Post Crowe a Siege Mentality at KNBR; Hammer Plots Next Move; Wall of Loyalists and Not; Papa Fuming; Ex-PD Vegas Bound

YOU WOULD THINK in KNIBBER land things would be sweet and lovely. You would be wrong.

The star at the top of the mast head, 49ers PBP broadcaster himself, Greg Papa is quietly FURIOUS. Why? His own ace and ally, the now, EX PD, Jeremiah Crowe is OUT, gonno and about to split for VEGAS. The wrong guy in an apparent power play.

The entire building at Battery and Broadway is littered with SUSPICION and LACK OF TRUST. Lee Hammer, the former KNBR PD and kingpin of the station is ecstatic, Greg Papa, not so much. Papa is more FURIOUS. It was Crowe that brought Papa into the building (albeit via Danville where Pop broadcasts from his home) to work the 10 AM- 2PM talk show. Right now, the high-rated program is not your sea of tranquility, far from it. Neither is the moring show.

*Air talent and producers are in DIVIDE. A virtual siege mentality exists. Usually a spirit of triumph and elation is evident at the so-called "Sports Leader." Not now. The collection of producers and interns that run everything from the show's existence to the literal functioning of the station barely exist. The frat-boy college atmosphere that once permeated the studios and offices are null and void.

Crowe lacked people skills and warmth and personality but his fuzziness was quite divine if you were one of his loyalists. He went behind Lee Hammer's back --many times--so Hammer is downright giddy that Crowe is leaving the building. Mike Hohler, a mid-day producer (and who poduces the 49ers radio broadcasts) is/was one of Crowe's loyalists but now Hohler will have to rely exclusively on maintaining his unofficial position as the station's snitch. That won't bode well for the rest of the staff. On the other hand, Crowe's influence is GONE. And by extension, Hohler's juice too.

Here's the current deal. Like I said, Greg Papa is PISSED. His lieutenant is gone. Vanished. The Morning Show misfits are trying their best to maintain tranuility even though their boss was KICKED OUT. Larry Baer is GIDDY. The 49ers broadcastig hierarchy not so much. It's a good thing Crowe installed a cool coffee machine in KNBR's break room, that'll be his testament to the staff.

We're exploring the situation as we (I) always do but this deal is one for the ages.

TRUST ME.