n The Green Phone was created so the fans could voice their opinions. Give us a call and let us know what’s on your mind.
Quit Whining – Klauer & Canez Deserve It
CALLER 1: I have a beef with that lady from last week, sounding off on your coverage of the Klauer-Canez thing. Who does she think she is? I mean, I assume it was a ‘she’ because she sounds exactly like a ‘soccer mom.’ Her precious baby didn’t get his name in the paper because we have two studs headed to San Jose State?! So what! How often does a Hollister kid get scooped up and get to play in college? Almost never, right? So don’t listen to her. I hope you follow those guys as they play on. It’s awesome they’re playing so close to home. While I haven’t been out to a Little League game yet this season, you can bet I’ll be up at State some next year.
GREEN PHONE: Thanks for weighing in, Caller 1. Yes, that caller was a woman. But the same sentiment could have come from an equally zealous dad. We’re glad you feel strongly about backing the ‘Balers that excel and move on to the next level. And we agree that those players announcing their college intentions was the bigger story that day. But you’re missing out by not getting out to the Little League diamond. In some ways, it’s just as fun to watch the future Canezes and Klauers hone their skills behind rabid fan support.
CALLER 2: So I’m sitting at work, surfing around ESPN.com and I see the Niners finally signed Vernon Davis today. I’m stoked that he got in before camp, but check out the kind of money they’re paying him! $25 million! More than any other tight end. Yeah, I’m stoked Smith finally has a big target, but I can’t see him being worth more than Gonzalez or Gates. That’s all I wanted to say. Go Niners!
GREEN PHONE: All right, our first NFL call of the season! And pretty timely, too, with training camp just underway for the Niners. You make a good point, Caller 2. There’s no way a rookie, even one as talented as Davis, should be making more than established stars at his position. Unfortunately for the Niners and other NFL teams, the salaries just keep climbing for draftees, especially for those picked in the first round. It’s even worse in baseball. At least in football, you have a decent idea that your pick will succeed. Yes, cynics, not always, as Niner fans know (see Stokes, J.J. and Druckenmiller, Jim among a host of others). But in baseball, you really have no idea if your guy will ever even make it to the majors. Basketball, with its rookie salary scale, has the right idea. But all that is just how the lucrative pie is being divided. If the athlete isn’t getting the money, who do you think is? Put it this way. Would you rather have Davis making the money or do want to see John York stockpiling even more of a profit while the team is out of the playoffs and playing at the dump the ‘Stick has become? That’s what we thought.
CALLER 3: I just wanted to leave a message for the Green Phone. I was scanning the newspaper and noticed in the police blotter there was a report of vandalism and the name Justin Sweeney appeared, at the age of 18 years old and I was wondering if this was the Justin Sweeney that was the star football player at Gilroy High School. I just thought this was a shame if it is indeed the same Justin Sweeney and I believe it is. It’s just so frustrating to see a kid with this much talent do such bonehead things and it’s probably one of the reasons a good football coach left the program. He probably got tired with putting up with this kind of stuff. But who knows. Anyway, that’s a sad story and I hope he gets his act together before it gets worse. Thank you.
GREEN PHONE: Hello, Caller 3. Unfortunately, you’re right. Our sources tell us it’s the same Justin Sweeney.
CALLER 4: Yeah, hi. I was listening to Rick & Rod on KNBR the other day and they were debating whether the Giants should trade Schmidt for A-Rod. I don’t care if A-Rod can’t hit the broad side of a barn right now with his throws. Get him in our lineup! For Schmidt, an over-the-hill ace who’s gonna stiff us for Seattle this winter? That’s highway robbery! We’re talking a probable Hall of Famer in Rodriguez for a guy that’s good, yeah, but not in the same league. Do it in a second, Sabean. That’s all. Thanks.
GREEN PHONE: Be skeptical of what you hear on the airwaves, Caller 4. It says here that the Yanks will never deal Alex Rodriguez, at least not until he’s well into his 30s. While the New York media has been brutal, as the Green Phone saw in a recent venture out East, you simply don’t find many players of his caliber. On the Giants’ front, they need to do something! Trading Schmidt with the team in first place would be difficult. But, as we all know, San Francisco can’t even beat Washington! Even if, by some miracle, the Giants make the playoffs. they’re going to struggle to win a series. It says here they should unload Schmidt for a pile of budding talent. Have you looked at their divisional rivals? Stocked with young talent, all of them. If the Giants don’t get young quickly, they’re going to get worse before they get better. But A-Rod would sure look good in orange and black.
