4 posts tagged “49ers”
Show us what NFL team you're rooting for today.
Pulled out the away game division win in OT. Gotta love 'em. Go Niners!
Despite the fact that I've been writing Team Vox posts, working on the editorials, and helping Krissy with the Vox Talks newsletters since I started working at Six Apart in late September, the March 2008 Vox Talks newsletter is the first thing that actually has my name (and a link to my Vox blog) on it.
It occurred to me that someone reading the newsletter might actually click on that link and wonder who on earth I am and what I'm doing here... but even more than that, I realized I FINALLY had a reason to reference De La Soul's "3 Feet High and Rising" in a blog post title. Both fantastic reasons to write a quick list of things about myself, as well as a few random facts that really don't have anything to do with me at all.
- My name is daisy. I spell it with all lowercase letters despite the obvious low self-esteem implications.
- A close family friend recently named her golden retriever puppy, "Daisy." That Daisy spells her name with a capital "D." Which doesn't actually lessen the confusion at dinner parties. She's a pretty cute doggie though, which helps. Also, I've really mastered "heel," "sit," and "stay." Still working on "roll over"...
- Daisy is in the Top Ten of "most common" dog names.
- Daisy currently ranks at 149 amongst popular human female baby names.
- There is no baby name ranking for daisy spelled with a lowercase "d."
- I love the 49ers. In an almost scary kind of way. Seriously. Don't mess with me on Game Day. No. Seriously.
- I'm trying to read 35 books in 2008 and I'm posting reviews of all the books on my Vox blog.
- I was born in North Carolina, raised in San Francisco, and spent my most formative years in New York City.
- I don't cook anything except frozen pizza and cereal.
- I'm goofy footed.
- I cry just a little bit during almost every episode of Grey's Anatomy.
- I secretly love Bon Jovi.
- I learned how to drive when I was 26. Which not only means that I'm a terrible driver, but that my insurance rates are ridiculously high.
- My biggest accomplishment thus far in 2008 is my 100% vocals rating on Rock Band (singing "In Bloom).
In case you didn't come here for me at all, but instead came to ask, "WHERE'S KRISSY?" all I can say is that Krissy is still very much around. She's just taken on some new responsibilities at Six Apart. I'm bummed too, but it's not fair of us to hog her all to ourselves, is it? (Wait... is it?!)
Mostly, I just want to say how much I love working here and how happy I am to be on Team Vox and to be a part of what I think is one of the best blogging services and most amazing communities out there.
If you have questions, answers, moral dilemmas, book suggestions, or simply want to know when I'm getting behind the wheel so you can stay off the roads, please leave me a comment.
Or, if you're up to it: Introduce yourself and tell me a random, (perhaps pointless) fact about you!
It was sometime around Game 4 of the San Francisco 49ers 2007 season that I realized I was watching history in the making. Sure we'd spent a ton of money on marquee players like Alex Smith, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but they weren't the ones who were catching my eye. And that's probably because they were never on the field long enough to do so. In fact, it seemed like almost every time our offense got the ball, Smith would throw an incomplete pass, Gore would run for no gain, and Davis would drop the short pass. Three and out again and again and again.
And that, my friends, is when the magic happened.
You know what often happens on 4th down during a football game? That's right: The punter takes the field. In the case of the 49ers, that meant the one, the only.... ANDY LEE.
I've posted about my adoration for Andy Lee before. I mean, sorry to say it, but he really is our best player. Let me break it down for you:
- He is having one of the best seasons EVER for a 49ers punter.
- He is 1st in the NFL in net average (42.4 yards) AND punts over 50 yards (44).
- Returners against him have averaged only 5.9 yards per return.
- He is on pace to record 40 punts downed inside the 20-yard-line - which, I might add, would be an NFL record.
In short, when Andy Lee comes on the field, I scream, "I LOVE YOU ANDY LEE" because, well, what the hell else am I suppose to scream for? And what's so amazing is that... without our shity shitty offense, none of this ever would have happened for him.
As my dear friend, and fellow Niners fan, Garen, said, "Kinda makes that season ticket plan of yours seem like a bargain now huh? I mean - you witnessed history..."
No matter that we've only won four games. Or that our coaching staff is horrible. Or that Alex Smith has been a huge disappointment. Or that our offensive line never gave Gore a fighting chance. No matter. Because for the rest of my life, I will be able to say that I was THERE, at EVERY HOME GAME, the season Andy Lee went to the Pro Bowl.
And that my friends makes it all worth it. All $2000 of it.
I actually had faith before last night's game against the Seahawks that the Nines could still turn it around. Call me an optimist. Call me crazy. I'm probably a little of both. But mostly I'm a fan.
Which is why watching us drop our seventh game in a row was a bit more than I could handle. And not only did we lose, we got our asses kicked.
To summarize:
- ONE first down in the entire first half. ONE. As time expired.
- Gore stuffed on 4th and 1.
- Tons of penalties (granted, some were bad calls by the refs who seem to hate the Niners)
- Turnovers
- Bad passes. REALLY bad passes.
- D-Jacks living up to the fact that he''s been a terrible disappointment for the Niners.
- Terrible defense (every time seatlle caught the ball, there wasn't a single Niner jersey in sight. It was laughable.)
- Shitty play calling. (Also some good play calling - liked the first call of the game - deep pass to Battle - but, um, oh riiiight. Alex Smith CANNOT THROW THE BALL ACCURATELY.)
- Trick plays that were complete failures (really, does Battle need to take the snap? Are we THAT desperate?)
- And don't get me started on our offensive line. Larry Allen, I love you, but I think you're over.
So what does this mean for the Niners? Well, we would have an AWESOME first round draft pick, but ooohhhhhh right: We gave it to THE PATRIOTS. THE BEST TEAM IN THE NFL. I am so glad we're going to help their dynasty.
This season is over. And, frankly, I don't know what we can do to make next season any better. I do know that we need to make some serious changes. Get rid of Hostler. Get rid of Nolan. And, sorry to say it, GET RID OF ALEX SMITH. He is just not the quarterback we thought he was going to be. And I don't want to waste another minute of time trying to develop his seemingly nonexistent skills. We need better receivers, better blockers, and a better all-around attitude. We need to actually BELIEVE we can win. I do believe. I go out there every week and I believe. But hey, I'm just one girl.
And what does this mean for me, you might ask? Nothing, I guess. You'll still find me at the game next Sunday. Niners gear on. Beer-in-hand. Screaming at everyone. Except, of course, my new favorite player and frankly, the best player on the team: Andy Lee.
Our Punter.
