By 5 PM this Sunday afternoon the chores should be completed, the pizza on its way, the adult beverages good and cold, and the TV tuned to NBC as San Jose’s own NFL Referee, Bill Leavy, will be getting ready for the 2009 Hall of Fame game coin toss.

When I get the chance I’ll ask Bill about the new rules for 2009.

* The initial force of a blindside block can’t be delivered by a helmet, forearm or shoulder to an opponent’s head or neck. An illegal blindside block – a 15-yard penalty.

* Initial contact to the head of a defenseless receiver – will draw a 15-yard penalty

* On kickoffs, no blocking wedge of more than two players will be allowed – it will be a 15-yard penalty.

* On kickoffs, the kicking team can’t have more than five players bunched together pursuing an onside kick – a team 5 yards.

Famous for jumping straight out of a pool in a crazy YouTube stunt, San Jose State’s Jarron Gilbert has just been drafted by the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN. Watch his interview here.

Not only can the man leap like a frog on steroids, but can squat 635 pounds and can dead lift 655 pounds. It took three of his teammates together to do the same. 

NFL.com says Jarron should be thanking his father, former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Daren Gilbert, for his athletic genes. Maybe, among other things, he should be thanking YouTube.

I had the occasion to drive by this home in the hills of Saratoga as it was being built. It stood empty, For Sale sign beckoning, for the longest time. One reason may have had something to do with the cemetery over the back fence. No Feng Shui found here. Then one day I noticed a basketball hoop and bikes in the driveway indicating that finally someone had moved in. A family who could care less about ghosts or Feng Shui? Anyway, it was nice to see it occupied.

And the good news, now that 49ers coach Mike Nolan will keep his job the home will not be back on the market!
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Bill Walsh died of leukemia Monday at Stanford Medical Center.

Bill Walsh was born November 30, 1931. He attended San Jose State University where he was a boxer and wide receiver.

He began his coaching career at Washington High from 1957-1959 in Fremont. From there, he went on to be an assistant coach at UC Berkeley and then Stanford. His NFL assistant coaching career took him to the Oakland Raiders (1966), Cincinnati Bengals (1968-1975), and then the San Diego Chargers (1976). He returned to Stanford (1977-1978) this time as head coach. Then, what we remember most, was his tenure as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (1979-1988) where he lead the 49ers to three Super Bowl Championships (1981, 1984, 1988). After Super Bowl XXIII he was a broadcaster for NBC and returned to Stanford and the 49ers serving in various capacities.

He is most remembered for his time spent with the 49ers and his use of the West Coast Offense.
More info.

Tom Snyder died Sunday in San Francisco from complications of leukemia, he was 71.

Snyder is best known as host of “The Tomorrow Show” in the 70’s, which followed Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show.” He returned to late night television in the late 90’s to host “The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder” that followed David Letterman’s “Late Show.” More info.

Both gentlemen will be missed immensely.

I was disappointed when plans to bring the San Francisco 49ers to San Jose fell through, but then hope sprung anew when reports that Santa Clara could be a possible site.

The area near Santa Clara’s convention center and the 49ers training camp would seem ideal, but the proposal will have to clear the many predictable hurdles, and working out all the details won’t be easy.

The topmost obstacle, after getting the stadium proposal on the ballot, will be convincing the residents of Santa Clara to vote in the affirmative.

One group of concerned citizens, and readers of Metroblogging San Jose ask, “Should the city of Santa Clara spend $2,600 in cash, land, and other property on a stadium in Santa Clara? We’re a group of Santa Clara residents who say “no”. Their blog, Stadium Facts*, addresses the groups concerns.

The South Bay should have a major league football team and it is important to take it slowly, but not so slowly that we will be home watching the Red Bluff 49ers on TV.

*Stadium Facts Blog

Correction: “It’s atually $2,600 PER RESIDENT — every man, woman and child residing in the City of Santa Clara.”

The 49ers say they are moving to Santa Clara, and I would like nothing better. A stadium near the Great America amusement park would be the perfect location. Their training camp is already in the area.

The new Special Teams Coordinator for the 49ers, Al Everest, will be riding in my taxi later this week. I wonder what I should ask him?