RIP Dwight Clark

[Steak Snabler]

 

[Slacker]

Aww, man. I admired him all the way. Glad he didn't suffer long, but geez ...

 

[HanSenSE]

Just asked the mods to change my earlier thread to a RIP thread, but this will do.

We knew this day would come, you just never know when. And it's always too soon.

 

[qtlaw]

Damn, may he RIP. Thanks Mr. Clark for probably the most exciting sporting moment of my childhood (well I was a freshman in college.)

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Just awful. And so fast.

 

[QYFW]

It’s always heartbreaking when an elite athlete is stricken like that. The photos from the meeting of his former teammates recently were bittersweet.

Given what it meant, is The Catch the most famous play in NFL history?

 

[BTExpress]

The Catch the most famous play in NFL history?

It was a goodie.

But, alas, not Immaculate.

 

[QYFW]

It was a goodie.

But, alas, not Immaculate.

Didn’t secure a Super Bowl berth, nor did it it begin one dynasty and end another.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Clark's catch is sure high on the list. David Tyree is tough to top.

 

[BTExpress]

Didn’t secure a Super Bowl berth, nor did it it begin one dynasty and end another.

Yeah, but the Steelers didn't start the play on the opponent's 6-yard line, either. And The Catch was a 3rd-and-3 play . . . with 58 seconds left. Wasn't do-or-die. 49ers had a high probability of winning that game before that ball was snapped.

 

[Neutral Corner]

Former 49ers great Clark dies of ALS at 61

 

[QYFW]

Yeah, but the Steelers didn't start the play on the opponent's 6-yard line, either. And The Catch was a 3rd-and-3 play . . . with 58 seconds left. Wasn't do-or-die. 49ers had a high probability of winning that game before that ball was snapped.

Was a Russian involved in that play?

The Catch arguably changed the course of the NFL for a generation.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Just awful. And so fast.

The fast part is the only good thing about this story. ALS is the worst thing known to man. Worse than cancer. His suffering is over.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Didn’t secure a Super Bowl berth, nor did it it begin one dynasty and end another.

You're arguing for greatest importance, and your argument is solid. But if we're talking merely about most famous, pretty close call. Here's how I'd answer it: Ask fans unaffiliated with any of the four teams involved which of the two plays they have seen most.

 

[QYFW]

Not sure that would solve things, but importance is a better word.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Not sure that would solve things, but importance is a better word.

Here's on odd one: The most important game in NFL history (at least as far as I know) is Super Bowl III, when the AFL's Jets dominated the Colts and legitimized the merger to follow. But because the game was not competitive and the year was 1969, precious few plays are memorable or well known.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Always loved the story of how Clark got his shot at the nfl. Clemson role player at best. Walsh comes to town to look at fuller. Fuller is golfing. Walsh talks Clark into finding him and then catching passes. Walsh passes on fuller and steals Clark late.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Always loved the story of how Clark got his shot at the nfl. Clemson role player at best. Walsh comes to town to look at fuller. Fuller is golfing. Walsh talks Clark into finding him and then catching passes. Walsh passes on fuller and steals Clark late.

Had never heard that. Awesome.

 

[QYFW]

Here's on odd one: The most important game in NFL history (at least as far as I know) is Super Bowl III, when the AFL's Jets dominated the Colts and legitimized the merger to follow. But because the game was not competitive and the year was 1969, precious few plays are memorable or well known.

Yep. Bad game. Jimmy Orr wide open waving frantically is the one thing I remember from 86 viewings of the game via NFL Films.

 

[BTExpress]

Was a Russian involved in that play?

The Catch arguably changed the course of the NFL for a generation.

The "game result" arguably changed the course of the NFL for a generation. The "game result" had a high probability of going to the 49ers with or without The Catch.