|
|
|
|
|
York's take first step in bringing back Eddie DeBartolo Jr.
By Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin December 28, 2010 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
SANTA CLARA--San Francisco 49ers team president Jed York took the first step in attempting to get the Niners back on track by hiring former team owner and Uncle Eddie DeBartolo Jr. as a team consultant. DeBartolo was the owner of the team when it won all five of it's Super Bowls in the 80s and 90s. DeBartolo the older brother of team co-owner Denise DeBartolo York left as team owner in 2000 when he was involved in a corruption case with former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards over a $400,000 riverboat casino deal that had Edwards demanding that amount from DeBartolo. DeBartolo was fined and barred from the NFL for one year from controlling the 49ers as a result of the case. DeBartolo would not return as team owner after having more legal trouble after being barred and turned his controlling interests over to his sister Denise DeBartolo York and brother in law John York. DeBartolo will be a team consultant and his input and experience from handling successful football teams in the past is something that the York family is in dire need for. DeBartolo was also instrumental in 1997 from putting together a stadium bond issue on the San Francisco ballot to build a new state of the art stadium in the location of Candlestick Park. DeBartolo, former team president Carmen Policy, and former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown put together the stadium proposition on the city ballot which was losing on election night November 1997 but made a strong come back and won. The stadium measure to start the build never broke ground after DeBartolo was barred for one year and turned the team over to his sister. DeBartolo more than likely will be asked for his input on the new Santa Clara stadium project that passed in June. The York's are concerned however that with a possible lock out for next season, the issue of stadium funding, objections for public monies by Santa Clara residents for the project, a water main that runs through the Great America property where the Niners planned to build the stadium and is ran by the City of San Francisco who objects to the 49ers moving from the city, and other financial issues, they now have to turn to DeBartolo for advice on how to handle matters. Jed will be relying on his uncle a lot more than people may think, DeBartolo will have input on finding a new general manager, a new head coach and new coaching staff, player personnel, and input in the new stadium in Santa Clara as some of the top priorities to get resolved. York who was disappointed that the Niners didn't make the playoffs getting beat by the St.Louis Rams on Sunday leading to the firing of head coach Michael Singletary mentioned not making the Super Bowl several times in his press conference on Sunday. With the hiring of DeBartolo a man who is experienced with Super Bowls and winning them it couldn't hurt to get his advice. Uncle knows best. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin cover 49ers football for Sportstalk radio |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||