LA Times: Why Jim Harbaugh jumped at chance to live ‘The Rockford Files’ RV beach life
There was a short MLive article a couple weeks ago from the NFL Owners' Meeting about Harbaugh discussing him choosing to live in an RV for a couple months while the rest of his family gets ready for the move to LA. We discussed it here.
Well, Sam Farmer (LA Times sports columnist) decided to do a pretty long article on it, with a number of interviews and more details on why, exactly, Jim decided to undertake yet another off-the-wall life experience.
The article is as much about James Garner (one of Jim Harbaugh's idols) as it is Harbaugh, but Garner being a cool, righteous dude helps explain why young (and now old) Jim was so taken by the Rockford Files and the LA beach lifestyle.
Harbaugh loved the humility of Rockford — and Garner in real life — and said that falls in line with what his own dad taught him.
“Rockford wasn’t trying to impress anybody,” the coach said. “I think we all go wrong when we try to make that leap to, `Today I’ve got to impress somebody.’ Because then you’re not yourself anymore. You don’t have a lot of practice at that.
Pull it down, Jim Harbaugh. You did that!
NCAA is Lt Chapman?
Is Drevno Jim’s Angel Martin?
And you think Rockford Files is cool
But there are some things that you would change if it were up to you
So think about your masterpiece
Watch the Rockford Files
Don't you ever rest, fighting the battle of who could care less.
OK, here’s my James Garner story. The President of a company I worked for was a member of the Bel-Air Country Club. Every year at Christmas time, the company would have our holiday party at the club. The view was spectacular. As part of the celebration, employees from the different departments would plan a skit for entertainment. My first year, our group dressed up like The Beach Boys and performed a medley of Beach Boys songs. The Department Head was the nicest, most Mr. Rogers-like guy I’ve ever met. So before the entertainment part of the night started, we went to the locker room to change into our Beach Boys Hawaiian shirts. The boss pulls out a bottle of Jack and we all do shots to lighten up. I down my shot, and I’m just soaking this in. Then I look at the lockers and see one with a nameplate that says, “James Garner.”
We performed our show, had a blast and that was that. Shortly afterwards, the President got divorced and rumor has it that his wife got the country club membership in the settlement and that was the one and only time I’ve ever been to the Bel Air Country Club.
Wondered where he was. Thought it might be Dockweiler.
"“On the sand it was $120 a night, but across the street it was $80,” said Harbaugh, who chose the cheaper option even though he makes considerably more than $200 per day plus expenses."
Yep, that's the same Jim Harbaugh we know... Cheap bastard. You know he didn't lavishly tip the waitress for a couple of cheeseburgers. Fuck off, NCAA.
And why didn't we know of this love for Rockford when he was here? We fawned over Judge Judy... WTH, man!!! But whatever, his next job - wherever it is - will have some new folk hero he's always loved that we don't know about yet.
You know he didn't lavishly tip the waitress for a couple of cheeseburgers.
Harbaugh understands the difference between treating himself and taking care of others. After watching him donate his $1 million+ bonus to UM employees during covid, I'd bet he's left a few large tips to deserving waitresses.
Yep, there is cheap like I won't order overpriced drinks at restaurants and then there is cheap where you don't round the tip up quite a bit because you didn't order the overpriced drinks. I see Harbaugh as the former not the latter.
April 10th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
I had a 45 record of that theme song. One of the best ever made, hands down.
Great article, thanks for sharing.
Is anyone old enough to remember when you joined some cd service and you could get like 10 cd's for $2. My brothers and I did this, and one of the cds he ordered was a double cd set and was the best of TV theme songs. My favorites were The Greatest American Hero and Doctor Who.
April 10th, 2024 at 10:41 PM ^
Love the show, like Harbaugh even more.