly marched the 49ers back to the 1990 Super Bowl, beating the Denver Broncos 55-10. Five years later, Seifert and a veteran quar terback named Steve Young blasted the San Diego Chargers to win their fifth Super Bowl, the first NFL team ever to accomplish the feat. After such a 20-year period of dominance, (16 straight seasons with at least 10 wins, seven straight playoff appearances, 19 straight years with an of fensive player in the Pro Bowl, the 49ers came crashing down in 1999 with a horrendous 4-12 record, breaking all the previously mentioned records. Of course, even though the Niners finished in the cellar, they did have an excuse. They lost Young in week 3 due to his fourth concussion in three years which forced backup Jeff Garcia into the role of stating quarterback. Although Garcia led the 49ers to victory over AFC Champion Tennessee in Nashville, the sea son was a disaster after that game, thanks to an eight-game losing streak. Now, with Young cleared medically to play and Rice saying he wants to end his career with the team on which he has always played, the front of fice has fudged on asking the two All-Pros to come back, despite that generous promise. Never mind the fact that Young, a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl XXIX MVP, the highest rated passer in NFL history and the man who still took the Niners to victory after Montana left, ha been the heart and soul of the team for the wholi decade. Never mind the fact that Rice is the greates wide receiver of all time, pulling in so many award that he had to build an extra garage to his homi in order to keep them all. Never mind the fact that both of the player are willing to renegotiate their contracts to sta; in San Francisco. Finally, never mind the fact that every othe star (Kevin Gogan, Lee Woodall, Charles Haley has been traded or retired already, and the team i a shell of what it once was. Do Whlsh and Company really think the tean can win without its two biggest stars? Apparently, they do. This reminds me of how the Boston Red So: let go of Babe Ruth. The result: Boston go money and Ruth went on to become the greates player the game has ever seen. While the Rut! Yankees won countless pennants and World Se ries titles, the Sox haven’t won a championshi since 1918. Now, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is say ft t i ing his team will gladly take Young if he is re ! leased. J; If this happens, Young will continue his trend * : of throwing for 3,500 yards a season while the *■ ; Niners will be left in the cold with a bunch of ; rookies, stumblebums and never-were players. And why? Why will Whlsh, who supposedly i loved his 49ers more than life itself, not sacri ' fice his life and limbs so his team can sign its two biggest stars and at least attempt to become a win ' ning program? ) Because of money. > Money’s too tight to ensure at least six wins for the Niners by signing Rice and Young, but it is i loose enough to give Whlsh and the rest of the big execs a six-figure salary. Money’s too tight to give a couple of old vet t erans a last gift—a retirement present with the team t they rode to glory with, but is it too tight to buy t Wilsh and his family new can? i Money can’t buy happiness. No, maybe not. But it damn sure can buy two players who ) will lead the best team in the history of pro fessional football to one last shot at a win. Any questions? 0 0 0 o 0 .. Corner of Gervais St. § o ^44Q and Gadsden o o 115# Across from Jillians o o Gets you: ^ ^ Gervais St. jj o y 799-2020 o 0 « 0 o 0 *an eye exam & § *2 six packs of disposables 0 §Or Dr. C. Earl Loftis Jr. § 0 *an eye exam & Office hours: M-Th 9am-6pm 0 g * 1 pair of daily wear lenses Fri. 9am-4pm g Imagine Yourself... Studying Abroad with $23,000... Learn how YOU can become one of about 1,200 students who will be sponsored for study abroad in the academic-year 2000-2001. The Rotary Foundation is awarding $23,000 scholarships to students who have completed at least two years of college-level course work and are U.S. citizens. USC has had 33 Rotary Scholars since 1994, including five . winners this year! You could win, too! To speak with local Rotary - Club representatives about this prestigious scholarship, application procedures, and selection criteria, plan to attend the : ♦ Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Workshop : Tuesday, February 22,2000 6:30 p.m. Gressette Room, 3rd Floor Harper College * For more information, contact the Fellowships Office, Harper 101, at 777-0958 - ------~— -r* ^HmQojin]V£w Take a Test Drive and find out! Kaplan and Golden Key are sponsoring a practice test Saturday, Feb. 19, 9am BA building. $5 donation to Golden Key. You MUST call 1-800-KAPTEST to register. Or stop by our table this Tuesday,Wednesday or Thursday in front of Russell House from 11am-2pm.Call today! Or take it online from February 15-29 at kaptestdrive.com! 1-800-KAP-TEST kaptest.com ; 1 'Test names are registered trademarks of their respective owners. ■ _ "As seen in American Astrology magazine" A Woman's Guide to Love Through The Stars helps you identify your romantic match with astrology. New booklet reveals his personality and includes a quiz. Order now to receive your free personality profile plus unique astro-gift when you send your month/ day of birth & $7.99 to: Misty Starz, P.O. Box 1361, Orangeburg, SC 29116. 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