Country Mike Blog

Pat and Barry

Mike Sudhalter  |  December 18, 2008

I was just thinking about it, and I reckon that country singer Pat Green and San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito have a lot in common.

Both were fan favorites, fun-loving guys who had the freedom to do what they wanted - and more importantly showcase their talents and personalities - in Texas and Oakland, respectively.

But they both choose the big bucks when they came calling....nobody can fault either of them for wanting to significantly improve their financial standing. The way things have turned out - from this fan's point of view - makes me think that both made a deal with the devil. Or at least compromised much of what makes them who they are.

Green is just another artist on a long list of them on Music Row.....he crossed over the proverbial bay that divides Texas Country and the Nashville Establishment. Zito took a big contract and has spent the past two seasons on the other side of San Francisco Bay at AT&T Park in San Francisco (which is a beautiful ballpark if you ever get the chance to go there).

Zito hasn't looked the same, and the Giants probably wish they could send him to Fresno half the time.

Maybe, they should. And maybe Nashville should send Pat back to New Braunfels. It would do both of em' good.

In the words of pre-Nashville Green, "Everybody needs to get away sometime, forget about yourself for a while.....OK, alright, Carry On."