Thanks for the 50th Reunion Story but
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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.
Thanks for the 50th Reunion Story but …
CALLER 1: I just want to tell you that I am a member of the class of ’56. I don’t know if the article should have been on the sports page. It was supposed to be about the class of ’56, and there are other people in that class. If you want to find out about the class it might be good to come over to Eagle Ridge on Sunday at 1:30. You can talk to a lot more people. If you really want to have an article on a person, you ought to interview Bob Harrison. For a guy to come out of a school with 20 varsity people and they had to go both ways, he made first-team All-American out of high school as a lineman, and went back east to play in the All-American game. He made All-American junior college at Hartnell. He had a heck of a good life. He was very prominent in defense. You ought to interview him. He would be very interesting. Also, the story had many discrepancies.
GREEN PHONE: You missed the point of the articles. If it was only about a 50th class reunion, we would have not had any interest in printing them on the sports pages. What you fail to acknowledge is how unusual it is for four young men, all of them good friends, to be elected to the Gilroy High School Sports Hall of Fame. The story was about what they are doing now, and it included a vignette on Bob Harrison, who WE DID interview.
As for the column, Jim Fahey is one of the most recognizable and colorful sports figures to ever come out of Gilroy. Old-timers and even some of the young head coaches have been touched by his stories and his influence. Also, he was part of a national news story when he was on the plane carrying Cal Poly football players in 1960. Only recently has he found closure, which we found a compelling story.
We are sure there are a lot of other good stories out of the class of ’56, but our interest on the sports pages was of the sports figures. As for discrepancies, we’re professional enough here to accept callers telling us when we make mistakes. But be specific and let us know what they are.
CALLER 2: I’m calling regarding your article about Neil Martin and Korey Gray indicating they are the only two Gilroy High School alumni football players. That story is incorrect. You may have to look a little harder. I believe Bobby Best is playing at Cal Poly, which is Division 1. Shea Lemos is playing at Humboldt State, which is Division 2. You need to investigate more and find about it. I know she Lemos’ dad coaches at the school. You ought to check with coaches and see who else is playing.
GREEN PHONE: And …re.
CALLER 3: Caller I’m calling regarding a great article about Martin and Gray enjoying the Division 3 experience. It says Martin and Gray are the only two Gilroy High alum currently playing football for 4-year college. I just want you let you know a year before (Martin) graduated, Shea Lemos was picked up by Humboldt State. He is playing for a four-year school out of Gilroy High and went to Humboldt State and redshirted his freshman year. He is playing Division 2 football.
GREEN PHONE: Thank you to the second caller, who complimented the Dispatch writer for the story he did and then informed us that there was another player in Division 2. You’re right. We checked it out. Thanks for the correction. And thanks for sharing your thoughts in a positive manner.
As for the first caller, you did not have the facts, ma’am. The article DID NOT state that Martin and Gray were the only two former GHS alum playing college football. It said they were the only two playing at four-year schools, a point that has already been corrected. As for Bobby Best, we called him directly and found out he was resdhirting, so we didn’t include him.
You also said we should check with the coaches. That’s EXACTLY what we did, although coach Tim Lemos unfortunately was not one of those contacted. But ma’am, we hate to rain on your parade here. Yes, Shea Lemos is listed on the roster of Humboldt State. But he hasn’t been on the field for a single play and doesn’t even travel with the team.
CALLER 4: Commitment to losing! That is what I see coming out of the Raiders organization. No professionalism, whiny players, players that behave like criminal’s. They aspire to be more like gangster’s rather than great football players. Give me a break! Until the Raiders move away from this thug mentality, they will always be a lousy team! However, they will still have support from all the real gangers who love the Raiders. Now that’s commitment!
