Lil' Jed Writes A Letter

Matt Barrows of the Sac Bee reports that Lil' Jed sent a letter last week to 49er fans addressing the lockout. This used to be the type of thing that I'd post myself, but it looks like I may finally be removed from the team's distribution list.

"What shall we tell the minions today?"

My favorite quote from the letter is this:


"Please know that regardless of how this offseason unfolds the 49ers commitment to building a championship football team remains steadfast. As such, we will be prepared to take advantage of every opportunity within the league rules to be ready for a successful 2011 season."

Now that's classic York braggadocio and over-promising! Unless the league rules suspend the salary cap and force all Pro Bowlers to play for teams that finished in 3rd place with a 6-10 record last year, the only other opportunity the 49ers will have for a "successful" 2011 season is if the rest of the NFC is sent to play in the United Football League.

I'm already getting tired of the posturing by the owners as they bombard the media in defense of the lockout. What they fail to understand is that the fans don't care who's at fault or who gains what in the next CBA. All we care about is the 2011 season starting on time without any hitches. Everything else is white noise generated between millionaires and billionaires.

The owners want to keep their money - of course. They're privileged, ruthless and greedy. After all, you don't become a billionaire by putting in long hours volunteering at the local soup kitchen.

The players want money because their careers are so short. Listen - the rest of the working population only WISHES they had the potential to make enough money (playing a game) during a handful of years that would allow them to retire comfortably by their mid-thirties. And if you don't make enough money to retire in a gated community? Hey - you went to college - use your degree and get another job. Oh, you didn't get a degree because you didn't go to class? Well, you can join the rest of the folks who didn't have the chance to finish school and still manage to build careers for themselves.

Owners: give the players a retirement fund, address the safety issues affecting their post-NFL health and take care of the older veterans who helped build the league to its current apex of mind-numbing prosperity and popularity.

Players: realize that, while your job is to play an increasingly hazardous game, you still have the unique opportunity to make a shitload of money in a very short time and that there's more to life than being a football player who's ass has been kissed continuously since you were playing in your first Pop Warner league.

Fans: accept nothing less than a full commitment to providing the best product in professional sports while your continued patronage is appreciated and acknowledged by something other than empty words and rhetoric.

And get yourselves ready for the NCAA Tournament and baseball season! Who needs the NFL during March, anyways?