San Francisco 49ers Kickoff Luncheon

San Francisco 49ers Kickoff Luncheon

Thank you, Steve. It's just great to be back here. It's great to be asked by the Chamber of Commerce to come to this San Francisco Booster's lunch for the 49ers. And to be here with two mayors: Mayor Willie Brown, who was here earlier. Willie is the fastest man in, and the fastest man out of a room. Gavin and I have been trying to learn from him. And, of course, to be here and be joined by San Francisco's own, Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Its just under two days until the 2007 season kicks off. It is a time of possibility, and it's a time of hope. Our city is holding its breath, wondering what this season will hold. Many of us can't wait until that first game - Monday night, September 10th, against the Arizona Cardinals - to discover the nature of this team.

But for this team, the promise and excitement is tempered a bit by sadness. We lost a great man this off-season. Bill Walsh forged the great 49er teams of the 80's while I was Mayor. And yes, I did have the pleasure of going to three Super Bowls.

I spoke with one of the players. I said, "Well, how are things?" He said, "Things are great." I said, "No, they're not great until you're in a playoff. Then they're really great when you're in the Super Bowl. Then when you win the Super Bowl, that's great, great, great!"

Anyway, those were the glory days for our city. And our city took that journey with Bill Walsh and that great team. The highs of the wins. And the lows of the losses. We were with the 49ers every step of the way.

And so this year's battles will be waged in Bill Walsh's memory, a tribute to the man who meant so much to this team and this City. Bill's teams were marked by greatness. The players now legendary: Montana, Rice, Lott, Young. All household names today.

Now the question is: Will this new generation that we saw on this stage reach similar heights? Twenty years down the road, will Alex Smith, Frank Gore, and Vernon Davis be among the all-time greats? Only time will tell, but they have that opportunity.

San Francisco yearns for a return to the winning ways of those teams. So expectations are high this year. That's why this lunch is a sell out.

And under the leadership of a great coach - I get out my binoculars and I watch a coaches' face. I've got great binoculars, and I can see every line on your face.

I have a great hope that you will be the new Bill Walsh, that you will be the man of the hour. And under your leadership and with the support of John York and the front office, this team is going to go all the way to the Super Bowl.

And as you can see these are the hopes, these are the desires of San Franciscans, those of us who eat, drink, and breathe 49er football.

The fact of the matter is that the 49ers are synonymous with San Francisco. The roots go back 60 years, first playing at Kezar and later at Candlestick. San Franciscans have lived and died with the 49ers.

Through the good times - culminating in 5 Super Bowl victories in the 80s and 90s. And yes through the bad years, the lean years, the dry years. But through it all, the team brought our City together in some of its darkest hours.

You've all heard about the assassinations George Moscone and Harvey Milk. You saw a city that was divided and hardened and bitter and mean. We saw fiery riot in front of City Hall.

But when the Niners played, the City bonded as one. As I said to another player a little bit earlier, NFL teams belong in big cities, because of what you do for the cities.

That's why it is so hard for me to imagine the team anywhere but San Francisco. Everyone in this room knows my views. I'm a native San Franciscan, born and bred, educated, ran for political office, served this city for 18 years. I want to Niners to remain in San Francisco.

We're lucky, because we have a great Mayor, who is going to put together a proposal. And I think that when people see the proposal, it will become very clear that it is doable.

I want to just quickly make a brief report on what's been happening in Washington.

Speaker Pelosi and I have made some significant progress in ensuring adequate federal funding for clean up of the Hunter's Point site.

I met with the United States Navy earlier this year, who agreed that the cleanup efforts and timing are consistent with a new stadium on the site. And we believe that the city will be able to deliver the 27 acres after the next two budget cycles on time.

So far this year, we have:

* $8 million in the Senate Interior Appropriations Bill which has been approved by the Appropriations Committee;
* $4.8 million in the House Defense Bill, and I have requested similar funding in the Senate Defense bill; and
* $37 million in the Military Construction spending bill.

And the appropriations process is not yet finished. And that's about $50 million.

We will continue to do our level best to provide this funding so that the environmental remediation can be done, so that the 27 acres can be turned over to John York and the San Francisco 49ers on time, able to build a new stadium.

I'm very proud to say that the city has been working full time. Right here in front, along with Gavin Newsom is Michael Cohen, who's done a lot of the work. I've had the privilege of meeting with him. I believe it's doable. I believe that the 49ers should remain in San Francisco. This is a 49er booster lunch and where do you want the San Francisco 49ers to continue to play?

Audience: San Francisco!

Lets here it again. Where do you want the 49ers to continue to play?

Audience: San Francisco!

All right, we're on our way. John York, all you have to do is just say yes.

Bottom line: I'm passionate about keeping the 49ers in the City. I can't see them playing anywhere else. There is too much history, too much winning and losing. Too many great people coming forward in support of the team.

And all of this became crystallized at the memorials for Bill Walsh, both at Memorial Church and at Candlestick. I think there is no greater evidence to how much the 49ers belong in San Francisco. And we've just got to find a way for them to stay.

I'm determined to do everything I can to help. So as we look forward, let me offer my great hopes for a winning season. Let it be one that filled with great success and a bright future. And at the same time, let's find a way to work together and help keep the 49ers where they belong - in the City of San Francisco.

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