SECTION 11
vibraslap
49ers image problems
June 29, 2003
Feb. 1991: Just weeks after losing to the N.Y. Giants in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers get rid of Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig, placing them on the list of Plan B free agents. The team also introduces a new logo, which creates a public backlash so strong the team is forced to scrap that idea shortly thereafter.
Feb. 1992: Owner Eddie DeBartolo is accused of sexual assault. The charges are later dropped, but the accuser files a civil suit that is settled out of court.
Dec. 1996: The 49ers tell the world what they think of themselves with the self-aggrandizing slogan "Winning with class," which is painted on the midfield logo at Candlestick Park. Showing little class on the field, the 49ers roll up 15 penalties for 121 yards in a late-season loss to Carolina with the NFC West title on the line.
Jan. 1997: DeBartolo is charged with battery for allegedly hitting a fan after the 49ers' season-ending loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. He settles out of court.
Jan. 1997: The team parts ways with coach George Seifert. At the press conference to announce the mutual decision, DeBartolo is asked about the fate of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman. "He's gone," DeBartolo says coldly. That is how Trestman, watching the news conference, gets the word he's been fired.
May 1997: At a birthday party for political big-hitter Jack Davis, whom the 49ers hired for the campaign for a new stadium, lewd acts are performed on stage in front of a distinguished crowd that includes team president Carmen Policy.
Aug. 1997: After the 49ers win the election for approval of a new stadium by 1,500 votes, a local newspaper reports 744 dead people cast ballots.
Dec. 1997: DeBartolo hands control of the 49ers to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, after becoming the focus of a federal grand jury investigation into gaming fraud in Louisiana.
March 1999: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue fines DeBartolo $1 million and suspends him for conduct detrimental to the league. DeBartolo pleaded guilty months earlier to a felony, failure to report an extortion attempt.
April 1999: DeBartolo York sues her brother, charging him with reneging on a $94 million debt to the family company. DeBartolo responds a month later with a $150 million lawsuit, accusing her of breach of contract. "She's my sister," DeBartolo said. "Genes did that; I didn't."
April 2000: The Yorks officially take control of the team, with DeBartolo receiving stock and real estate holdings. The sides agree to drop the dueling lawsuits.
Dec. 2000: The 49ers agree to forfeit two draft picks and pay a $300,000 settlement after allegations the team entered into undisclosed agreements with several players in violation of the salary cap. Former executives Policy and Dwight Clark are fined. The violations happened while DeBartolo was in charge. John York turned over the documents to the NFL.
Dec. 2002: York continues to be perceived as cheap. He has a heated confrontation after a game in Arizona with a San Jose Mercury News reporter who wrote that the team was cutting back on bottled water at its Santa Clara facility. York says the report is false and the reporter never contacted him before writing the story. He later apologizes. When asked recently if he overreacted, York responded, "I suppose."
Jan. 2003: York fires popular coach Steve Mariucci, and the 49ers release the news before Mariucci gets out of his meeting with York. Mariucci's wife, hearing a report on the radio, drives to the facility and is waiting for her husband in his office. York does not attend the press conference to announce the firing and later conducts a conference call with reporters, many of whom are downstairs, from his second-story office.
Feb. 2003: Minority coaching candidates Greg Blache and Ted Cottrell are announced, along with defensive coordinator Jim Mora, as finalists for head coach. But general manager Terry Donahue secretly scours the college ranks for job candidates, including Washington's Rick Neuheisel. Because of a confidentiality agreement, Neuheisel lies about interviewing and gets in hot water with his university. The team eventually hires Dennis Erickson.
:twisted:
June 29, 2003
Feb. 1991: Just weeks after losing to the N.Y. Giants in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers get rid of Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig, placing them on the list of Plan B free agents. The team also introduces a new logo, which creates a public backlash so strong the team is forced to scrap that idea shortly thereafter.
Feb. 1992: Owner Eddie DeBartolo is accused of sexual assault. The charges are later dropped, but the accuser files a civil suit that is settled out of court.
Dec. 1996: The 49ers tell the world what they think of themselves with the self-aggrandizing slogan "Winning with class," which is painted on the midfield logo at Candlestick Park. Showing little class on the field, the 49ers roll up 15 penalties for 121 yards in a late-season loss to Carolina with the NFC West title on the line.
Jan. 1997: DeBartolo is charged with battery for allegedly hitting a fan after the 49ers' season-ending loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. He settles out of court.
Jan. 1997: The team parts ways with coach George Seifert. At the press conference to announce the mutual decision, DeBartolo is asked about the fate of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman. "He's gone," DeBartolo says coldly. That is how Trestman, watching the news conference, gets the word he's been fired.
May 1997: At a birthday party for political big-hitter Jack Davis, whom the 49ers hired for the campaign for a new stadium, lewd acts are performed on stage in front of a distinguished crowd that includes team president Carmen Policy.
Aug. 1997: After the 49ers win the election for approval of a new stadium by 1,500 votes, a local newspaper reports 744 dead people cast ballots.
Dec. 1997: DeBartolo hands control of the 49ers to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, after becoming the focus of a federal grand jury investigation into gaming fraud in Louisiana.
March 1999: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue fines DeBartolo $1 million and suspends him for conduct detrimental to the league. DeBartolo pleaded guilty months earlier to a felony, failure to report an extortion attempt.
April 1999: DeBartolo York sues her brother, charging him with reneging on a $94 million debt to the family company. DeBartolo responds a month later with a $150 million lawsuit, accusing her of breach of contract. "She's my sister," DeBartolo said. "Genes did that; I didn't."
April 2000: The Yorks officially take control of the team, with DeBartolo receiving stock and real estate holdings. The sides agree to drop the dueling lawsuits.
Dec. 2000: The 49ers agree to forfeit two draft picks and pay a $300,000 settlement after allegations the team entered into undisclosed agreements with several players in violation of the salary cap. Former executives Policy and Dwight Clark are fined. The violations happened while DeBartolo was in charge. John York turned over the documents to the NFL.
Dec. 2002: York continues to be perceived as cheap. He has a heated confrontation after a game in Arizona with a San Jose Mercury News reporter who wrote that the team was cutting back on bottled water at its Santa Clara facility. York says the report is false and the reporter never contacted him before writing the story. He later apologizes. When asked recently if he overreacted, York responded, "I suppose."
Jan. 2003: York fires popular coach Steve Mariucci, and the 49ers release the news before Mariucci gets out of his meeting with York. Mariucci's wife, hearing a report on the radio, drives to the facility and is waiting for her husband in his office. York does not attend the press conference to announce the firing and later conducts a conference call with reporters, many of whom are downstairs, from his second-story office.
Feb. 2003: Minority coaching candidates Greg Blache and Ted Cottrell are announced, along with defensive coordinator Jim Mora, as finalists for head coach. But general manager Terry Donahue secretly scours the college ranks for job candidates, including Washington's Rick Neuheisel. Because of a confidentiality agreement, Neuheisel lies about interviewing and gets in hot water with his university. The team eventually hires Dennis Erickson.
:twisted:
