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| Ted Robinson |
Ted Robinson, in an exclusive phone interview with me says he's as shocked as anyone about his sudden dismissal from 49ers' broadcasts beginning this 2019 season.
"I was totally blind-sided by this. It caught me out of the blue. Had no idea this was coming. Especially when I had two more years left on my contract. Just still very surprised."
"I thoroughly enjoyed our feedback and working with Tim (Ryan) on our broadcasts. We got a lot of good responce."
Which only further begs the question: why did the 49ers do this? Ostensibly because their broadcasting hierarchy thought Greg Papa was too valuable a commodity to pass up.
Papa, a Raiders' veteran PBP announcer, will partner with Ryan this season. But will his strong ties and identity as the Silver and Black voice win over 49ers' fans and enthusiasts? It's a risky situation.
Robinson said he has received messages from people who were amazed by the decision made back in January. Many of those folks, he acknowledged, were friends and associates but still, he received plenty of mail.
Robinson confirmed to me reports I had heard that he met with team owner, Jed York--" Wanted to clear the air and make sure everything was OK"--he also spoke with team president, Al Guido.
There's no denying Papa is technically a very solid football broadcaster; his transition to a team has led to two amazing realities: his Raiders' allegiance and its fans, not all of course, feel betrayed. And many 49ers' faithful are seriously put off by Papa's sudden position as their broadcaster in the booth for many years to come.
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| Greg Papa |
Count this member of the Faithful as one of those pissed off they hired that smarmy shithead. As much as I like Tim Ryan, I'm going to skip the broadcasts this year.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% 11:47. I'm so disappointed in this decision.
DeletePapa is a pompous ass and Ted Robinson is a gentleman.
TR is the most versatile broadcaster we have in the Bay Area and NEVER tells us that he went to Notre Dame like that job thief, Fitzgerald. I too will boycott 49er radio broadcasts.
Exactly. I, too, will boycott 49er radio broadcasts.
DeleteExcellent post by 5:37 am.
Delete"Job thief"
Could not have done a better job of describing that little man from KNBR.
I don't like the move, or the way it was executed. Robinson is a solid announcer, who is knowledgeable, and he's a nice guy. Really enjoyed his work with the 9ers, and when he was with the Giants.
ReplyDelete9ers ownership strikes again. I wonder what the convicted felon Eddie D thinks about all of this.
ReplyDeleteTed's style and intellect much better align with the 49er faithful than Papa's over-the-top shtick. Both do solid play-by-play work...but when I drive to Tahoe, I'd rather it be with Ted than Greg. Call us elitists or whatever, but there is a difference in who follows the 49ers vs. the Raiders. It will be interesting if Papa adjusts his style to fit the Peninsula crowd.
ReplyDelete12:55 - yes, you're an elitist...
DeleteI haven't listened to a football game on radio in probably 10+ years. Like most.
ReplyDeleteNow,I've tuned in to post-game shows, Ryan is good.
Ted over Papa any day of the week and twice on Sunday. And this coming from a USC boy!!!! The 49ers clearly have no idea what's in the best interest of the team or listening fans. Ted is great at calling 49er games. DAMN SHAME.
ReplyDeleteDoes it really mattet how many actually listen on the radio these days?
ReplyDeleteLets hope that the samething happens to Fitzgerald and Robinson can broadcast Warrior games.
ReplyDeleteOh God! No...no...no! Robinson is so vanilla, so stale, even his voice has no life. I know he has his fans but please DO NOT let him near the Warriors.
DeleteHave always liked Ted and his broadcasts. Seems like a good guy. Not given to hyperbole. I love his tennis broadcasts from Wimbeldon. Good luck in the future Ted.
ReplyDeleteTed Robinson is a fantastic play by play announcer; Papa is overrated. There's a reason why he's been terminated by three local teams. 49er fans will be disappointed and ownership will regret their decision.
ReplyDeleteIf Robinson said York & Guido checked in on him, no matter their intent, then it sounds like it wasn't ownership's idea; this was all about the Cloud Clowns. Ol' Ted got Cumulated!
ReplyDeleteOh, and Amen, 7:44!
