415 Media Exclusive: How the Papa/49ers Deal Went Down; Inside Story; When Papa Became Available, 49ers' Sargent Began Pursuit; Tells 415 Media 'Historic Move'; Decision Needed York and Guido OK

Ted Robinson (l) and Greg Papa -NBCSBA photo

49ERS MOVED ON 'FREE AGENT PAPA'; NO REPUDIATION OF ROBINSON; ACCELURATED MOVE ON EX-RAIDERS PBP --415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE INSIDE STORY ON 'SHOCKING MOVE'

*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.

49ers Rule The Bay Area; Domestic Violence Talk Trumps Sports On KNBR; Ted Robinson and Larry Baer; KRON ND Pero Screaming And Yelling, (Again); Radnich Says Another Stupid Thing; Tolbert Wants 500 Grand; More Haener, Less Gasia; Daffy Duck Gets KCBS Traffic Gig; Friday Notes First Take

FRIDAY NOTES AND THOUGHTS

*All the talk about domestic violence in the NFL trumped the normal sports-talk minutiae --moreover, it virtually wiped the Giants, A's and Warriors off the sports domain --indirectly, KNBR, its second biggest client, the Giants, were virtually ignored on the radio for the entire week.

The conversation centered around Ray Rice, domestic violence, the 49ers and Ray McDonald.

It only reinforces what's been known a long time but rarely discussed: in spite of off-field issues and the Giants winning a couple World Series, the 49ERS are the #-1 team in the Bay Area. It's not even close.

The Giants are a solid second and while they hold all the clout at 55 Hawthorne, it's the 49ers who have virtually all the cachet in town even if the Giants seem to get the bulk of favoritism including priority on 680 AM time slots versus albatross 1050 AM. Enter KGO-AM into the frame.

*Not particularly losing sleep over Ted Robinson's suspension: Giants Prez: Larry Baer. Relationship history: Fire and Ice.

*At KRON: the yelling and screaming news director, Aaron Pero, is doing a lot of yelling and screaming, AGAIN, from one of my KRONvicts who points out this behavior is nothing new coming from Pero who's angry at the world, KRON workers in particular except a certain female buddy in the morning who conveniently has been left alone from the ranting and raving, what a coincidence.

*Raj Mathai and Jessica Aguirre --Dan Ashley and Ama Daeta: a 1 and 1A battle between KGO-TV and KNTV, slight advantage to Ashley and Daetz but Mathai and Aguirre are coming down the stretch fast and furious.

*Hard worker in the morning: Laura Garcia-Cannon at KNTV--get her that contract renewed.

*Julie Haener and Gasia Mikaelian: chick wars at KTVU. Personally, I don't see why Gasia is such a big deal at 2 Jack London Square--what, the blond anchor quotient not operational? Haener can come off as impersonal and robotic but she's a solid co-anchor with Frank Somerville and they both have a bit more chemistry.

*KTVU graphics update: "Wei-Still- Suk."

*KPIX: the geniuses in upper suit department, taking advantage of NFL Thursday Night Football, decided to simulcast the horrid "Night Beat" on both PIX and KBCW. Great. The show still sucks.

"GAME OFFFFFF!"

*Veronica De La Cruz: from the penthouse to the outhouse. And the hair has little to do with it.

*Someone who looks like something but mysteriously isn't: Katie Marzullo.

*Tom Tolbert is quite happy at KNBR where he rules the afternoon in spite of the 467,000 commercials per hour that Knibber runs, just be advised when Tolbert's contract is up, he's apparently looking for a $500Ka-year payday which would make him the highest-paid yapper at the Bleeder. You can buy a lot of pop tarts with that dough.

*Speaking of yelling and screaming: Sarah and Vinnie at CBS' FM outpost. He, (Vinnie), still can't fathom she's the #1 yenta and he might as well be the line cook at the Emeryville Denny's.

*Yeah, I hear: Daffy Duck is doing traffic reports at KCBS. Traffic: KCBS' version of radio porn.

*A KGO Radio 30-something staffer on Kevin Metheney, (Pig Virus)--"He's actually kind of a nice guy." Yeah, until a year down the road when he's gone and screwing up another radio station in another town. Pig Vomit is what's known as a radio retread which is a Cumulus virtue when it comes to the Opps MGR at KGO---WNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNBC or not.

*PIX managers and middle managers alike: you didn't lay any of them off? Editors get no respect.

*Vern Glenn: Enough of the histrionics Vern, just give us the damn sports and cut the little guy doofus shtick, it's unbecoming and quite annoying, please.

*Alan Martin: For god's sake take a deep breath and laugh a little--you're beginning to enter into the Milt Kahn territory.

