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| Greg Papa (left) with Tim Ryan |
YOU WANT BLATANT INSINCERITY? Try Greg Papa's touchdown call on 49ers' broadcasts. It's a wholly inappropriate, out-of-moment call that lacks realness and identity. Papa is lucky the 49ers are great this year (not withstanding Sunday's blip on the radar) because truly his call is, well, ridiculous at best.
I've always liked Papa on the substance meter and thought he was always terrific on the mechanics. He knows his pro football and his knowledge of players and teams is not questioned here. There's no argument on his fundamentally sound broadcasts but there's a lot to chew on his style and that's where he's a ZERO. Let me explain why.
LISTEN TO HIS CALL.
Papa doesn't know the meeting of the moment. That was week one in Tampa --his first 49ers' broadcast. Repeat: first. You come from twenty years of broadcasting Raiders' games so you have NO credit built up with the 49ers' Faithfull. You're a rookie in a new uniform. Therefore, what the hell with the truly out-of-place, "SAN-FRAN-CISCO!" It sounds phony. It has no rhyme or reason. It's also clear Papa doesn't know anything about his past identity which makes his call all the more disingenuous. I speak for those out of the booster club and fat white guys who wear Ronnie Lott's jersey.
Papa's call doesn't register any emotion other than severe ridicule. He hasn't built up any good will with 49ers' fans, the listening audience on KNBR, or those few objective fans who actually listen to the broadcast and that's not Papa's fault; he's in essence, a guest invited to the VIP party trying to establish himself in the Scarlet and Gold fraternity. Therefore he has to establish good will. After twenty years of Raiders broadcasts that takes time. So really, his touchdown call reeks baseless. It's like I said, out of place. If I were a 49ers fan, I'd be repulsed. Papa's lucky the team is winning because that saves more ridicule.
I want to repeat: I have no issues with Papa's technique. It's always crisp and clear. I'm sure, I know in fact, he prepares and studies his games like no one else. There's no debate about any of that but his call needs a massive amount of identity and structure --oh, and time too.
Richie's team can't wait to get out of Oakland (like the Warriors did) and now everyone not associated with both teams "suck".
ReplyDeleteHah!
Agree with Lieberman.
ReplyDeleteGreg Papa's touchdown call is about as phony as they come.
Greg Papa. An illustration in how to manufacture false enthusiasm.
It's phony and contrived -- like Papa himself. Frustrates
Deleteme no end that the Niners dumped a high class, high character guy like Ted Robinson for this pompous ass.
And you know Ted personally?
DeleteThese are the same fans that were calling for Kim Ng's hire 2 years ago. "Kim Ng!"..."I want Kim Ng!". Bitch..you hadn't heard of Kim in your life before KNBR talked about her. And now she's the flavor of the month. Next.
I've listened to Papa's calls a few times now and I have to agree...his TD calls are PAIN-FUL! They kill the emotion of the TD because they all sound the same all the time and TDs are not created equal. If it's a 1-foot pile-up run over the end zone it's called the same way as a Pick Six.
ReplyDeleteRich Lieberman hates everything. This really has nothing to do with Papa's touchdown call.
ReplyDeleteWhen does 49ers contract come up with KNBR? They spend so much time talking 49ers on 95.7 I wonder if they are trying to go after them like they did with warriors.
ReplyDeletePapa is a good technical announcer and has enthusiasm and knowledge for the game. As for that forced TD call, it sucks. Heard it as part of an intro to Sirius XM NFL Radio coverage yesterday and it sounded soooo bad. He also thinks he's a soccer announcer announcing a goal. Way too forced. At least he doesn't say "Niners" or (heaven forbid) "Frisco." The 49ers fired Ted Robinson for him? Robinson may seem vanilla, but he's easier on the ears. This is one case where it's better to listen to the TV announcers.
ReplyDeleteCompared to Fitz and Azubuike, the guy is Walter Cronkite.
ReplyDeleteAgreed- I want Papa back on the Warriors call also
DeleteTim Ryan's the only reason to listen to 49ers' broadcasts on KNBR. Papa is an insufferable dick.
ReplyDeleteTim is the man.
DeleteTim Ryan loves to hear himself talk. He talked all over Ted, now he talks over Papa. He does have good insight - but does he really need to freaking analyze each and every play? A 2 yard run up the gut needs no dissection....
DeleteFor one his call is a rip off on his Raider call, but what I hate is how he drags out the end of the call. SAN FRAN CISCOHHHHHHHH. Its a horrible call and his excitement every time is way over the top.
ReplyDeleteTim Ryan's I eat nails for breakfast voice is wearing also. I like you agree with the mechanics of their work, but I don't like listening for very long.
