When I first saw a football game on TV when I first arrived in San Francisco in the 70's, I told myself that it was a weird game. It was about a bunch of burly men beating themselves silly to move a weird shaped ball to their end zones. It was totally different from the football I used to play (soccer). In time, I learned to love the sports, thanks to watching the 49ers on the television. I then wished that someday, I'd like to photograph a live game. I wondered what it would take for me to get a chance to shoot at least just one.

In 1979, this dream came true. With luck on my side, and being at the right place at the right time, I got an opportunity to shoot the SF 49ers a stringer photographer for mediaDispatch. an independent news agency being managed by a friend. I ran into a guy named Rene Tolosa who used to work at Bechtel. He found out I was a wannabe photographer and invited me to shoot the "niners." Not only did I get to do it once, I covered most of the home games for eight years straight in the 49er's Glory Days, the '80s.

Timing could have not been any better. The first year I covered them, the 49ers went on to win the Superbowl for the first time. They went for two more Superbowls during the eight years I was in action. There were many special memories. But the one I cherish most is shooting the 49ers battle with the Redskins on a rain drenched day, where only a few shooters stayed on the sidelines. I covered myself and my gears with a Glad plastic bag with a hole for the lens. My Levi's blue jeans was soaked with water and mud and grass and sideline paint. Another special moment was the home game after the big earthquake, which was played at Stanford University... I ran into Jennifer Montana walking down a ramo as she carried her baby boy down to the field to meet up with Joe Montana.

Here are some photos from my stash. Enjoy it until the day the Niners rule once again. But don't hold your breath, it could take much longer that we want it to be. Here's a tribute to the glory decade.