*Classy Radnich the other day on Knibber: "You know, my first wife--'we were married for 23 years and she never worked." He continued: "And the 23 years since our divorce she's still not working." Proving once again Gary Radnich is pretty much an asshole.

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49ers PBP Broadcaster, Ted Robinson, Defense Attorney Michael Cardoza and Esteemed NY Times Writer Dave Anderson on Lieberman Live Today From 2-4 PM

Ted Robinson

 TODAY ON MY RADIO SHOW:

Ted Robinson/49ers PBP Broadcaster: 2: 05-2: 20 PM

Michael Cardoza/Defense Attorney/Former Prosecutor/CNN Legal analyst 2: 30-3 PM

Dave Anderson: Award-winning sports-writer, NY Times: 3: 05-3: 30 PM

To listen live: ksco.com --click on my link, you can also listen later on demand on podcast.

Michael Cardoza

Dave Anderson/NY Times

49ers PBP Broadcaster Ted Robinson Goes off on Candlestick Crowd For Doing Wave While Injured Zona Player Lay Motionless on Field

  In Sunday's 49ers-Arizona Cardinals game, the Cards' Calais Campbell was injured in the fourth quarter and a stretcher was on the field. After experiencing "extreme numbness", according to some of his fellow players, Campbell was able to move all of his lower extremities. He was taken to a local hospital. (He's OK).

As Campbell lay on the field motionless several in the crowd began doing the wave.

On KNBR radio, 49ers play-by-play broadcaster, Ted Robinson, was outraged. Robinson emotionally called out the SF fans and was adamant, "Hey, people STOP IT--stop doing the wave!"

It was honest and forthright. It was also something extraordinarily appropriate in a day when this type of behavior might have been ignored by the local radio crew.

Robinson did the right thing calling out thousands of oblivious numbskulls who appeared to be brain-dead at the moment. He wasn't alone. Several 49ers players motioned for the crowd to stop the wave shenanigans.

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Rating the 49ers and Raiders Radio Broadcasting Team; It's Time for Football; Ted Robinson and Eric Davis; Greg Papa and Tom Flores

    SF 49ers Radio: KNBR, KGO, The Bone
    Ted Robinson: Play-by-Play
    Eric Davis: commentary

    This is a very good team. Robinson's pin-point play-by-play is excellent and well-coordinated. Ted gets some heat from critics who say his style is stale and understated. That's his best asset. He is crisp and concise. He excites when he has to and doesn't go crazy and homer up if the situation isn't warranted. I appreciate Robinson's willingness to criticize the 49ers if they play crummy. The Bay Area has never warmed to homers.

Davis has become a lot more of an accomplished broadcaster. His ex-jock status gives listeners an inside look at particular plays, always welcome. On the other hand, ex-players tend to resist hardened criticism. Not so with Davis who has elevated his off-field game in the booth. Plus, as evident on 49ers broadcasts, he's developed a chemistry with Robinson that makes the two as good and fluid as ever.

RATING: A




Oakland Raiders Radio: 95.7 FM--The Game
Greg Papa: Play-by-Play
Tom Flores: Commentary

Greg Papa is the consummate professional. His broadcast style is neatly-paced and loaded with a lot of information, particularly when it comes to the players and plays themselves. I like Papa a lot. He has a tendency to get overly excited even if the Raiders are hopelessly behind, (that might be especially evident this year) and his signature "Touchdownnnnnnnnnn Raiders!" call is his staple. But when the home team is down, 23-0 in the 4th quarter, there's something wrong. On the other hand, Papa knows his game, has a steady, comfortable delivery and gives a quality broadcast.

Tom Flores, the former coach, is a puzzle. He obviously knows what he's talking about, but his constant "we" references are irritating and lend credence to his homer critics. In addition, Flores has a nasty habit of openly cheering on various plays. It's great for the booster club people but on a broadcast, it's deadly. I hope Flores tones that down and sticks to the basics. He can be happy and excited as long as it's measured and expected.

GRADE: B-

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Robinson re-upps with 49ers on Five-Year Extension

49ERS ANNOUNCE FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION WITH VOICE OF THE 49ERS TED ROBINSON


Ted Robinson --one of the best, just signed a five-year contract extension with the 49ers.

Good for Ted, good for the 49ers.

I want to say a few things about Ted.

First, he's a good broadcaster. Not a homer. Does he get excited when the 49ers play well? Sure, he's supposed to. But he's also supremely critical and will call out players and the team if they play poorly.

Another thing: Robinson gets an occasional whack from critics who think he's overrated. He's not. And he's about as close to Bill King on football as there is. Props to Mr. Robinson.