I'M NOT HERE to defend nor praise
Raiders/NBC Cable broadcaster,
Greg Papa--he can do that himself--but information put forth by
Tim Kawakami via a tweet is pure BS.
I know 100 percent.
Kawakami, sports writer for
The Athletic wanted to stir up shit and he did but it was all fake. He inferred that Papa was interested in a possible
49ers role as broadcaster. Those weren't his exact words but essentially that Papa was auditioning for a gig.
BS.
Papa had a special relationship with the late Raiders' owner,
Al Davis. Maybe too special but that's not the point of this post.
Davis loved Papa and his broadcast and so much so that he in essence, made it in contract form that Papa was to be the Raiders broadcaster a lifetime job. How do I know? Because I know, trust me. And that includes wherever the Raiders play, like, say,
Las Vegas.
Papa isn't interested in any
49ers job; a.
Ted Robinson isn't going anywhere and does a great job for the Niners. Plus, he's under contract and has the backing of the 49ers' broadcast hierarchy. It's fact.
Kawakami writes and post, sometimes, interesting copy. I can dislike the guy ...as I do, and still read him but he's notorious for
BLOCKING people on social media he disagrees with; I've been accused of the same, but I try to be fair. Kawakami is anything but plus he's inconsistent.
I wanted you to get the facts.
UPDATED; Papa and Mark Davis have an ongoing feud probably fueling the rumors of Papa's "interest" in the 49ers --which again, isn't relevant.
During Al Davis' late stages in life (he died in 2011) as indicated, Papa became real close to Davis, so much so that Davis gave Greg a lifetime position in the Raiders organization. So close were they, there was rumors that Papa was not only considered merely for broadcast duties, but on the field as well, indicating Davis' trust and respect for Papa's knowledge of football. It hasn't materialized that way and I doubt Papa would involve himself with the new Jon Gruden regime but so went the story.
This is a true story: Mark Davis, Al' son and the current managing partner, is not a Papa fan. And Papa, like anyone who's someone in the football and PR world, can't stand Mark Davis.
Davis is a novice owner; a bumbling, idiotic misfit who got to his position because his dad left his portion of ownership to his son. The fact his son knows nothing about football and comes across as goofy and aloof is no accident; and quietly, Papa told friends as much. In addition, Papa, on his radio show and elsewhere made critical statements on the Raiders' leadership. They were fairly benign but Davis was displeased and got into Papa's face on several occasions.
Papa talks about the 49ers on his radio show --a lot lately--some people who should know better interpret that as his (Papa) wanting to curry favor with the 49ers in case his Raiders' gig peters out; that won't happen unless Papa changes his mind and wants no part of Las Vegas but he's already indicated his intention to still broadcast Raiders' games (It's only an hour flight from the Bay Area so Papa can still do his other duties)
Papa's got an ironclad agreement that Davis bequeathed to him; how firm is it? He's still working there, right? And here's a biggie: Papa and Jon Gruden, the new coach and de facto boss of the Silver and Black, is a Papa fan and they're both close friends dating back to Gruden's first rodeo with the Raiders years back. Gruden has already told Mark to back off Papa. In a diplomatic manner but there's an unbreakable bond there and it ain't disappearing anytime soon.
The only person who can ace out Papa from the Raiders is Papa himself; he'd have to change his mind though and I don't see that happening for now. The money he gets from the Raiders is pretty darn good (high six-figures) and Papa does need the money now, trust me.
And know you know...the rest of the story.
