My first blog was due to be an essay on why I love the game of American Football so much. It was witty, light and after yesterday completely misplaced.
The first season I can remember following week to week was the 94/95 season, the year the 49ers won the Superbowl… I would watch the highlights week in week out and if I went on mastermind that year I could probably name you the whole playing squad for every team in the NFL! Channel 4 did a weekly highlight show on Saturday mornings and I was glued to the set… I was already a 49ers fan and had suffered the previous seasons when the Cowboys appeared to be our constant bogey team, but this year it was all going well and for once we managed to put one over on “America’s Team”.
As I watched the whole Season I was also very aware of our eventual opponents, the “Cinderella” team, the San Diego Chargers. Whereas the 49ers had the best record in our division and weapons all over the park, the Chargers were seen as the David to our Goliath. They had a former back up quarterback in Stan Humphries (the 9ers had Steve Young who was the regular season MVP passer rating: 112.8), the seemingly unstoppable Natrone Means and a defence led by my favourite player not wearing red and gold… Junior Seau.
As I watched the highlights every week, it seemed he was always seemed to be featured (123 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3 fumbles recovered, Pro Bowl for the forth consecutive season). In the playoffs the Chargers outdid themselves, coming back from 21-6 down against Miami and 13-3 down against Pittsburgh. Once again Junior was at the forefront, passionate, driven and all class.
The 49ers trounced them in the Superbowl, but even then Seau never stopped. When Jerry Rice, Ricky Watters and Steve Young seemed to be scoring with ease there seemed to be one warrior blocking the bridge, one guy still willing to throw himself at the feet of the charging attackers and that was Junior Seau. Despite my pleasure at the 9ers win, I did feel bad that such a player had to be on the end of such a score.
Seau went on to play in the NFL for 20 seasons only retiring in 2010. After his death on the 02-05-2012 the NFL has lost a huge servant to the game. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
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