Radio man ‘not sorry’ for rift with Davis that led to firing
Former Raiders radio announcer Greg Papa publicly addressed his removal from that role for the first time Monday, detailing a rift with team owner Mark Davis going back several years.
Papa’s ouster as the Raiders’ radio play-by-play voice, a role he held for more than 20 years, became official last week. He discussed it Monday on his weekday show on 95.7 FM.
Papa said that in a July 5 meeting with Raiders President Mark Badain he was informed that he would not be brought back. Papa said the genesis of that decision was an episode of his show from 2015 in which he criticized the Raiders and Davis for interviewing Mike Shanahan — who was “loathed” by late owner Al Davis — for their open head-coaching position.
The Raiders ultimately hired Jack Del Rio as head coach, but Papa said Mark Davis hasn’t forgiven him for the criticism and that their relationship remained icy the past few years.
“As the owner of the team, I understand the way he felt,” Papa said Monday. “But for him to want me to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ I’m not. And I’m not sorry to this very day. And I lost a job that I did for over 21 years at the highest level — a job that I loved beyond any job that I’ve had.
“I do not take back those words. And I do move on in my own life.”
Papa said he was not asked whether he would keep calling games when the team moves to Las Vegas and that “I never said I wouldn’t go.” The Raiders announced an agreement with Brent Musburger on Monday to take over radio play-by-play duties starting this season. Former Raiders offensive lineman and sideline reporter Lincoln Kennedy will join Musburger in the booth.
In the Bay Area, all Raiders games will be carried on 740 AM, the team announced, with select games on 95.7 FM and 106.9 FM. Chris Townsend assumes Kennedy’s former duties as sideline reporter.
The team released a statement last week from Davis thanking Papa “for his two decades of service.”
“With intense preparation, Greg was always ready for the call,” Davis’ statement read in part. “Just as my generation remembers Bill King and ‘Holy Toledo,’ the Raider Nation will remember Greg Papa and ‘Touchdown, Raiders.’ ”
Papa mentioned the possibility of both calling college football games this year and “a role in the NFL.”
“This is not Al Davis’ football team anymore,” Papa said. “And maybe that’s my own mistake, that I never realized it, that day he died, that Saturday in Houston. I should have realized it years ago, but I am realizing it now.”