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Chargers by the (Jersey) Numbers: #34

 
 Anyone who pays even remote attention to this Jersey series pities me for what I have to go through to pick a #34.  In fact, e-mails have been pouring in from all over the world from people offering their condolences.  Here are just a few:

Geoff from Encinitas:  "Whoa, dude, 34 is gonna be gnarly."

Earl from Lubbock:  "Gawly!  Y’all gonna have a empossibul time with #34!"

Hans from Hamburg:  "Achter lieber, mein herr!  All 34s suck!"

 

Yeah, thanks for the sympathy.  And I agree.  The #34s from Charger history leave slim pickings, to say the least.  But two personal vows come in to play here.

1.                   Never to bypass a number.  SOMEONE will win EVERY number.

2.                   Never bring it to a vote unless it’s a GOOD vote.  In other words, I will always take out the trash.

With the bar set so low, it only takes one good year…

Star-divide

Aaron Craver, RB

Oscar Dragon, RB

LaRue Harrington, RB

Steve Hendrickson, LB-TE

Tony Okanlawon, CB

Elvis Patterson, CB

Andrew Pinnock, FB

Tremayne Stephens, RB

The It-Only-Took-One-Good-Year Runner Up

(no picture found)

Bob Zeman, S

Zeman was the original #34, playing for the Los Angeles Chargers in 1960.  But if that turned out to be his one good year, I would have ruled him ineligible on the spot.  As most of us can attest, good things happen when you move to San Diego, and that was certainly the case for the Z-man.  In 1961, he intercepted 8 passes.  Of course, even better things happened for him when he moved out of San Diego.  In 1962, he was an AFL Pro Bowl selection for the Denver Broncos.  Oh well.  One and done.

 

The It-Only-Took-One-Good-Year Winner

Rickey_young_medium

 

Rickey Young, RB

Young actually helped bridge the time between Don Woods and Chuck Muncie (although he actually shared the load with Woods).  His one-and-done year with the Bolts was 1976 when he rushed for 802 yards, averaging 5 yards a carry, and racked up over 1200 yards from scrimmage.  He too had better things happen for him when he left San Diego.  He went on to lead the league in Receptions with Minnesota in 1978.  Maybe he’d win their #34 Golden Jersey too – assuming the rest of their 34s are as lousy as ours.

 

 

 

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"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Sep 3, 2009 6:24 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Steve Hendrickson

Special Teams ace and one of the emotional leaders of the 94 super bowl team. Also was able to play LB in a pinch. Left us for the Raiders because Al Davis promised him a chance to start (and later reneged).

Had a semi-famous three legged dog named tripod.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Sep 3, 2009 6:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes, but...

Yeah, I did consider Hendrickson (as well as Pinnock) for sheer longevity, as well as playing on the SB team. But wasn’t he the one who committed the penalty on the opening kick-off?? Maybe it’s guilt by association, but that cost him serious points in my book.

by Andy (allfield) on Sep 3, 2009 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't remember

I’ve blocked most of that game out of my mind. All I can recall is Jerry Rice catching like 15 TDs on deep posts…

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Sep 3, 2009 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Of them all, Pinnock seems to stand out in my memory best.

I seem to recall a fairly reliable and hard nosed player. Of course, I am getting old and my memory ain’t what it used to be, lol.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Sep 4, 2009 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No love

for Elvis “Toast” Patterson? …..quite possibly the best nickname ever. Hard to imagine a guy with that nickname actually played in the NFL for 10 years and even has a Super Bowl ring! I guess he is the one with the last laugh.

Do or do not. There is no try.

by Clip Show on Sep 3, 2009 8:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Toast

Elvis did get some consideration… for about 11 seconds. I considered making #34 my “all joke pick.” But I figured the first few jokes were dumb enough that actually picking Elvis would just piss people off.

by Andy (allfield) on Sep 3, 2009 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was just hoping

that Toast would get a little more love than just listing his name. No way is he deserving of anything else. :)

Do or do not. There is no try.

by Clip Show on Sep 3, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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