It's not enough of an upgrade - if it is one - to be worth the uproar. Papa is great - but the 49ers management really overthought this. It's not going to increase ratings, it makes the Niners look bad - like they're courting Raider fans. Bad stadium, bad team management and the team hasn't been good for a while. The entire franchise seems to be losing its identity - they really aren't anyone's team. The 49ers are the third team in the market at best.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I didn't know Ted Robinson still had 2 more years left on his contract. I thought his contract was up and the Niners chose to not renew it. You kind of feel bad for Ted Robinson, and hopefully him and Greg Papa can still be friends despite this. I think when this all went down, even Greg Papa felt kind of bad when he talked about it on 95.7. He was happy that he got the job, but he felt bad for Ted Robinson. Kind of too bad they couldn't find a way for Ted Robinson to still be a part of the broadcast. Have Greg Papa do play-by-play, with Tim Ryan as the color analyst, and maybe have Ted Robinson do sidelines or be an extra color analyst?
ReplyDeleteWith Greg Papa though, you kind of knew he wasn't going to be a free agent for long, and him going to the Niners made sense. Plus, he wanted to continue calling NFL games on the radio. You can tell his passion and knowledge for the sport whenever he talks football on 95.7.
Will it be a little weird at first to hear Greg Papa call Niner games? Yeah, especially since he was affiliated with the Raiders for a long time. At the same time, I think it will be cool. Looking forward to hearing him call Niner games on the radio this fall.
As far as Ted Robinson goes, as I mentioned in the past, if he needs more work, I think he should go back to calling Giants games. I still think baseball is his best sport as far as calling games, and the Giants could have an opening if Jon Miller retires after this baseball season. The Giants wouldn't have to look for an extensive search for Jon Miller's replacement, when they could bring back Ted Robinson.
But yes, you feel bad for Ted Robinson, but the Niners couldn't pass up this opportunity to bring in Greg Papa when they got the chance, as they mentioned.
Ted was Great. I will miss him. I too think of Greg as the voice of that other team that I hate. I am looking forward to them moving out. One problem with Greg is that he gives too many technical terms. I just tune him out.
ReplyDelete11:21 .... " like courting Raiders fans"?? You sadly underestimate our loyalty and dedication !!
ReplyDeleteIncredible in one fell swoop both Raiders & 49ers fans are pissed off that’s something to ponder
ReplyDeleteIf it takes removing TR to start the dominos ending with Fitz being forever gone from Warrior games, I cannot be disappointed. Is this change confirmed?
ReplyDeleteNo great loss for Ted. Both team are "Shitty" and have terrible management.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Jed York was not being honest with Ted Robinson.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Robinson was double crossed by York.
But this is the behavior you would expect from a weak owner such as York.
Nothing will be confirmed on the Warriors situation until the off-season.
ReplyDeleteI still feel the Warriors should keep Fitz. Yeah, he's not as popular to some, but he's been with the Warriors and him and Barnett are a great duo on Warriors telecasts. You learn a lot about basketball listening to them. I'd rather listen to them than some national tv announcers.
DeleteIf papa cannot do tv maybe radio perhaps for warriors. If he wants to do the travel?
ReplyDeleteGreg Papa has a great thing with Gary St Jean and Kelenna Azubuike doing Warriors pre and postgame on NBC Sports Bay Area. Not sure if he would leave that to essentially get his Warriors job back, but you never know.
DeleteHe's already going to do Niners and then he has his weekday radio show on 05.7. If he does Warriors as well, he might get exhausted and wear himself thin.
The Warriors have the best basketball PBP guy in radio currently in Tim Roye. He's as identified with the Warriors as Papa was with the Raiders.
DeleteGod forbid the Warriors have the same bright idea that the 49ers did.
Jed put Ted on assignment.
ReplyDeleteI have never leared a damn thing with Fitzgerald doing the play by play, now Jim Barnett, that is another story and his expertise and basketball knowlege is a jewel with great knowledge and info
ReplyDeleteFeels like when the Sharks fired Drew Remenda in 2014. Instead of making changes on the field, they made a change in the announcer' booth. I felt Ted really complemented Tim Ryan's expansive knowledge of football. Setting up Tim to "diagnose" the on field play making. Big loss!
ReplyDeleteI read that Ryan use to intentionally piss himself before USC games just to gain an edge on his opponents.
Delete