CANTON, Ohio — The video montage at the Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Dinner brought back the images in a two-minute whirlwind.
There was former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo in the white dress shirt, pumping his fist on the sideline. DeBartolo hugged Bill Walsh. He hugged Joe Montana. He hugged Keena Turner. He clutched another Lombardi Trophy in front of that I-love-the-'80s blue-and-yellow CBS Sports logo with a simple message.
“We’re the best,” he said. “We’re the best team.”
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When emcee Rich Eisen introduced DeBartolo at the dinner, he simply said, “It’s taken a little longer to get you here.