Back in the day, I was more than a fan of the players, more than a fan of the coaching staff, more than fan of the management. I loved Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. I loved reading about his treatment of the players and staff and the 49er family. I loved that players of other teams were willing to take less money just to be a part of the great 49ers organization. I loved that the team and its fans were the heart and soul of this man.

Then came the gambling/bribery scandal and the team was handed over to the Yorks. It was like losing a beloved player to free agency. How could Denise and John compare? It quickly became apparent that they couldn't.

They parted ways with Coach Mariucci. Julian Peterson went to Seattle. Jeff Garcia went to Cleveland. The cancer was traded to Philly. Those penny pinching son's of... Then to cause more pain, they hired Dennis Erickson, followed by Mike Nolan, only to be followed by Mike Singletary. Now they're not only cheap, they are also idiots. Or, perhaps they just don't care. This team that we all love had the talent, we just needed new owners!

It's funny how winning changes mindsets. Now, looking back at the team they inherited, one can see that they were not just squeezing the buffalo. Yes, the team had talent, but there is a big difference between having the talent to win a superbowl and being good enough to win one. The Yorks knew that they needed to start from scratch. Sure, they made mistakes along the way (former coaching trio), but, with the help of Scott McCloughan and Trent Baalke, they built the core. With the core in place, a foundation needed to be set, a coach to put it all together. Trent Baalke and the Yorks landed Coach Harbaugh. The Yorks are now looking like masterminds who love this team, community, and the fans nationwide. We owe Denise, John, and Jed and an appology and our thanks.

Who's the idiot now? That's right, I am. And glad of it.