CHANGE MY LOCATION
Sports
Examiners
Sports Examiner
Most Recent Post
Radio hosts get blast back from Magic Johnson after accusations of faking AIDS
California News
Multimedia News
Liotta: How quickly people have changed tune
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
)
Opinions of 49ers coach Mike Nolan have reversed field.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - In January 2005, Mike Nolan was called a great hire.
In January 2006, Mike Nolan was celebrated as an excellent first-year coach.
This past January, Nolan was hailed as leader of an NFL organization on the rise. And just three months ago, Nolan was praised for leading the 49ers through an outstanding trip through free agency and the draft. Everybody said so. Everybody.
Now, three months later, Nolan needs a general manager? He’s no longer worthy of having final say in this football organization? He needs somebody to hold his hand?
Three months in sports is nothing. Three months ago Brett Favre was washed up. Three months ago Randy Moss was nothing but trouble.
It’s ludicrous to think it was going to be a straight line, a smooth sail from where the 49ers were at the end of the Terry Donahue era — absolute rock-bottom in terms of talent and direction — to where they want to be. Only the truly football-challenged could be so fooled.
And that’s the biggest disappointment in this disappointing Niners season, that the Yorks — John, Jed and Denise — have learned nothing from recent years. Simply a rumor of reversing course now would show this trifecta hasn’t a clue how to build a winner and they’re out their telling the media that’s what they’re thinking. Unbelievable.
Imagine the 49ers’ locker room now. Tough times are part of rebuilding. Strength of conviction in the face of adversity is part of the equation. And, unfortunately, we’ve been reminded once again that the 49ers don’t have it.
A new leader? We don’t even know where Nolan’s leadership was going to get this team. Reacting to these bumpy times by undermining the man they put in place is mind-boggling. To not have discussed whether such a change might help Nolan and his crew is unfathomable.
And yet that’s where we are with the 49ers.
Nolan is by no means blameless for where the Niners find themselves. But now that he seemingly no longer has a chance to lead this team out of this forest of frustration, we’ll never know how the Niners according to Nolan would have turned out.
And, as disappointing as this season has been up ’til now, Niners fans now have nothing but more disappointment ahead. And they have nobody but John, Jed and Denise to blame for that.
Random thoughts:
» I checked everywhere and I can’t even find a scouting report on the Pismo Beach Panthers. Man, that Don Nelson knows basketball top to bottom.
» Jeremy Roenick has been truly amazing for the Sharks. For Roenick to lead the NHL in game-winning goals at this grand ol’ wizard stage of his career is one of the best stories out there.
Tim Liotta is a freelance journalist and regular contributor to The Examiner.
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:26 PM MST on Sun., May. 11, 2008 re: "Giants’ Zito is trying, but that’s not enough"
Report as inappropriate
3:37 PM MST on Sat., Dec. 22, 2007
re: "Liotta: It was little, but it could be big"
Report as inappropriate
11:18 AM MST on Sun., Dec. 9, 2007
re: "Liotta: Is Rios really that exciting?"
Report as inappropriate
1:29 PM MST on Sat., Dec. 8, 2007
re: "Liotta: Is Rios really that exciting?"
Report as inappropriate
7:24 AM MST on Sat., Dec. 8, 2007
re: "Liotta: Is Rios really that exciting?"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
Make up an injury? I'd make him clean the toilets at the ballpark 40 hours a week. At least the Giants would get something back for that ridiculous salary of his!
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
how much more do we need to hear Liotta's wrong comments? he was wrong about Baron Davis, and has been wrong too many times about the 49ers and Mike Nolan...it's getting lame....
113 agree | 125 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Stoeten in TO said:
Considering the debate I've heard, this is probably a fair trade. A lot of Toronto fans think it's crazy to give up Rios. The Jays don't run so his SB numbers don't reflect his true speed. In the NL he'll be a perennial 30-30 guy at least, and he hits for average, and has great range and a great arm. Maybe I'm too biased being in Toronto, but Rios to me looks like a perfect cornerstone hitter for an NL West franchise. Plus, he's one of the few Jays who was consistently getting clutch hits last year. Anyway, I'm just saying, don't base your interest in him on the fact that he got looked over in the US media being in Toronto. Trust me, people here weren't rushing out to read Lincecum box scores either.
122 agree | 84 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Well stated - but Lincecum is money in the bank #1 potential SP under control for 5 years are VERY rare. 25 HR-15 SB corner OF under control for 2-3 years are not as rare.
105 agree | 98 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
SteveToronto said:
You guys and Sabean are out of your minds if you dont make this trade! Rios is a proven commodity at the age of 27. 2 time allstars whose numbers have improved everyyear over the last 4 years and are on the verge of super stardom dont grow on trees! 23 year old pitchers who are "supposed" to be stars one day come along to every organization at least once a year
104 agree | 112 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree