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49ers icon Dwight Clark meets public, catches love in wake of ALS diagnosis

DALY CITY — Mike DeBartoli grew up as a Chicago Bears fan during the 1980s, which meant he hated the 49ers.

He reserved a special disdain for quarterback Joe Montana because of a particularly aggravating trait: “He was the best quarterback ever,” DeBartoli explained.

But when Montana and Dwight Clark arrived for an autograph show at the Cow Palace on Sunday, the man who used to root against them was among the first in line.

DeBartoli has ALS.

He and Clark are on the same team now.

“I wanted to support Dwight,” the 55-year-old retired firefighter said.