Isaac Bruce gives 49ers class act

<p>Isaac Bruce is a leader, the leader the 49ers crave, the kind of leader they don’t have enough of.</p><p>Joe Montana led by example. And Steve Young and Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott and Bryant Young were leaders. Through the years, leaders kept up a standard of performance and behavior — kept up the Niner tradition.</p><p>Leaders pass down the standard in the locker room from generation to generation, but the Niners have forgotten much about the standard because their players are too young to remember. Often the quarterback enforces it, but J.T. O’Sullivan is new, untested, although he may earn the right.</p><p>Bruce embodies the standard. He learned it with the enemy, the Rams, but now he is a Niner and he is dignified and serious and eventually will enter the Hall of Fame. Merely by his posture and behavior he is bringing the standard back to the locker room.</p><p>I was supposed to meet Bruce at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, but at 11:30 a public relations rep said Bruce was taking “quiet time.” I asked what “quiet time” meant and the PR guy shrugged. My impulse was to feel frustrated. Bruce’s private time was my interview time and, honestly, I was thinking of me, not him. Except for one thing.</p><p>I admire people who have a routine and stick to it, who will not be rushed, who are faithful to their codes — call it people with standards. So, I waited patiently and when Bruce appeared, he led me outside and when I asked where he wanted to stand, he said, “in the sun.” I asked what he did in quiet time and that induced a dialogue. (You can read the uncut dialogue on The Cohn Zohn.)</p><p>Bruce: I have to go read my Bible and edify myself and spend time with the Lord. I like reading the Book of Proverbs, today being the 18th Proverb.</p><p>PD: Could you tell me what it’s about?</p><p>Bruce: One of my favorites in that passage is Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” I choose to pick God’s words to come out of my mouth.</p><p>PD: So words to you are immensely important.</p><p>Bruce: Yes, sir.</p><p>PD: Would you ever use a curse word?</p><p>Bruce: No.</p><p>PD: Here’s a saying from your Web site: “Watch your character for that becomes your destiny.”</p><p>Bruce: It’s what you do when no one’s watching. It’s what you do when you are alone. Which is the opposite of charm. Charm is doing what you need to do to get what you want at that moment. You may find a person who switches his voice when he gets on television or switches his voice when he meets someone prominent. But when he meets someone less fortunate his voice may change back. Your character is who you are when no one’s looking.</p><p>PD: You run a play, catch a pass. The defensive back hits you and curses at you. What do you do?</p><p>Bruce: There is conversation and it happened recently in this past game. I have been instructed, mandated, to bless those who curse me. So even when I don’t feel like it, my emotions have absolutely nothing to do with it. I’ve been mandated to do something like in the military. My dad was in the military. Marines. If he’s told to be somewhere at 3 o’clock, he has to be there no matter what. So if some vile language is coming towards me, I bless.</p><p>PD: What do you say?</p><p>Bruce: I empower you to prosper.</p><p>OK, that’s an introduction to Bruce, a Bruce primer. He may turn out to be a terrific wide receiver for the 49ers. On top of that, he brings dignity and restraint and seriousness to this young locker room. He is the standard. </p><p>For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at 521-5486 or lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com.</p>