Oops-almost wrote 1941. Today is Sunday, and it's the
39th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the launching of America into what should
have been the last global conflict. But, as recent signs show, that might not
be the case at all. What with the Soviet Union already in Afghanistan and
supposedly about to invade Poland too, it is no overstatement to say that I
fear the worst.
I spent the plupart
of the day chez Dad, where we
suffered through a first half-full of miserable 49er play-only to be astounded
by an unbelievable second half. The 0-13 New Orleans Saints played the first
half like they were the Steelers of old, and the 49ers played like almost
literally a bunch of turkeys. The score at halftime was, and it's a good thing
I'm writing this tonight because I might not believe this 20 years from now,
the score was 35-7 Saints. The lone 49er touchdown? A 55-60 yard punt return by
the suddenly extraordinary Freddie Solomon. But the home fans booed throughout
the first half, and many departed at the break. I myself (and who else would I
be if not myself?) resigned myself (that's where a "self" belongs) to
reading the newspaper, going through the motions of listening to the tragedy on
the radio. Well, who would have imagined 28 unanswered points in the second
half by the 49ers to tie the game? Of course it was possible but not likely,
because even if the offense was able to score 28 points, then surely you'd
expect the sieve-like defense, so bloody rotten in the first half, unable to
keep the Saints from scoring at will. In the end, it went down as the greatest
comeback in 49ers history, according to Lon Simmons. First, a 76-yard pass
play, Joe Montana to Dwight Clark, who beat three defenders in a FOOT RACE for
60 yards of it. Then, a catch at the Saints 5-yard line by the estimable
Solomon, who faked two Saints defenders out of their shoes for the score. Then
there was a relatively routine QB touchdown scramble by Joe, and then the
scoring was capped by a 7 yard touchdown run by Lenvil Elliott. As for the
defense, when the Saints remembered again how to self-destruct by fumbling and
blowing blocking assignments, the 49ers defense executed its newfound ability
that had originally surfaced in the 12-0 shutout of the Giants and the 21-17
upset of the Patriots. No record-setting defense today, just good all-around
tough play particularly by Archie Reese, Ricky Churchman, Gerard Williams
(recovering from a MISERABLE first half), Danny Bunz, and Lawrence Pillars, not
forgetting Jim Stuckey, Keena Turner and Bobby Leopold-each of them rookies.
Only one interception-in the last minute of the fourth quarter by Dwight Hicks,
and two sacks, but the Saints never really came close to scoring again.
Overtime. The Saints won the coin toss, but ineptly (thanks to fine defensive
play) failed to move the ball and had to punt. The 49ers got the ball on the
26-yard line, and thanks mainly to Elliott (who ended up as the 49ers first
100-yard rusher this season) and with help from Don Woods, the team moved down
to the Saints 12 (there was also a very helpful unnecessary roughness call
against New Orleans). However, the 49ers suddenly made a Mistake of Their Own-a
holding call, and Ray Wersching, who has been brilliant all season, came on to
attempt a 35-yard field goal. He made it, splitting the uprights, and the 49ers
went to 6-8 and achieved a level of respectability, while the Saints, who had
just blown a 20 point lead, plummeted to 0-14. Not even Joe Thomas’ 49ers were
ever 0-14. With one more loss, the Saints will become the first team ever to
lose more than 14 games in regular-season play. So the 49ers have now tripled
their win output of each of the past two seasons, and indeed have cinched
bettering their 1977 record, when they were 5-9 under coach Ken Meyer. So the
team has achieved their best record since 1976 under coach Monte Clark, when
they were 8-6 and finished second in the division. Who says we aren't
progressing? Granted, we did have a relatively easy schedule this year. But the
team is learning how to play the game-a knowledge they have sorely lacked over
the past 2 1/2 years will. Give them a good draft or two, and with a healthy
and full-powered Paul Hofer and Dwaine Board for an entire season, we’ll see
what they can do. And the Saints trudge home 0-14 and guaranteed of the number
one pick in the draft next year, which they will undoubtedly use on Heisman
Trophy-winning running back George Rogers. The greatest comeback in 49ers
history! Wow.
And it was very nice at dad's. Infrequent exposure seems
to bring out the best in him. Spending a summer or any extended time, they tend
to get on each other's nerves. But just popping over on weekends is almost like
heaven. At these times I am rarely unsure of his love and concern for me.
Strong medicine in these trouble-filled times. But with an
inconsistently-present mother (who has been gone 10 days now without a word
despite her promise of a card AND a phone call he he) will, it's nice to have a
steady presence somewhere.
Oh! Waiting for me at dad's was a Christmas card, sort
of, from Paul and Cindy F (mostly Paul, I'll bet), the two Jersey-ites from
ME-16, the tour group from my European trip this past summer. In the card they
wrote about how well their lives are going and their hope that mine is going
the same. Now I feel guilty about not writing them, and I'll field the guilt if
I break them back. But how would they know whether I intended to write them a
card or not? It's the thought that counts, and all that cliché bullshit. I've
still received no word from Greg Reimer. Maybe I'll write to Mark R, or
even the Mexicans. I should write to Judy C (another classmate in Italian
class last year). Carl Sagan was wrong. Writing isn't man's greatest invention.
It's his greatest curse. As well as the greatest blessing (oh, you always have
to see both sides of the question don't you?) And why do I use many
parentheses? Shall I improve as a writer if I cut down on those? Why can't I
simply end a day's journal without rambling on? Why am I writing this anyway,
when due to my hurried strokes I won't be able to read these words in five
years’ time?
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