Kuiper introduced Buster Posey for his induction speech into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame dinner last week at the Hyatt. It was after that Posey speech, Kuiper had a long, emotional hug with team business head, Mario Alioto. The embrace amounted to a farewell.
Several Bay Area sports broadcast sources told me Kuiper has been contemplating leaving for several months. A series of events may have accelerated his decision to move forward.
Kuiper, I'm told by contacts, is furious over his younger brother's firing a few weeks back.
Duane himself has been dealing with that issue and has also had issues himself including an on-going serious health malady.
It's been generally thought that both Kuiper and Mike Krukow, Duane's fellow partner, would retire together --in fact, it's that element that apparently has Duane feeling the most concerned and maybe, say the sources, to stay on but that's not an issue, at least for now.
Krukow, like Kuiper, is in his mid 70's and is dealing with a (less) severe health issue of his own.
I'm told a formal decision will probably take place later in the season and that a mini-farewell tour for Duane is already in the planning stages.
#Rich Lieberman/415 Media Exclusive
Always Enjoyed Kuiper, he’s a good egg. Love his “Home Run” call !! Especially when it is a game winner!!
ReplyDeleteI hope he will enjoy good health and a happy retirement for many years!
Doug Greenwald
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Larry Baer won’t do it. Larry Baer is a real piece of work.
DeleteDougie is in the baseball equivalent of Siberia after Fresno let him go in January. No MiLB or MLB affiliated organization picked him up so he's PBP for the world famous Winnipeg GoldEyes.
DeleteYeah, me too. Didn't know there was an independent league operating in that part of North America.
What exactly does Duane have to do with Glen's status? They are completely separate. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other professionally.
ReplyDeleteBirds of a Feather say the N Word together. Duane is damaged goods. The Giants are smart to get rid of him.
DeleteI'm in HR (not with GIants) but if Duane tried to peddle influence on his brother's firing I'd can his ass.
DeleteThey're brothers, doing the same job, in the same market, for the same company, but they're completely separate professionally?
Delete@1:33PM, from what I've been reading, ChatGPT is going to can your ass. Anyway, HR does what management tells them to do. HR doesn't decide who gets canned or not.
Delete"Birds of a Feather say the N Word together. Duane is damaged goods. The Giants are smart to get rid of him."
DeleteThat's the biggest Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot statement of the year.
Rich, is Duane having weight issues? I keep hearing on KQED science programs about how big his belt is and how close it is to my anus. I hope he's alright, but all this talk of belts and butts is just disgusting!
ReplyDelete12:51- you just won at Internet comments
DeleteI’ve always enjoyed watching and listening to Kuiper, I wish him the best in retirement and a happy healthy future. He will be missed
ReplyDeleteIt would be, a REAL big loss for the Giants. I love them both, so much. Without them, it's not a game.
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteI agree they will be missed
DeleteI agree. I couldn’t wait for the Giants to get back home - had Enough of chatterbox Dave Fleming.
DeleteHe's gonna depart during the All Star Weekend. Wilson Walker of KPIX, is in negotiations right now, to fill the spot.
ReplyDeleteLarry
San Francisco
Kuip had a great run, but he's been mailing it since 2018. Kruk and Kuip should've passed the baton to Flem and Lopez/Pence/Estes at least a couple seasons ago.
ReplyDeleteFlem/Lopez/Pence are good, but Estes isn't ready for the major leagues. It's obvious he doesn't do his homework, so he comes off sounding like an amateur.
DeleteWill miss both of them.
ReplyDeleteI'll miss Duane but it's unfortunate. His brother's firing was the correct decision
ReplyDelete@ 214: you are WRONG. People are entitled to make a mistake. You're perfect? I don't blame Duane for being angry. I hope you make a mistake someday that causes this kind of uproar. Let's see what you do, oh Perfect One.
DeleteI believe in forgiveness, but this was a bridge too far
DeleteYou have to back your brother. It’s Family!
Delete@3:05 that's why they paid Glen the big bucks. It's his job to be accountable and not say slurs, intentional or not
DeleteGlen got a raw deal. If he was part of a different group, nothing would have happened to him.
ReplyDeleteA raw deal! If he used the 'n' word ( or other similar) he should be fired! To say racial epithets out loud, on air, means he commonly uses such words, disgusting!
Delete@5:26. Hey Dildo? Go get some Bud Lite and chill!
DeleteWill miss him⚾️
ReplyDeleteBoth Glen & Duane are professionals and have always shown the utmost respect for ALL people - if Glen said he didn’t make a racist slur, but had a slip of the tongue while talking about the baseball negro league and accidentally said negre - believe him. -He apologized, he is a man of integrity and meant no harm
ReplyDeleteYou are very naive. Unless you know Glen personally, you can't say he's a man of integrity. He's used the same racial slur at least twice on-air(last time was 2020).
DeleteGreat Job Rich.
ReplyDelete415 Media Exclusive: SF Giants Veteran TV/Radio Broadcaster Duane Kuiper.
I don't see this story anywhere on the internet or news. I hope other outlets have to pay you for your story or at least let people know that they got the story from 415 Media.
I agree. I searched too and didn't find it. When they get wind of the story, hopefully like you said, they give credit to Rich.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteSorry, but go feed the unicorn and watch for the rainbow. You think those social media trolls who pass as journalists at the SF Chronicle are going to give Lieberman credit? Great work in getting this scoop. It's high, it's deep...it's outta here!
DeleteI do remember one paper (I think Mercury) "stole" an exclusive story from here and posted to their site. I remember putting in their comments that the story came from here and should've credited Rich for it. My post on the newspaper story mysteriously vapourised.
DeleteWhile I really like Duane and Mike, it's time. Best of luck! Hopefully the Giants can turn this thing around and make the post season. It would be great for them to go out that way. Go Giants! And Jon Miller can keep wearing that Giants hat, Rich! Pick another hill to die on. JT the Brick and Jim Plunkett wear Raider Polo Shirts when they do preseason games and Brick's weekly Raiders show.
ReplyDeleteBummer, but it was matter of time.
ReplyDeleteAs they said in the Godfather, "It's not personal, it's business "
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Doug Greenwald promoted or be allowed to become a member of the Giants broadcast team. Not sure if that is ever going to happen. And if Duane Kuiper is furious, he ought to be furious at his brother Glenn for acting like an idiot for saying that word on the air in the first place. I am having a difficult time believing Glenn thought he was going to get away with it, or that there would be little (if anything) in the way of consequences for that. Get real.
ReplyDeleteDoug is pushing 50 and still in the minor leagues. There is a reason for that.....
DeleteHey 1:24 PM: I'm trouble finding just the right word for you, so let's go with ... IMBECILE!!!
ReplyDeleteNice try but they have already both said this season on a broadcast that they plan to continue doing this as long as possible into the future.
ReplyDeleteDamn!
ReplyDeleteKuiper and Krukow are a GREAT team--do a very good job during a good game and an excellent job (like Hank Greenwald did) during a terrible game. Giant fill in announcers are universally terrible, Doug Greenwald selection would be the best choice but Baer probably still pissed at what Hank wrote about him in his book.
ReplyDeleteDuane, you are simply the best! Perhaps, the Giants can hire your brother to contribute to the Giants' announcing team. Maybe you would stay on if Glen joined the team?!
ReplyDeleteGlen got fired by NBC, they broadcast the Giants. Not an option
DeleteWe now live in a fragile little world that is always offended and never forgiving (unless you’re a serial criminal or thief)! Fucking sad.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they can put this utter nincompoop into the broadcast team in place of Kuip.
ReplyDeleteHeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
What's shakin' ?