Rave: Wersching you were here
There have been a lot of sad days in my life as a Niner fan. The day Montana, Rice, Lott, & Craig all put on different uniforms, the day Young retired, and the days they drafted Druckenmiller, Flagler, & Stokes just to name a few. But looking back, the saddest day as a Niner fan would have to be the day Ray Wersching hung up his cleats. You might be wondering why him more than the others. Well for each player that retired or were cut, the Niners had someone ready to fill the void. That wasn't the case with Ray.
Ray Wersching played for the Niners for 11 years, and the 16 years following his retirement the Niners have gone through a total of 10 kickers trying to replace him. Look down the list at those 10 and not one name comes close to the success Ray had in 'Red & Gold'. Mike Cofer, Doug Brien, Jeff Wilkins, Tony Zendejas, Gary Anderson, Wade Richey, Jose Cortez, Jeff Chandler, Owen Pochman, and now Todd Peterson. None of them are worthy to carry Ray's jock. With the exception of Gary Anderson, but can we really count him? He was more of a rental kicker for that one year.
It almost seems like the Niners wronged the football gods somehow, and this is their punishment. Almost two decades of futile kickers. Or maybe there were not enough retirement celebrations in Candlestick to make Ray feel appreciated, thus he cursed the team. If that's the case I now know how Red Sox & Cubby fans feel.
There is a simple solution to reversing this curse, however, retire Ray's jersey. I know I have. I have his #14 jersey framed and hanging on my wall. Underneath it an autographed picture of Ray and a candle I light every Sunday in Ray's honor. I know if this were to happen the Niners would please the football gods again, and Ray himself would lift the curse.
God what I wouldn't give to watch Ray play again. To see him looking down at the ground, never once looking at the uprights. How I miss those days. I can guarantee you this much, the Niners would have made the playoffs last season is Ray were still around. No way he'd miss those gimmes those bums did last season. Damn you Owen Pochman.
Speaking of field goals, you do realize Ray was robbed of MVP honors in Super Bowl XVI don't you? He kicked 4 Field Goals that day, tying a Super Bowl record. Instead they went with the safe pick in that of Joe Montana. Who only threw for 157 yards by the way. I do not care what they say Ray, you were the MVP in my book.
I'm not sure if the Niners will ever be able to rekindle the magic Ray gave us. I pray to Ray they do. But in the meantime we are stuck watching ex-roofers and kickers who haven't kicked in years. Sitting there crossing our fingers that their 20 yard attempt will split the uprights. We as Niner fans deserve better, we need to stand up and let management know we will not settle for this kicking mediocrity any longer. So I say we gather together and start a Rayvolution. Repeat after me:
Viva La Ray! Viva La Ray! Viva La Ray!
Ray Wersching played for the Niners for 11 years, and the 16 years following his retirement the Niners have gone through a total of 10 kickers trying to replace him. Look down the list at those 10 and not one name comes close to the success Ray had in 'Red & Gold'. Mike Cofer, Doug Brien, Jeff Wilkins, Tony Zendejas, Gary Anderson, Wade Richey, Jose Cortez, Jeff Chandler, Owen Pochman, and now Todd Peterson. None of them are worthy to carry Ray's jock. With the exception of Gary Anderson, but can we really count him? He was more of a rental kicker for that one year.
It almost seems like the Niners wronged the football gods somehow, and this is their punishment. Almost two decades of futile kickers. Or maybe there were not enough retirement celebrations in Candlestick to make Ray feel appreciated, thus he cursed the team. If that's the case I now know how Red Sox & Cubby fans feel.
There is a simple solution to reversing this curse, however, retire Ray's jersey. I know I have. I have his #14 jersey framed and hanging on my wall. Underneath it an autographed picture of Ray and a candle I light every Sunday in Ray's honor. I know if this were to happen the Niners would please the football gods again, and Ray himself would lift the curse.
God what I wouldn't give to watch Ray play again. To see him looking down at the ground, never once looking at the uprights. How I miss those days. I can guarantee you this much, the Niners would have made the playoffs last season is Ray were still around. No way he'd miss those gimmes those bums did last season. Damn you Owen Pochman.
Speaking of field goals, you do realize Ray was robbed of MVP honors in Super Bowl XVI don't you? He kicked 4 Field Goals that day, tying a Super Bowl record. Instead they went with the safe pick in that of Joe Montana. Who only threw for 157 yards by the way. I do not care what they say Ray, you were the MVP in my book.
I'm not sure if the Niners will ever be able to rekindle the magic Ray gave us. I pray to Ray they do. But in the meantime we are stuck watching ex-roofers and kickers who haven't kicked in years. Sitting there crossing our fingers that their 20 yard attempt will split the uprights. We as Niner fans deserve better, we need to stand up and let management know we will not settle for this kicking mediocrity any longer. So I say we gather together and start a Rayvolution. Repeat after me:
Viva La Ray! Viva La Ray! Viva La Ray!
Are the 49ers rushing T RAT to come back?
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:37 AM
Anonymous: Great question. I posted it on our message boards so you could here what some of the other Niner fans had to say about TRat.
http://49ers.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=3614
Posted by
Erickson |
8:33 AM