So long to the greatest receiver in history

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Aug 24, 2006 2:20 PM PDT

and my very first hero. Jerry Rice formally announced his retirement today. He will retire as a 49er.

I have a little tribute to Jerry Rice that I'd like to write. I hope I don't bore you guys too much.

I almost cried last year when he said he didn't want to be Denver's 4th receiver. This finally brings closure to the best athlete to ever wear a football uniform.

Growing up, I was a 49er fan. I was born in Oakland (HISS, BOO!!!) but felt no allegiance to the East Bay teams (Raiders, A's). Instead, I became enamoured with the teams of San Francisco. I began watching the 49ers at the age of 5. My mom, my brother and I would cheer for Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, and Ronnie Lott as they dominated football in the 80's, while my Dad cheered for the rival Cowboys. This sure made for some fun Sunday afternoons.

Showing his true athleticism, he weathered the transition between Joe Montana and Steve Young with aplomb. He was the one constant between the dominating teams of the 80's, to the mildly threatening teams of the 90's. A lasting memory of mine will be Joe Montana night. Jerry Rice had suffered a knee injury being tackled earlier in the season and he busted his ass to get back in time for a late-season game against the Broncos, in which Joe Montana's number 16 was to be retired. The critics (and I'm sure the team did too) screamed that it was too early to come back from an injury of that magnitude. Rice didn't care. He wanted to honor the memory of his old teammate. He went all out that night, showing no regard for his still-healing knee. He laid out for a touchdown grab...and fractured his knee cap when his leg struck the ground. However, he held on to the ball.

I'll be honest, I was pissed when he went to the Oakland Raiders. Being an impassioned teenager at the time, I almost renounced my worship of Rice, and nearly tore up my number 80 jersey. However, I found out later that the 49ers really gave him no choice in the matter. I was happy to see him make it to the Super Bowl one last time (and, honestly, was glad to see them defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

One of my happiest recent memories was when it was announced that the Seahawks made a mid-season trade to grab Jerry Rice from the Oakland Raiders. Steve Largent, in a great display of respect, granted Rice the use of his retired number 80. While living in the Bay Area, I was never able to make it to a 49er game. However, I finally got to see my boyhood hero play before my eyes when I saw the Seahawks take on the Carolina Panthers at Qwest Field. Granted, Rice only caught one pass (for 6 yards), I will remember it forever. I have to admit that I got a little misty-eyed when he caught that ball.

I can't even begin to relate to you all how much Jerry Rice meant to me as a player. Even when he was on the Raiders, I followed his career with fervor. He will be missed greatly.

If you guys would like to add any additional Jerry Rice thoughts, please feel free. It's fun to think back on the career of such a gifted player, and quality human being.

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There are very few athletes whose mere presence on the field restored confidence and faith in their fans. Two of them were Montana and Rice. If you were a 49er fan, you just never had a doubt about anything when you saw them on the field. Even if they lost their playoff game, you knew it'd be only a matter of months before they were back in contention.

Rice was always a class act, but oddly enough the moment I remember most about him was when he was ticked off at the media. I can't remember what year it was, must have been the 90's. After a game which the Niners won, some reporters caught Jerry in the locker room, and for some reason he was pissed that he was their only focal point at that time in the season.

"There are a lot of other people on this team that are responsible for our success," he said (something like). He rattled off names -- I know one of them was Tim McDonald, Merton Hanks might've been another -- all of them Niners who he thought deserved more credit than he did. That pretty much says all you need to know about the guy's teamwork mentality.

Phenomenal instinct, unmatched athleticism, and when he had to be, not a half-bad blocker. Really cool dude too.

--Shrug

by Shrug on Aug 24, 2006 4:32 PM PDT reply actions

I remember reading something once

how Jerry Rice and John Taylor used to have contests as to who got the better block. Not only was he concerned about making catches and helping his team out, he wanted to be the best at everything, including the gloryless job of blocking for a running play. You gotta love a guy like that.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Aug 24, 2006 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

One handed catches

The blocks he laid out for his teamates, never dropping a ball, burning Dion, giving everything he had everyday, every week, every year. How many touchdowns away from two hundred? He was the best.

by draftday on Aug 24, 2006 5:38 PM PDT reply actions