Bob Fitzgerald only calling home Warriors games for the time being

Bay Area Sports Guy February 22, 2013

Many readers have reached out via email, Twitter and Facebook with questions about the status of Bob Fitzgerald. I don’t have much to report beyond what was announced when Fitzgerald starting missing games: he is currently dealing with a family health matter. However, based on the amount of people wondering about Fitzgerald’s whereabouts, the word probably didn’t get out to everyone.

Fitzgerald missed several Golden State Warriors games in a row, which left Tim Roye and Jim Barnett doing a TV/radio simulcast a la the late Chick Hearn. Fitzgerald was back on the television side on Feb. 12 when the Warriors hosted the Houston Rockets, but when the Warriors came back from the break and played in Utah, Roye was with Barnett on CSN Bay Area’s broadcast while Ted Robinson (who’s battling Dave Flemming for the title of the hardest working, most versatile announcer in the Bay Area) called the game on KNBR.

Fitzgerald has missed some noon-to-3 shows on KNBR as well, with Kevin Lynch filling in for the most part (I don’t listen every day, so I’m not completely sure how many shows Fitz has missed or if Lynch has filled in each time … sorry). Fitzgerald hosted with Rod Brooks today and yesterday — I caught the end of yesterday’s show when they talked about kids getting high off Axe Body Spray. Take that, people who say you can’t learn anything from sports talk radio!

My understanding is that Fitzgerald will call the rest of the home games (including tonight’s game against the Spurs), but he’ll miss the Warriors’ upcoming five-game road trip. The Warriors only have six road games after Mar. 2: a three-games-in-four-days stretch at Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio from Mar. 17-20, then single-game trips to Phoenix, Los Angeles and Portland in April.

About the Author

Otherwise known as Steve Berman (no, not the guy from the Eminem skits), BASG started Bay Area Sports Guy in January of 2008 with the help of his then-girlfriend (now wife). Since then he's covered college football for CSN Bay Area, gained media access to the Giants, Warriors and 49ers, and built Bay Area Sports Guy into the No. 1 independent Bay Area sports blog. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

34 comments

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Gene Frenkle

Fitz sucks. The way he took the gig from Papa was pretty unethical and I hope they can his ass for good soon.

Terry

The only saving grace about the road games it that Glenn Kuiper turns out to be a better basketball broadcaster than he is a baseball broadcaster. He is deadly dull on the Oakland Athletics broadcasts, but pretty decent on the Warriors road games and seems to have a good working relationship with Jim Barnett. Still, we miss Bob Fitzgerald. Hope things improve for him soon.

John

His show with Rod Brooks is abysmal... Flat out unlistenable. Too bad KNBR won't wise up and get rid of him too. His announcing Warriors games with his frequent sarcastic tone will not be missed. Good riddance Fitz.

Brandon

I don't understand how you "Warriors fans" can dog Fitz like this. Bay Area fans are extremely lucky to have the best announcer duos in all sports, and the Warriors are no exception. Fitzy is a great compliment to JB, and I guarentee you JB would agree. I for one would be extremely dissappointed if Fitzy doesn't return next season!

Ravi

Really hope Bob comes back to do all the games, the announcer they had last night for the Knicks game was just horrible, and non of the replacements seem to have the same on-air rapport with Jim Barnett

Otis Byrd III

Glen Kuiper was ok, but he's better calling baseball games. He kind of ruined the excitement a little bit of last night's Warrior game with the lack of enthusiasm for Curry's feat last night. I guess he just doesn't get excited like that. That's just not his personality. Fitz would've went crazy if he called that game last night. Glen Kuiper seems like a nice guy, but he's a boring commentator, even for A's games. I'm sorry. He didn't seem as comfortable calling the Warrior game last night, and him and Barnett don't really have that chemistry. I don't see why they couldn't continue doing the radio/TV simulcast with Roye and Barnett for Warriors road games. That worked well, even though I guess it's harder for people who are listening to the game on the radio. I guess the Warriors either wanted to try out some new voices on the TV side in Fitz's absence for Warrior road games, or maybe Roye felt more comfortable calling the Warrior games on the radio, even though him and Barnett have good chemistry, and there isn't really an awkward moment between the two during a broadcast.

