Suited: 49er's coach Nolan and Mayor Newsom

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October 13, 10:16 AM

by Arthur Bruzzone, S.F. Politics Examiner

 

Last Sundays Niners defeat says a great deal about both.

For both Nolan and Newsom, appearances and the trivial dominate---that's in direct  contrast with the past for the Niners.  Cherished Niner’s coach Bill Walsh was understated, reserved, thoughtful, and successful. He brought a winning team to a city battered "reeling from the assassination of San Francisco’s mayor and one of its Supervisors, from the Jonestown suicides by the Peoples’ Temple congregation...and from the devastating emergence of the AIDS epidemic."  (More)

Going over the top. Now contrast that with Coach Nolan’s blatantly absurd challenge of a field goal last Sunday, with two referees planted squarely under the goal posts....and, consider  Mayor Newsom’s arrogant “you’d better get used to it...it's going to happen whether you like it or not” boast, now featured prominently in Yes on 8 ads (marriage definition initiative). 

Can you imagine Bill Walsh challenging a field goal?  Or, Mayor Willie Brown boasting after a political victory?  Walsh and Brown understood when you lose you lose gracefully, and when you win you do modestly.  They also understood you don’t declare victory until the contest is over.

There are fundamentals for both football and politics. Flashy plays and political initiatives have a short shelf life.  With Offensive Coordinator Martz, we have razzle dazzle pass plays.  But Coach Walsh emphasized fundamentals:  The passing game was planted on a solid ground game. His short pass strategy was actually an extended running strategy.  

We saw a bit of that in the first half last Sunday.  A hard driving back like Frank Gore needs about 20-25 rushing plays to get into stride, to read and fool the defense.  He proved that in the first half.  When most teams would run the ball with a lead in the last quarter,  Martz went back to the air.  Glitz over fundamentals. Always aiming for the fence.

Current SF politics is no different.  Now we have flash over fundamentals.  Take the recent attack by the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on cigarette sales in drug stores, or nutritional regulations for restaurants, or restrictions on restaurants in North Beach.  Meanwhile, their fiscal mismanagement continues with a grossly under funded health pension plan, huge bonds needed for infrastructure (now in an environment of tight credit), and the highest city employee salaries in the country.  Fundamentals, ignored for too long by the Mayor and Board, will come back to haunt them in the current credit crisis.

Suits.  The fine tailored suits and rhetoric of Coach Nolan and Mayor Newsom can’t hide the fact that both the team and the city have too often become the laughing stock of the nation. 

When the city grows weary of the flash, then we’ll see new leadership, professional leadership, of both the 49ers and city hall. One that starts with fundamentals, and less temper tantrums, boasting, and grimacing for the cameras.  

The victory celebrations will follow naturally.  We all remember 500,000 proud fans lined up along Market Street when the Niners won their first  superbowl.  Unfortunately, that memory is fading rapidly to a black and white past, as is the city’s greatness.
 

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