It's S.F. vs. G.B. for NFC, OK?

By MIKE DOWNEY

Jan. 11, 1998 12 AM PT

SAN FRANCISCO —

Everyone wanted this one: Green Bay against San Francisco, 1 o’clock today. City of Velveeta versus city of brie. The Ritz crackers against the Ritz-Carlton. A town where Carroll Dale was big against a town where Carol Doda was big. Civilizations where at a cocktail party, guests might be found discussing the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche or the philosophy of Raymond Nitschke.

“Everyone wants it, because it’s the game of the century,” San Francisco linebacker Ken Norton Jr. says of today’s 49er-Packer game in the Park Formerly Known As Candlestick.

If the Packers win, back they go to the Super Bowl, where they won first and won last.

If the 49ers win, back they go to the Super Bowl, where they won a whole bunch of times between I and XXXI.

If the Packers win, maybe lineman Gilbert Brown’s stomach won’t be upset. Brown is listed at 330 pounds. I’ve got news for that list: Gilbert’s neck weighs 330 pounds. He makes Refrigerator Perry look like Audrey Hepburn. What’s eating Gilbert Brown? I don’t know, but if Gilbert ever does that “Lambeau Leap” into the stadium stands, some poor Cheesehead is going to end up an omelet.

If the 49ers win, maybe quarterback Steve Young’s stomach won’t be upset. He felt sick before last week’s Minnesota game. He had eaten some bad fish. “Montezuma’s deal,” Young explained afterward, in the more-information-than-we-needed department. Steve was unable to eat anything but soup for a week. If he isn’t stronger this week, Green Bay will turn him into split green pea.

If the Packers win, maybe quarterback Brett Favre can keep kidding 49er Coach Steve Mariucci about his stomach. While Young couldn’t eat much of anything, the coach ate everything. “Whatever’s out,” he ate, Mariucci admitted. He could have studied a playbook by fridge light. On a TV in Wisconsin, Favre saw a live interview with Mariucci. He telephoned the 49er coach when it was over. “You look chubby,” Favre said, and hung up.

If the 49ers win, tight end Brent Jones won’t have to retire yet. Brent is about to turn 35 and about to call it a career. He got hammered by Minnesota safety Robert Griffith from the blind side and really felt it. He was groggy. “I’m feeling OK,” Jones said eventually. “I’m just not able to enunciate.” Don’t worry, Brent. Some NFL players who aren’t groggy can’t enunciate enunciate.

If the Packers win, defensive end Reggie White won’t have to retire yet. Reggie just turned 36, but thinks he can keep going, even though his back is killing him. Reggie says, “Everybody is saying, ‘Maybe his age is catching up with him.’ I’ve played with guys in this game that at 21, 22, 23 years old, they have back problems, and they’re out of this game now.”

Amen, Reggie. I’ll pray for your Packer back to be back.

If the 49ers win, there is somebody they would simply love to see at the Super Bowl. His name is Bill Romanowski. He plays for Denver. He hit Young late, then pressed his forearm against the quarterback’s throat. He spat in 49er receiver J.J. Stokes’ face. Stokes also says: “He grabbed my [crotch].” Teammate Kevin Gogan says: “Romanowski’s a punk.” Teammate Gary Plummer says: “To make the transition from violent to vile is ridiculous.” Oh, yes. I think a 49er-Bronco game could be 60 minutes Mike Wallace should investigate.

But first, we have to play today’s game (of the century).

Who’s hot? Who’s not?

“Steve Young is playing at a level that very few players can match,” Minnesota receiver Cris Carter says. “Brett Favre right now is one of the few.”

Well, that settles . . . nothing. Thanks, Cris.

San Francisco and Green Bay. City of BART transportation versus city of Bart Starr. Phantoms of the opera versus fans of the polka. Workplace of Dirty Harry versus workplace of Fuzzy Thurston.

Tale of two cities.

One of which is about to get kicked.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Packers vs. 49ers

How the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers have fared against each other since 1960. The Packers lead, 19-12-1. The breakdown by decade:

1960s

Year Winner Score

1960 Green Bay: 41-14

1960 Green Bay: 13-0

1961 Green Bay: 30-10

1961 San Francisco: 22-21

1962 Green Bay: 31-13