Twiliver Earl

A name that I haven't heard mention before did the PBP for the Warriors tonight: Glen Kuiper. I like him with the A's and if Fitz is axe, with a little coaching, and xperience, he might have a chance of being a partner to Barnett. Kuip is a real professional. He would do well, given the opportunity.

Templar Talbot

I like Fitzgerald, sometimes he and Jim seem a bit disjointed, even more noticeable when Jim and Roye banter back and forth like a couple of old college buddies catching up. And yeah, he can get a little high pitched and whiny at times when he perceives miscarriages of justice ( and sometimes hes spot on; David Lee gets hacked and hammered constantly and gets about 40% of it called-he should be shooting 25 FT's a game) but his hearts in the right place, he's a local guy and really knows his stuff. NBA TV or any major Sports network would snap him up in a second, were he not re-signed after the season. As for his odd Howard Hughes routine? Who knows? It's his business, and speculating about the veracity or 'meaning' behind his sudden disappearance is pointless, though bound to happen when you are in the public eye like his during the Twitter/IM era. He should just post a message for W & KNBR fans wondering what the hells going on just to assuage our curiosity though.

stevraider

What a difference between him and Roye. I can finally turn the mute button off. He is hands down the worse, with his hitches in his get alongs and his players getting "blows" to complaining every game about not keeping a blocked shot in bounds or taking bad shots. Roye is awesome. Replace Fitz and Barnett with C-Webb or Mully or anyone who is a Warrior and doesnt make you watch every game on mute.

Stan

He did say on air that "How I am on my radio show is different from my PBP". A shocking admission.

Otis Byrd III

haha. Yes, I was also surprised that he admitted that the other day. I guess in a way, I can see that though. When you're doing a radio show, you might not have as many listeners as you would when you're doing play-by-play on TV. Plus, on a radio show you can be more real than you can be on TV at times. Even Henry Wofford points out the differences whenever he's on 95.7 as opposed to when he's on CSN. Sometimes Bucher points out the differences as well. It just shows how different radio is from TV.

Warriors Nation

No one should be badmouthing Fitz. He is a great and versatile announcer with a pleathora of knowledge abot many sports (I do agree he takes the ND stuff a little too far sometimes). For everyone's info...this is a very serious family health matter for one of his family members. Please keep Fitz and his family in your positive thoughts and prayers. Go Warriors.

patti

I would. Love GSW to get fresh announcers for tv broadcast. Bob is such a homer,, I never learn anything new. I love to watch espn broadcast, my favorite was when Coach Jackson did the game, he had a totally different view,,,than the homers.

Slam

I disagree. As much as I dislike his radio show ( as Gary Radnich told him on the air :" Maybe once in a while, tell the caller he made a good point" ), I think he's GREAT doing Warriors games and working with Barnett. He's a pro.

Don L.

When this first happened, I missed the initial announcement that Fitz was dealing with a family matter. I thought (like many) that there was something going on with Fitz being moved around OR trying out Tim Roye on TV / etc. I don't have much issues with Fitz except he can be one-sided at times and that leads Barnett to disagree with him. I don't think it's happened this season as much. But last season, Barnett definitely disagree with Fitz a few times on air. Roye has been quite good on TV and I could live with a Barnett / Roye pairing for the near future. In regards to Tolbert, I wonder if he is just auditioning for the day Barnett retires. Barnett seemed a step slow last year though seems to be sharper this year. But he is almost 70 and may step away at some point in the near future. Tolbert is probably the ideal replacement though I haven't listened him during games since I'm either watching on TV or in person.

beandoggerel

Get Fitz out. Get Papa in. #lifeisacircle #sleepyfloydissuperman

SixPat

At least the game is on ESPN tonight so you don't have to listen to Fitz

While I wish no ill will on Fitz or his family I would be thrilled to learn that GSW is going to let him go at the end of this year. He's a homer who constantly bickers when JB has a conflicting opinion. He is flat out annoying. Bring back Papa (preferred) or bring TR in to do the play by play. Either way it would be a huge upgrade!!!

