Originally posted by RiceOwensStokes:
Originally posted by Waterbear:
Originally posted by Dr_Bill_Walsh:
It's generational:
Boomers - Rams & Cowboys
Gen X - Giants & Cowboys
Millennials - Cowboys & Packers
Gen Z - Seahawks & whoever beat the Niners most recently in a meaningful/big game (e.g. Chiefs, Eagles, Ravens)
Millennials goes up to the year 1996 though.
I was born in 1992, and 5 years later the 49ers lost to the packers in the playoffs, which was the last time that happened.
If you born in 1988, 5 years later the 49ers lost to the Cowboys in the playoffs for the last time.
Idk about y'all but I don't remember s**t when I was 5.
Yeah, I'd identify as a millennial, sure I hated those 2 teams early on in my fanhood, but as time went on and the Cowboys did nothing important outside of early playoff exits and the tables turning on GB, it's hard to still "hate" those teams like I did when I was younger…Seattle on the other hand..
I suppose I should've specified likely initial exposure to the said "hated" teams as a burgeoning rival in the list I posted above, i.e. when a Niners fan is a kid (ages 5-15). Of course, one may consider additional teams as hated rivals and expand their list as they grow older and not be locked to what I listed above as who'd they consider their main hated rival(s). A younger generation as well can inherit a legacy rival from their parents/forebears and develop animus towards that team, especially if the Niners reignite an old feud with said team (example: Cowboys and Packers recently…less so Rams, though most of these have been one-sided in favor of the Niners in recent matchups).
My "generation" breakdown (subject to others' interpretation and definition) and which Niner era a fan born in each generation likely first remembers watching:
Boomers: born ~1945 to ~1963 (Niners' early years to pre-Walsh era 70's dark ages)
Gen X: born ~1964 to ~1980 (Niners' pre-dynasty to early main dynasty years/Montana era, 1981-90)
Millennials: born ~1981 to ~1996 (Niners' latter main dynasty years/Young era, 1991-98 to the 2004-10 dark ages)
Gen Z: born ~1997 to ~2012 (Niners' York ownership wilderness era through to Harbaugh tenure and the current Shanahan regime)
not listed…
Gen Alpha: born ~2013 to present (post-Harbaugh suckage to Shanahan era)
My own example:
Born 1983…
• Barely remember tail end of Joe Montana era Niners (1988-91) so didn't develop hate towards Rams or Giants much
• Cowboys I distinctly remember starting to hate around 1993-94 when I first clearly remember watching and understanding games and football rules, by '95 I definitely hated them with a passion.
• By 1995-96 around the time I became a teen I watched Niners games almost every Sunday, and my hatred shifted to the Packers after they always knocked the latter Steve Young era out of the playoffs
• Any of the old NFCW teams (Saints, Falcons, Panthers) were never considered rivals by me since they were mostly terrible in the late '90s and a guaranteed 6-8 wins (including the Rams), but the Panthers, Falcons and GSOT Rams were at least a thorn in the side, thwarting some of the latter Steve Young and Jeff Garcia era playoff runs.
• Then came the dark era after 2003…Niners were terrible and I couldn't care as passionately if they (usually) lost to any of the old rivals: Giants, Cowboys, Packers, Rams. Niners were barely in any marquee-billed matchups or primetime games 2005-2010 as well so they were hardly national news.
• Harbaugh era I heartily embraced the hatred for the Seahawks (whom I was ambivalent towards, and disdainfully couldn't care less for, pre-2011…only rooted for them once, when they played the Steelers and Holmgren was still their coach, but mostly due to not wanting the Steelers would get Lombardi #6 first)
• Currently, I still hold on to the old Cowboys and Packers hate come time to play them, but recency bias and playing them more often means Seahawks and Rams are there as well. The AFC teams that have beat us in the Super Bowl also hold a special place in hell I want them to burn in…
[ Edited by Dr_Bill_Walsh on Jan 26, 2024 at 3:06 PM ]