When LeBron James announced his decision that he was taking his talents to South Beach, there was uproar in Cleveland. Fans of the Cavaliers screeched and shouted, they booed him and they cursed his very existence. They were in the right to do so, with how it was dragged out on ESPN in a one hour special, when everybody knew he wasn't going to stick around. But they had to hope, just a little bit, that he would have a change of heart and stick it out for the fans that loved him for years. So James toyed with their emotions and led them along like a girl going on a date with you simply because she's hungry.
It was betrayal, plain and simple - it didn't matter that he was well within the rules of the National Basketball League to make the switch, it didn't matter that he was going to play with people he always intended to play with at one point, and it certainly didn't matter one bit that it made all the sense in the world for his career to go that way. Just like it doesn't matter that the aforementioned girl was still satisfying your urge to feel like you're making progress. She gets a free meal, LeBron might get himself a ring. All at the expense of the hearts of Cleveland Cavalier fans and your (in)ability to impress a female. I, of course, don't have those problems, but we all know that you (manraj7) do.
When Brett Favre announced his retirement from the sport of football, Green Bay Packers fans were more than a little upset. When Favre waffled on his choice and put the organization in a weird place, the fans were more than a little angry. Eventually, the organization went with Aaron Rodgers, and Favre found himself playing for the New York Jets. Fans felt upset and betrayed, not just because he was in a different uniform, but because of the fact that he forced the team to make that kind of choice. And then seeing him in that Jets uniform was ... how you say, traumatizing.
These are two players who, one way or another, gave their long-time teams the shaft for their own personal reasons. LeBron James was universally insulted, with the whole of the basketball community getting on it (along with their Miami Heat season tickets) as well. Number four Brett Favre jerseys burnt for hours, even days, as people around the world renounced their fandom.
Next, we'll be seeing 49er red jerseys being set on fire by the truckload. People will pour out of their houses and take to the streets, lighting a bonfire of #2 jerseys the Bay Area has never seen before. Not only have people in San Francisco been slapped in the face, the entire Bay Area has been insulted to a higher degree than any other in history. Only one player could have been capable of this act of betrayal. Only someone near and dear to our hearts, more so than anyone else. More than the Joe Montanas and Jerry Rices of yore.
I'm talking, of course, about 49ers kicker Fabrizio Scaccia. The 49ers currently own his contract rights, and I'm sure you remember him. He's of the 68-yard field goal fame, and now, the betrayal fame. You see, with the lockout in place, Scaccia took on a job with the Arena Football League. That's totally fine, and definitely understandable, guy needs to make some scrilla.
The problem: he signed on with the Arizona Rattlers, division rivals of the San Jose SaberCats. And on Saturday, he buried the SaberCats one kick at a time. He made eight of nine extra points, and sunk a 38-yard field goal, a vital piece in the 65-43 win over the SaberCats. Doesn't he have any shame? Does he feel bad at all for what he's done to another Bay Area team? Not at all. Scaccia makes me sick, and I think every one of you should get your #2 jerseys, and light them right on fire!
---
Seriously though, I did like that I saw from him in regards to future prospects. A 38-yard field goal might not sound too impressive, but when the field goal uprights are half the size of those in the NFL, it gets to look quite a bit better. He also makes a higher percentage of extra points (missed pretty often in the AFL) than most kickers in the league. His kick percentage in the UFL wasn't great, but then again, I believe most of his misses were over 48 yards.
It was just odd seeing him there, but it did make me look at him a little more. I'm hesitant to ever go into the whole "he was our future" thing, but I actually like Scaccia's upside quite a bit. He's got the leg strength, and he's given every indication that he's got the accuracy. One thing Fooch noted that makes a lot of sense is the fact that the 49ers didn't draft a kicker - could that possibly mean that they liked Scaccia's ability to potentially challenege Joe Nedney for a starting job right off the bat?
That's very possible, in my mind.