Isaac Bruce Will This Year Wear the Red and Gold

I realize that strange things are happening these days in sports, what with the lack of team loyalty and the ever-present passion of athletes to better themselves financially – and to keep the big bucks coming in as long as possible. Players will switch teams at the drop of a hat, it seems, if they can get a better deal somewhere else.

Admittedly, a lot of these “switches” occur near the end of a player’s career, when a team feels they can no longer afford them, and so they are somewhat understandable but rarely acceptable. And it still hurts when it happens. Like when Joe Montana went to the Kansas City Chiefs, or when Jerry Rice went to the Raiders.

Well, this year the tables will be turned, for me at least, as the San Francisco 49ers have gained a quality player who has spent his entire career with the “hated” Rams, now of St. Louis and formerly of Los Angeles. Wide receiver Isaac Bruce will this year wear Red and Gold instead of blue and gold. He’s gotta be relieved not to have to wear that ugly ram’s horn anymore on the side of his helmet.

From what I read, he’s said to have quite a bit left in his tank, and hopefully that will turn out to be true. His former Rams coach, Mike Martz, now the offensive coordinator for the 9ers, says Bruce hasn’t lost much, even though he is now 36. “He’s a lot like Jerry Rice,” said Martz, “always in impeccable shape.”

I’d like to forget all the times I’ve seen the Rams’ #80 streak down the sidelines, make a move on a 49er back, and take a perfectly-thrown Kurt Warner pass to his chest for a score. This year it’ll be a welcome contrast. I now look forward to watching him add to his scoring totals.

Because this Fall he’ll be wearing #88 in beautiful new colors, and he’ll be tucking in throws from Alex Smith.