San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Above all, Garoppolo has shown class
Battle lines have been drawn. You either believe Jimmy Garoppolo is a fine quarterback who can lead the 49ers to another Super Bowl, or you see him as Captain Mediocre, with whom the 49ers are doomed to suck until he is gone. Middle ground? Zero.
If you believe it’s time for Trey Lance, you likely make your case by bashing Garoppolo, denigrating him personally and professionally, and ridiculing his followers. If you favor Jimmy, you lash out at Lance and those you view as deluded imbeciles who believe he’s a real quarterback.
Meanwhile, rising above the rancor, bitterness and mudslinging?
Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance has been cool, too, but it’s Garoppolo in the spotlight, critiqued on every play, grilled by the media every Sunday and at the midweek quarterback presser, and fair game for every tweeter/caller/ranter.
If there’s an All-NFL team for dignity and composure in a storm, Garoppolo’s on it.
This is his fifth season as a 49er. He has had good times and bad, as a starter and backup, and have you ever seen Garoppolo be chippy, snappy, snippy, grouchy or moody — or any of the other seven dwarfs?
I ran it by Eric Branch, The Chronicle’s beat reporter, who is around the team on a daily basis. He verifies that the Jimmy G glimpsed by the outside world — smiling, helpful, positive — is the same guy inhouse.
This season, Garoppolo has been cooperative and helpful to the media as always, and also seems less programmed in his remarks. After the 49ers beat the Rams with a killer gameopening drive, Garoppolo said, “I don’t want to say it took their soul away, but it definitely did something.” That’s a level deeper than the generic response.
Player news conferences usually end when a PR staffer says, “Last question.” Occasionally Garoppolo will notice a reporter who seemed eager to ask a question but didn’t get it in. Garoppolo will take the extra question. A small courtesy.
In the locker room (prepandemic), some NFL prima donna quarterbacks declare themselves off-limits to the media, for official questions or casual conversation. Not Garoppolo.
By all accounts, he’s the same with his teammates. The NFL season is a long slog, so a quarterback’s upbeat positivity goes a long way. The 49ers know Garoppolo is the target of criticism and anger, even during the team’s mini streak, and they seem to react by having his back.
We’re not trying to slap a meaningless Miss Congeniality sash on Garoppolo here. Just recognizing that there’s more to quarterbacking than tossing the rock. Give the fellow credit for the humanity, dignity and the positive attitude he brings to the job.
Other deep thoughts, cheap shots & bon mots ... One of the quirks of the Warriors is that they tend to explode like a beautiful fireworks display during the third quarter. I mention this because a lot of fans fortunate enough to have primo tickets at Chase Center don’t seem to realize that there is a third quarter. Must be some killer parties down in those bunkers. Or a shortage of restrooms. Say goodbye, A’s fans, to Starling Marte and Mark Canha, both joining the Mets. Both were major contributors to the A’s, in performance and spirit. Ironic that they’re off to the team led by Sandy Alderson, who developed the A’s analytics system that has allowed the A’s to rise above their budget level by identifying undervalued players. If only the A’s could keep ’em.
The NFL and Rams owner Stan Kroenke will pay St. Louis $790 million to settle the city’s lawsuit over the team’s departure. Irvin Muchnick, Bay Area independent investigative reporter extraordinaire, gives his cynical “back of the envelope breakdown” on how the settlement money would be distributed: $260 million for attorney fees, $529.9 million for upgrading Edward Jones Dome and lobbying for a new NFL team in St. Louis, $100,000 for improving schools, public health and infrastructure to restore St. Louis as a worldclass city. Close, Irvin. The legal firm representing St. Louis in that lawsuit will be paid 35% of the settlement, or $276 million. Sorry, St. Louis schools and bridges. Maybe next time. It’s baseball Hall of Fame voting time, and this will be my first crack at it. If you have anything to add to the argument for or against Barry Bonds, email me. New and original thoughts only, no rehashed arguments. Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson just won’t go away. He might be the only guy who won an NBA job simply by boxing out. He does more than that, of course, but he does that simple task to perfection. The league should honor every season’s MVB — Most Valuable Boxer-outer. All the debating over statues, which ones to tear down, who is worthy and who’s not, leads me to this: Take ’em all down. Too many skeletons in too many closets. Except Willie Mays. Leave him at Third & King.