I love the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. Sports bigamy should be a crime. I also love a well-made craft beer, sunshine, friends and family, and a little sports. That’s probably the other reason why I love San Francisco so much. I have to admit, though, I owe much of my current sports euphoria to San Diego.
San Diego has approximately 28 craft breweries, some are the best in the country, if not the world. I’ve never understood why or how San Diego could sustain so many breweries. Then I realized it must be all the champion-caliber teams the city has. January 29, 1995, April 18, 1998, October 3, 2010, are all great days in San Diego sports history.
January 29, 1995 – The last time I celebrated a 49er Super Bowl victory. The 49ers squeaked out a 49-21 Super Bowl victory over the San Diego Chargers, a Chargers team that lifted the city’s spirits with their Cinderella run, only to crush their hopes like Santa leaving you a box of rocks instead of a pony.
April 18, 1998 – The Chargers brilliantly select future Hall of Famer Ryan Leaf instead of the no-talent hick Peyton Manning. Really, there is nothing more to say—Leaf’s long, stellar career, all the championships they’ve won since his arrival, speak for themselves.
October 3, 2010 – The final game of the MLB season, the Giants and Padres are tied for first place in the NL West. The Giants’ win was not a big deal. It just led the Giants to their first World Series ring since 1957. A World Series victory worth a flight to Vegas for dinner.
With the amount of heartbreak the sports teams of San Diego have given their fans, it’s no wonder San Diego has so many breweries. How else can they deal with the sorrow? I love their beer and I especially love their sports fans. There is no more tortured fan base than those in San Diego. Even Cubs fans feel bad for them. Growing up a fan of Bay-area sports (except for the Raiders) I’m grateful for victories San Diego has given us over the years.
Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Lennay Kekua—all people who have broken our trust, yet like San Diego sports fans, we keep the faith that there is still good out there in sports. As each new season starts, we all have hope this season will be the season our team wins it all. Some cities more than others. Keep the faith, San Diego. The city of San Francisco thanks you for your continued contributions to our championship collection.
dodgers – ptooie – love to hate ‘em. Raiders – just hate ‘em… San Diego was also where Bonds (yes, the jerk) tied the record. I was there. The Padres fans around us couldn’t figure out why my brother and I were so disinterested in the historic moment. Because, Bonds. Was. A. Jerk.
It’s about time someone called San Diego out. The national media has been ignoring this story for too long.
Wow. This post is like bitch slapping your neighbor’s puppy just because your dog is bigger and can do more tricks.
Monkey Butt.