It was a difficult day, to say the least, but Greg Papa, Raiders radio PBP broadcaster on "Live 105" (105.3 FM KITS), did an admirable job under some most trying conditions.
I've been a Papa critic of late, but he and color analyst, Tom Flores, broadcast the Raiders/Texans game in a solid, understated tone, given the fact that team owner, Al Davis, had passed away only a day earlier.
Papa was noticeably restrained and emotional before, during, and after the broadcast. Even his signature, "Touchdown Raiders" call was diluted. It was the proper tone, given the circumstances and Papa is to be commended.
More telling? On the last play of the game when the Raiders' Michael Huff made a game-saving interception, Papa's call was excited, but not the usual all-out euphoria. Again, it was the right decision, whether on purpose or not.
Props to both Papa and Flores for a good job.
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On Saturday Tittle had Papa on the radio and it was excellent. The emotion was raw but it made for a great insight into how much Davis meant to Papa.
ReplyDeleteOn a scale of ten-I thought it was an eleven.Or twelve. It made everybody weepy. Raider fans world over listening had to have been choked up.
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btw,what post-game? Again,as soon as the game ended on live105,it was L.A. generic voice doing highlights..and no announcement of post game interviews so I turned it off and watched Comcast's now terrible post game show of Bruno doing Max Headroom Raider reports. They have to cut the tie,end that poor format.
Just thinking more about it-it might have been THE most emotional call I ever heard. I don't think a local game ever had that impact of a win so powerful in what it represented. It was more then a tear for a Super Bowl or World Series by the players..this game I think had so much in honoring somebody we read about all our lives about a sport and team that has a real history.
ReplyDeleteIt just built and built, and built, until that end..just an amazing Greg Papa letting of feelings. I felt it..everybody did.
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Yes rich you're so right, greg papa played it like the professional you are in your dreams.
ReplyDeleteI was driving from the Bay Area up to Oregon on Sunday. I was just past Redding heading up through the sweepers through Shasta. I had lost the signal from 680, and was flipping through AM and FM to see what I'd get. I caught an FM station in the upper end of the dial that must have been rebroadcasting The Game's feed or something. I tuned in for literally the last two plays.
ReplyDeleteNow, I'm no Raiders fan, nor have I ever been a huge Greg Papa fan (don't dislike him either), but that was really a very special moment. I'm glad I got to hear it, and to hear it as it happened. Well done to all. Good stuff.
That was an amazing final call. Really, really good.
ReplyDeleteI was sweating out the game at work, listening on TuneinRadio app on the iphone. great call!
ReplyDeleteFor Raider listeners, check out the pre and post game shows on Live 105 FM. I'm not talking about the shot pre and post shows out of LA that are hosted by Tim Cates, but rather the local show that goes from from two hours before the game to a half hour before kickoff, and then usually two hours post game. They play highlights, take calls, and on the pre game have interviews and features that are well produced and usually insightful for Raiders fans. On Sunday, they did a really nice retrospective on Al Davis, with many of his former players commenting on his career, some current players talking about him after the game from the locker room, and some
ReplyDeletevintage cuts of Al himself ("Just win Baby," and "This was the finest hour in the history of the Oakland Raiduhs!") Great stuff!
The programs are hosted by Jason Ross of KTHK of Sacramento, Bruce Macgowan (formally of KNBR who used to work on the sidelines and also was part of the pre and past game shows when KNBR 1050 carried the games),and former Raiders George Atkinson and Bill Romonowski (Romo is only on the pre game).
It's worth listening to!