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| Ted Robinson (l) and Greg Papa -NBCSBA photo |
*ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO when Raiders veteran PBP broadcaster Greg Papa was summarily dumped by the Silver and Black (namely, Mark Davis) 49ers broadcasting boss, Bob Sargent, who knew Papa well and regarded him as a play-by-play, sporting icon, immediately went into high gear and on a mission: to seize the opportunity to pounce on Papa and bring him into the 49ers' broadcast booth with Tim Ryan.
Mission accomplished.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Papa would replace Robinson and become the new 49ers' radio broadcaster. Or, as one sports radio observer commented to me, "a shocking move, bold and audacious too."
Sargent, in a lengthy phone conversation with me, insisted that the move to replace Robinson was by no means a repudiation of 'Teddy Ballgame' as he is known charmingly around Bay Area broadcast circles.
"When 'Greg {Papa} became available I immediately began discussions with him because I regard him as one of the best {if not thee best] in the business. NFL people place him in the top three category} Nothing against Ted more really I just wanted to bring Greg to the 49ers," said Sargent.
How bold a move? Enough to require a boatload of hurdles to overcome in addition to the move of acquiring Papa to be OKed by not just the Niners' broadcast hierarchy but all the way up the food channel including team president, Al Guido and owner, Jed York, who has always been a loyal Robinson advocate.
Industry people I talked to concurred. They repeatedly told me that it wasn't so much a blow to Ted Robinson (although it probably is) more a determined effort on Sargent's part to get Papa and Ryan together to form one of the best NFL Radio play-by-play tandems in the business.
I'll say this about the move: while I have my issues with Papa on a personal level, I've never doubted his professional credentials as a seasoned pro-football broadcaster. His Raiders' work by and large was as close to the real deal, late Bill King demonstrated in his multi-decade work with the Raiders.
The new questions on the table: Will Papa have to leave his 95.7 FM 'The Game' radio talk show? Probably. I don't envision KNBR (which is the 49ers' flagship station) allowing Papa to stay on its rival Bay Area station, but that's just a guess. Sargent told me he doesn't care one way or the other because as far as he's concerned, he got his prized pupil and long-term broadcast duo for the future.
And that's the genesis of this story laid out to me. Sargent regards Papa as the gold standard. His (Sargent) close relationship with Robinson on both a personal and professional level is a lengthy bond and might be compromised. Sargent told me in spite of that, "I wanted to make this move."
And so he did.
You need to stop comparing everyone to Bill King (which I am about to do). We get it, he was the announcer when you were a kid. I had favorites when I was 12 years old too but that doesn't make them the best.
ReplyDeleteKing was the best at describing what was happening on the field, and while a play was unfolding. But his voice was annoying. Still, probably the best PBP radio guy for football. For baseball I'd put him in the local top 10, certainly not in the top 5.
Papa also describes football very well PLUS can be critical of the team he covers. King didn't criticize play as much as Papa does. His voice less shrill and annoying than King, IMHO.
"But his voice was annoying."
ReplyDeleteAre you a moron?
That would be subjective, no?
DeleteWhat is the audience for 49er games on radio? Don't most all followers watch on TV?
ReplyDeleteRich can't think that deep. Let him talk his shit and move on. Don't question him!
DeleteNot sure what the Niners offered Robinson,some sort of communications or media job. I thought he was pretty good, so I am sure another team would snatch him. Also more news that Ray the sky is Falling down Ratto contract has not been renewed and he is a free agent.
ReplyDelete"a shocking move, bold and audacious too." Hope the football decision makers make a few of these in the offseason!
ReplyDeleteSure it will work out for the Niners...Bobby Sarge is one of the best and brightest in the business....good for him....and the Niner fans.
ReplyDeleteWho cares.....the 49ers are a lousy team, so it really doesn't matter who's in the booth.
ReplyDeleteIt matters to a lot of fans, it's obvious your not a Niner fan or just a front runner. I am curious on how he does and will check the broadcast out because I am a Niner fan and watch every game.
Deletebut robinson gave them their best catchphrase in Years-''Stone Cold Kittle!"".sayonara , wow.
ReplyDeleteWe shall see what happens when The Catch IV takes place in front of Papa. Robinson's Catch III call of Vernon Davis' winner was priceless as I was heading back from Sacramento to Pleasanton. The emotion was shared with precision, easily topping Kenny Albert on FOX. Starkey's II shouted OWENS over and over, while Summerall & Madden were simply wowed. And Don Klein's Dwight call was nice, but obviously dwarfed by Vin Scully's TV masterpiece. How the Yorks respond to Papa's work will determine how effective the radio broadcasts will be; York's regard for Robinson cannot be ignored.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Bay Sports Radio history-wise, King will always be the Gold Standard for the East Bay, while Lon Simmons will always be the Gold Standard for San Francisco. Everybody else is only reaching for it.
9er fans hardly show up to home games anymore, what's thier listening audiance like, 17 people?? It's pathetic, half of those in attendiance wear opposition jerseys. As far as Papa goes....one of the best in the business !!
ReplyDeleteI find it rather amusing how many Niner fans are fawning over jilted ex-Raider guy Greg Papa...
ReplyDeletewho cares what you find amusing
DeleteIt's funny. As "great" as Greg Papa is to everyone in the Bay Area, I sit and watch as Flemming, Robinson, Dave Feldman, Roxy consistently appear on other networks doing TV play by play for ESPN, Fox, Pac-12 etc. For a guy who is a "legend" you'd figure he'd have more of a national voice.
ReplyDeleteI also love that The Game made a huge deal about this move. I get that it's great to suck up to a co-worker, but The Game gave up the radio rights and again it's radio, are their people that listen to the radio while watching the game on TV?
TV has varying degrees of delay depending upon one's source. Over the air radio is very live. Most people can't sync it. I've found it only works (basketball, football and baseball) when I'm actually at the game.
Deletethe FM station is full of retreads and people they find off the street (joe the butcher), they badly have wanted the 49ers for a long time..
DeleteTouchdoooowwwnnnn Niners! LOL.... Even though this is still kind of a surprising move, it was kind of expected when Greg Papa did Niners pre and post on NBC Sports Bay Area. With that being said, it will be cool to hear Greg Papa call Niner games on the radio, and have him more associated with the Niners now!
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, you do kind of feel bad for Ted Robinson. Even Greg Papa tempered his enthusiasm of this news out of respect for Ted Robinson. It will be interesting to see if Ted Robinson gets opportunities to call games for other NFL teams or maybe do national NFL games on the radio, or if he has an opportunity to maybe come back to the Giants and fill in for Dave Flemming, Jon Miller, Kruk, or Kuip whenever they're "on assignment". LOL.
If Ted Robinson does call games for another NFL team, it would be kind of funny if he went to the Raiders just for their last year here in the Bay Area next season if they either end up staying in Oakland, playing at AT&T Park, or playing at Levi's.