San Diego SportsChargers Announce All-Time Greatest Chargers
A balanced celebration of great Chargers On Tuesday morning the San Diego Chargers announced the names of 50 players and 3 coaches elected to the All-Time Greatest Chargers list. President Dean Spanos assessed, “This is an amazing list of athletes and coaches.” The naming of the team is part of the overall celebration of the Chargers 50-year anniversary as a franchise. Even with the selection process being an online election, the list of honorees is a fair representation of the many great men and athletes that have worn a Chargers uniform. It is no surprise that Dan Fouts and LaDainian Tomlinson were the top vote receivers in the over 400,000 votes cast online. Tomlinson said, “It’s a great honor, especially when you think about all of the players that come through here throughout the 50 year history.” Although clearly Tomlinson belongs on this list, one could argue that the use of online voting is fundamentally flawed. The online process would likely favor current or recent players more familiar to a younger fan base that is more likely to vote online. However, despite 11 current Chargers making the list, which at first glance is seemingly disproportionate, a close evaluation of the 50 greatest players list reveals that it is a balanced representation of the superb players that comprised the better Chargers teams over the years. Of the five decades that the All-Time Greatest Chargers list represents, the 13 selections from the 1960s made it the most honored decade. The early 1960s teams were a dominant force in the old AFL. Also by winning the AFL Championship, the 1963 Chargers were the only team in the history of the franchise to win a championship. Many consider the late 70s and early 80s to be the “glory days” of the franchise as Fouts, under the leadership of Don Coryell, led the Chargers to four straight AFC West Championships (1979 to 1982). Both of these decades were well represented on the list with roughly 10 honorees each. At only 6 honorees the 1990s was the least honored decade. The Chargers were not a good team for most of the 1990s despite the fact that the 1994 Chargers made it to the franchise’s only Super Bowl. With the exception of Darren Bennett who was on the team’s practice squad in 1994, all of the other 1990s selections were members of the Super Bowl team. There are 11 Chargers honored for this decade, all of who are currently on the team. If the Chargers go on to win the division this year, they will have matched the four-in-a-row division titles of the 1979-1982 teams. Speaking of all those honored Spanos said, “It really makes you appreciate the rich history of this team and organization.” The All-Time Greatest Chargers list is not about any one particular player being included or winning the most votes. It is about the corresponding 50-year celebration and the opportunities that celebration gives for players and fans to connect with each other. That is why C.O.O. Jim Steeg stated, “The most important element is the involvement of the fans in 50th Anniversary Block Party.” The Chargers 50th Anniversary Block Party is Friday, November 27 from 5:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M in the Gaslamp Quarter. It will feature live entertainment on two stages, interactive games, and player appearances including approximately 45 of the 53 players and coaches on the All-Time Greatest Chargers list. Tickets cost $35 in advance and $40 on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at www.chargers.com. In addition to the Block Party, Chuck Muncie will be holding two separate events that give fans opportunities to interact with many of the 50 Greatest Players. Portions of the proceeds of these events will raise money for the Chuck Muncie Youth Foundation that has been nationally recognized for its New Start Program and its Tattoo Removal Program. The first event is an autograph signing fundraiser on Saturday, November 28 at American Icon Autographs in Ranch Bernardo from 11:00 A.M to 1:00 P.M. Don Coryell, Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Fred Dean, and Wes Chandler will be there to sign autographs. Fans will pay a starting cost of $20.00 per autograph with a portion of proceeds going to the foundation. Fouts, Winslow, and Dean are now members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Sunday, November 29, before the Chargers take on the Kansas City Chiefs, many Chargers alumni will be in attendance to share stories and take photos with fans at a pre-game tailgate party at the Sheraton Hotel in Mission Valley from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon. Entrance to the tailgate party is $25.00, the same cost as parking at the stadium and includes a gift bag, drink tickets, samples from a few of San Diego’s finest restaurants, plus a free shuttle to and from the game. More information on Chuck Muncie’s events and his youth foundation can be found at www.chuckmuncie.org. Click here for a video on chargers.com that shows highlights of all of the 53 Greatest Players and Coaches.
 Dan McLellan About the author: Dan McLellan is a San Diego native and Charger season ticket holder since 1993. He also has a weekly Charger podcast at www.DanMcLellan.com. More by this author Subscribe to Sports:
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