Remembering 1999 and the Birth of “The Greatest Show on Turf”

Me and Kurt Warner just hours before the birth of The Greatest Show on Turf

Way back on Oct 10th, 1999 my wife and I drove from Dallas, TX to St Louis to watch the  St Louis Rams VS the San Francisco 49ers.  The Rams were on a hot streak, their new QB Kurt Warner had the offense on a roll but they were facing their first really tough opponent of the season, the 49ers.  The 49ers had owned the Rams for the last decade and if this Rams team was going to prove its self they had to make a showing and punch the bully square in the jaw.

The weekend started great for my wife and I. We had a hotel room near the dome and were milling around outside the stadium long before the crowds had arrived for the game.  The Rams and Kurt Warner were still unknown on a national scene and there were very few people out at this time on a gameday.  As I was walking down the street I remember looking up and seeing a large man exit from a parking garage in a purple suit coat.  As he got closer I recognized the person as Kurt Warner, the Rams new QB.  At this time in history there were probably a lot of so called sports experts on national television who would not have recognized Kurt, but I was a life long Rams fan and I knew who he was.  I’m not one who gets star struck and this instance was no different, but I did want to get my picture taken with Kurt if he would oblige.  I asked Kurt if he had time for a quick photo as he approached and he smiled broadly and said “of course”. Kurt stopped for a photo and a few seconds of chit chat and then stated he needed to get in and ready for the game.  He was a genuinely nice guy.  That moment was the start of the best year for me as a Rams fan.  In a few hours the Rams would dismantle the 49ers, put their stake in the ground as a legitimate powerhouse, and Kurt Warner would explode on the national scene as a true NFL star.

Following the dismantling of the 49ers Sports Illustrated and the NFL started to ask, "Who is this Guy?"

This game was important for the Rams and in particular me.  I can not stand the 49ers.  Not only had they beaten the Rams the last few years they had gone out of their way to embarrass them.  If the Rams were legit, they had to beat the 49ers.  My wife and I took our seats in the nose bleed section and got ready for the game.  I was tense and had my game face on.  There are very few things that make me as intense as a Rams game, especially when something is on the line.  The Rams just had to make a showing and win this game.

Not only did the Rams make a showing, they exploded on the 49ers.  Years of pent up frustration was unleashed on the 49ers and before the first quarter came to a close the Rams were up 21-3.  Kurt Warner ended the game going 20-23 and passing for 323 yards.  Isaac Bruce (my favorite Ram of that era) had 5 catches for 134 yards and 4 TD’s.  Ike had been on the receiving end of all of those embarrassing losses to the 49ers and he enacted his revenge.

The final score was Rams 42 – 49ers 20.

In the next few weeks, the Greatest Show on Turf was born, the Rams became a national story, and they went on to win their first Superbowl in team history.  On this October day in 1999 I was there.  I saw the birth of one of the greatest teams in NFL history, and it was fantastic.