CALLER 1: I have a question with regards to the medal winnings on the Olympics. I thought the Korean team was all one team, not separated into North and South anymore? How come it’s listed as South Korea in the paper when it should just be Korea? Thank you.
GREEN PHONE: Uh oh. A world affairs question for the sports section. While the answer to your question lies in international politics, we’ll put it to you in sports terms. The two Koreas on the same team would be the equivalent of the Yankees and Red Sox laughing off their decades-long hatred to join forces. North Korea and South Korea, while close in proximity, are about as friendly as Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent. Put them in the same room without a referee and call 911! North and South Korea are decidedly unfriendly and are, at times, outright hostile toward each other. While athletics often serve to thaw icy relations between nations, and the Olympics would seem to be the ideal venue for a North and South reconciliation, that possibility will have to wait at least another four (if not 40) years.
CALLER 2: OK, Green Phone. So I understand that the CCS basketball playoffs are based on enrollment as far as which division each school is in. But the schools in the West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) should be absolutely embarrassed. It’s bad enough that Mitty, which has been ranked No. 1 or 2 in the CCS is playing in Division II and will play the likes of a 10-14 Leland team. Then, in Division III, you will find St. Francis of the WCAL possibly playing a Del Mar team which is 9-16 on the year. So let’s go to Division IV now. Things get uglier. Palma, 20-5 Palma [ed. note: the Chieftains are in the TCAL], might end up playing Gonzalez, with its 7-16 record. If that’s not bad enough, Valley Christian, again in the powerful WCAL, which arguably is one of the best leagues in Northern California, if not the state, if not the nation, has decided to play in Division IV. Along with Palma, they can play powerhouse Harker Academy and they can also wind up playing an Oceana team that went 9-13. If you go to the girls’ brackets, you have the same problem. Archbishop Mitty, which was one of the top two teams in the CCS, is opening up against Lincoln High School. That’s a big challenge, isn’t it? Then when you go to Division III, you have 20-7 St. Ignatius and they’re playing a 9-16 Harbor team. And again, Valley Christian takes the cake. They’re in Division IV and they could end up playing a 9-15 Carmel team. This is absolutely ridiculous. These teams should be embarrassed. I’m not sure what the point is of these private school teams deciding to go to these lower divisions to beat up on schools that have no chance whatsoever. Thank you.
GREEN PHONE: Thanks Caller 2. But just when we thought you were finished, you called back…
CALLER 2 (again): OK, Green Phone, this is a follow-up call to my call the other day about these perennial high school private school basketball teams playing in weak divisions, lower divisions than they should in the CCS playoffs. Looking at the box scores Thursday morning, this is a joke. This is an embarrassment. Mitty beats Lincoln 56-11. I don’t understand the point to that. St. Ignatius beat Harbor 74-9 and (was) winning 51-2 at halftime. Those (losing) teams shouldn’t be playing at all in the CCS and the St. Ignatiuses and Mittys of the world should be playing Division I, absolutely, positively. The only reason they don’t is because they want to win state championships. And they want to play in a lower division when they play the schools from Southern California because they know if they go Division I in CCS, they’re gonna have to play the Mater Dei’s of the world, and the big powerhouses in Southern California that will kick their butts. And I’m not a bitter ex-public school person talking. I’ve been at private schools my whole life. I played high school sports and I would be ashamed if we had played anything but the best of Division I. These schools should be absolutely embarrassed. I do not understand why a team that is 9-17 would even be playing in the CCS, let alone against a perennial powerhouse Catholic league school. You’re down 51-2 at halftime. I know quitting is not cool, but if a team refused to come out in the second half, it would be hard to argue with them. I just don’t even see the point of playing the second half and I don’t think that would necessarily be a character builder either. I think it ruins the spirit of the game and the spirit of the athletes. Thank you.
GREEN PHONE: Caller 2, you’re not particularly heated about this subject, are you? But seriously, it really is sad that the WCAL schools are so dominant over everyone else in the CCS. But you must remember two things. First of all, the CCS does not allow a team to play “up” a division, even if it would make competition more equal. A few years ago, the CCS did allow teams to do this. But that rule has since been changed. For instance, Division IV school Valley Christian could not play at the Division III or II level, even if it wanted to. So technically, the private schools aren’t at fault for playing in weak divisions. Secondly, Division I is not the “best” division just because the schools with the largest enrollments play in it. In theory, it should be. But as you’ve pointed out, the strength of the private schools – even the small ones – throws that off. In reality, both the boys and girls Division I fields this year are arguably weaker than the Division II or III fields. As for opening round blow-outs, what were you expecting? Nail-biters? Yes, 50-point romps are a bit much. But first-round games between high and low seeds typically are not close, even in the NCAA tournament. Now, when you have a title game won by 30 points? That’s when you have a real problem.
CALLER 3: My concern is the Hollister Free Lance. How come you guys don’t give Anzar High any sort of publicity about their athletics? You know, kids are out there busting their butt trying to do good. It sure would be nice if you guys would get in the car and come over to Anzar once in a while or maybe take some nice photos of games or sports activities. A little positive press for San Juan Bautista and Anzar High would be just wonderful. Thank you.
GREEN PHONE: Sit tight for just a second, Caller 3. You aren’t the only one speaking up on the Hawks.
CALLER 4: I live in San Juan Bautista and I just have a concern. I subscribe to the Free Lance and day after day after day, I read the sports section and it’s all about San Benito High, and we have wonderful sports teams at Anzar that are getting no coverage. There are wonderful athletes, they’re doing great things and I think it’s important that they have some publicity. I grew up in this community and the Free Lance was a community paper that included Hollister and San Juan Bautista and Tres Piños and the whole nine yards, and there was always equal coverage and now there is nothing. It’s like San Benito High is the only high school in the area. I just think it’s incredibly disrespectful that the children in the other communities don’t get the attention they deserve.
GREEN PHONE: Thanks for your concern, Callers 3 and 4. We have heard your voices and have attempted to patrol the sidelines in San Juan Bautista and bring you timely Anzar coverage. Check out today’s sports for a preview of what to look for when the Hawks take the court in the CCS basketball quarterfinals this afternoon. And on Tuesday, read our full game story on the Anzar-Eastside Prep contest.
CALLER 5: I want to remind you guys that the kids at Hollister High School are now starting to run track. Let’s give ’em a little boost so that people go see them.
GREEN PHONE: Caller 5, we’re well aware the spring sports season is getting underway. And track is one of our favorites. Congrats to San Benito’s Todd Merrigan for setting the school pole vault record on Thursday. Our tiny sports staff would love to be equipped to assign a beat writer to each team, but unfortunately we don’t have those resources. Stick with us while we try to provide the best possible coverage of the postseason in winter sports and we hope you won’t be disappointed once we can give track and the other spring sports their due.
