The Great One

Sure, I should talk about how the Sharks suffered yet another dispiriting home loss to the Ducks on Tuesday,

And of course I should talk about The Plucky Littles comeback win over the Wolves last night.

And yes, I know The Great One is Wayne Gretzky.

But I want to take a moment today and talk about one of the classiest, most talented, most inspirational football players I have ever had the joy to root for - Bryant Young.

It appears BY will be retiring at the end of the year, making Sunday his final home game. It's a sad day, the last remnant of the title winning 49er teams riding off in to the sunset.

But BY is special for so many more reasons than being the last one standing from the '94 champions. He exemplifies everything that is right about the game, in an era in which so many exemplify everything that is wrong.

His stats are fantastic - 4 time All Pro, 4 time Pro Bowler, 89.5 sacks. But here's a number even more impressive - 8 Len Eshmont Awards.

The Len Eshmont Award is given annually to the 49ers' most inspirational player. An 8 time winner is absolutely unheard of. To put that in perspective...no one else has ever won more than 2. Not Montana, not Young, not Rice. No one.

Look beyond the numbers and awards and consider this quote from one time teammate and Sunday opponent Jeff Garcia -

"Bryant Young is the ultimate professional and ultimate 49er. The guy has been an ambassador for the team in the sense he is everything you want, not out of a player but out of a person. He is the type of person you want your son to be like."

Wow. That's heady praise.

BY has put up Hall of Fame caliber statistics, been the team leader and heart and soul for 14 years, and has the ultimate respect of teammates and opponent alike. The numbers are great, the qualities beyond the numbers are even better.

So long BY. You've been a great 49er, and we'll miss you.