TommyJ

While Fitzgeralds show is rarely listened by me, this absence due to family issues sucks and to me that's the core of the matter. Had a personal interaction with him in Foster City a few years back when I lived there ( his dad was a mayor there in the 70s) and he was a good guy. I just see him as too much of a company guy(GSW , ND) that needs to be more transperant to make his show listenable.

erik

Since he went to Notre Dame , maybe he has an imaginary illness.

Slam

HIGH FIVE !

Fitz's Future Unemployment Check

Stay classy. People who put ketchup on their steak didn't want any of that?

B.A. Rich

I was wondering how long it would take until some dip shit made a joke about this. Congrats, you win eric.

erik

Thank you Rich. I appreciate the recognition and I hope to be able to keep the high standard that you have assigned to me.

bearaka

That joke wasnt even about his family. Lighten the fuck up.

Will

Yes, it is health related, and it is a family matter, but not directly related to his own personal health. He's staying home with his family during Warrior road trips. This isn't a cover-up and is unrelated to any contractual scenarios.

B.A. Rich

I'm not challenging the validity of your comment but just curious, what is your credibility?

BASG

Not that I have any credibility to speak of, but from what I've heard Will is 100% correct.

Otis Byrd III

Yeah, I was wondering about this. Fitz has been just doing home games for the past month or so. I agree that if this is about family healthy, then hopefully Fitz and/or his family is ok.

Slam

If it's actually about "family health, I hope Bob and his family are OK. If it's not, then I suppose it's no coincidence that Tom Tolbert is all of a sudden doing a couple Warriors games. Fitz does some NFL games, and he was at the last Summer Olympics, so if his gig with Golden State is winding down, he will probably have no problem getting steady work

Otis Byrd III

Yeah, it is kind of interesting how Tom is doing some Warrior games on radio, while Fitz is doing just Warrior home games for now. If this doesn't have anything to do with the health of Fitz or his family, maybe the Warriors are trying out some different things, just in case they do plan on letting Fitz go. I think Roye and Barnett are a good duo, and Ted Robinson didn't do that bad calling the Warrior game on KNBR the other night. Dave Flemming didn't do a bad job calling the Warrior game on KNBR a few seasons ago, when Fitz was sick for a couple of games I think, and Roye was calling the games on CSN Bay Area with Barnett. With that being said, Tom hasn't been that bad with Roye on the radio. I didn't know his contract Fitz's contract is up soon. I doubt the Warriors let him go. He tow's the company line, the guy is very knowledgable about the Warriors and the NBA in general, and even though a lot of people dislike Fitz, I think he does a great job on Warrior telecasts. The guy is prepared for every game.... I wonder if the Warriors don't bring back Fitz, would he quit his KNBR gig? I'm sure he wouldn't want a ton of people on KNBR asking him what went down with the Warriors, if they don't bring him back. But yeah, if he was to be let go, I agree, he will have no problem getting work. He would probably get a job like that. I bet another NBA team would bring him in, or maybe he would just do more NFL games. Maybe ESPN or TNT can bring him in and he can do some national TV basketball games. I think he could pull that off. Plus, he knows a lot of the players throughout the NBA because of him calling games in the Olympics. The guy does do his HW and is very knowledgable, for the game he is calling that day/night. But yeah, we'll see what happens, if this has nothing to do with his health or the health of his family.

BearAKA

Yea, I don't particularly mind him on the telecasts. There is without a doubt room for improvement though. He inserts himself into the game waaaaaaay too much in my opinion. Whether it's acting like David Lee almost ended someones career, or complaining about fouls, or shot selection. He is a play by play guy, he should be setting up Barnett for color commentary but more often than not he says his piece and then gives Barnett about 3 seconds to agree or disagree. I think Tim Roye fits perfectly with both Barnett and Tolbert. He's great at getting them involved in the conversation and doesn't beat us over the head with any of his opinions.

Otis Byrd III

Yeah, I totally agree. Sometimes Fitz does put Barnett in an awkward situation where Fitz gives an opinion and Barnett doesn't have too much time to respond, since they have to focus on what's going on in the game. Roye does have a better back and forth with Barnett and Tolbert though.