I agree. And there is a little Andres Cantor thrown in, during his "San Fran...ciscoooooo" calls.
DeleteTim Ryan's voice is the best Feel great baby!
DeleteThankfully, we have never heard Papa call a soccer match. Aye Carumba! There are actually fewer D'OH reactions when hearing any FOX Sports crew than when hearing Papa be a Cantor impostor. Nice irony from the Simpsons network.
DeletePapa stinks as niners broadcaster.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part about his touchdown call is how dumb it is.
I know they’re called the San Francisco 49ers but they play an hour away! Why would he be making the city his call when he easily could say ‘Forty Niners’ or ‘Niners’?
Sounds so bad
Mr Papa's broadcasting skills, good or bad, no matter to me. I haven't watched a pro-football game since the day the NFL reinstated Michael Vick.
ReplyDeleteRobinson is the consummate pro; measured and genuine as well. Papa is vastly overrated and seems to be quite taken with himself.
ReplyDeleteLast week on KNBR he said to Lund, "did you hear how I added a little bit extra on the FRAN..CISCO after the second touchdown." Really??? The first time I heard it, I thought really??? He thinks it's a great call. What an arrogant ass he is. I stopped listening to him.
ReplyDeleteI heard a podcast where Papa said the "San Fran-cisco!" call was in part an ode to his late dad (named Francis, I guess). It also separates him from his touchdown calls for the Oakland Raiders.
ReplyDeleteYea these knee jerk assholes don't know the real story yet mouth off like they do.
DeleteI feel like I'm on Twitter.
Doesn’t make it not suck.
DeleteGreg Papa is the voice of the Raiders. This is blasphemy.
ReplyDelete"Touchdooooowwwnnnn San Fran cis co "
ReplyDeleteThe best calls are spontaneous and match the moment. By doing the same call for every touchdown, Papa isn't serving the listener or the team. Seems like he's more interested in creating a catchphrase for himself than describing the game.
ReplyDelete"The best calls are spontaneous and match the moment"
DeleteExcellent point at 9:37am.
Well said.
Papa and Ryan are a very tough listen. The contrived TD call notwithstanding, the blatant over-the-top homerism is really tiring. I understand they're paid by the 49ers, but they're supposed to be describing the action, not cheering.
ReplyDeleteToo bad for fans and listeners across the country. Papa is great in knowledge and announcing but that touch down call is PAINFUL. As a life time Niner fan, I cringe after their TDs knowing that call is coming. There's a YouTube of him making the call in the booth and the other poor guys in the booth are cringing too. Papa... keep up the great announcing but read-the-room and lose that bad call.
ReplyDeleteApparently I'm the only one who likes the call. I was very skeptical of this when I heard they got rid of Ted Robinson for Greg Papa. I have been a Robinson fan since he did Minnesota Twins games. That said, I love listening to Greg and Tim. I find them to be very solid and they genuinely like their team.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Florida for four years and had to listen to Bucs games where their awful radio announcer thought he was on the team. He would say "we" whenever they scored. Ugh. Greg and Tim, although undoubtedly serious homers, at least realize they like the team but aren't on it.
As far as the comments about listening to the TV broadcast, as long as Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are out there, nobody can possibly prefer that drivel!!
I like the touchdown call, but I'll reserve final judgment for when they aren't winning every game. Don't know how it will play when they are down three scores late in the fourth quarter.
I liked Ted Robinson in every sport I heard him call.
ReplyDeleteI cannot stand Greg Papa's touchdown SF call. It ruins everything. I'm going to start to hit the mute button each time the Niners score.
I can see why Raiders fired him.
Greg Papa's so called TD call is really annoying. What bugs me most is the Niners are no longer in SAN FRAN CIS CO!, they are in some other town in Southbay. His TD call seems forced and light cursing makes him less professional, a turn off. Ted is a Winner!.
ReplyDeleteI know these posts are old but I am so over Greg Papa’s ridiculous TD call and found this blog, so I figured this could at least be therapeutic for me even if nobody reads it. I couldn’t agree more about the TD call by Greg Papa..it’s horrible!! It interferes with my TD joy because I actually cringe when I know his call is coming. By the time he’s done saying “touchdooooowwwnnnnn …” things have already moved on, its totally anti-climactic and takes way too much time. If my radio is within reach I actually turn it off or mute when they score because his call is so irritating. However, since I like to hear Tim Ryan’s comments, sometimes I just try to block it out, but it ain’t easy. There has got to be someone better to call the games with Tim Ryan. GP is not a true Faithful. What happened to Ted Robinson?
ReplyDeleteThis superbowl is a matchup of the two most annoying announcers in football
ReplyDelete