Bob Fitzgerald still refuses to talk about Manti Te’o

Bay Area Sports Guy January 21, 2013

On Wednesday, the “Fitz and Brooks” show on KNBR completely ignored the Manti Te’o story. Okay, fine. Even though all radio hosts have computers within reach and producers feeding them information, maybe they missed the story Deadspin published at 1:10 pm that afternoon. Anything is possible.

Fitzgerald wasn’t hosting on Thursday, as he was traveling with the Warriors to San Antonio. On Friday, everyone knew about the story. Bob Fitzgerald and Rod Brooks knew people were talking about Te’o's fake girlfriend, and even referenced it. But they didn’t actually discuss it.

I feel sorry for Brooks. He knows this is no way to run a radio show, but Fitzgerald has his principles. And in this case, “principles” means avoiding any story that paints your alma mater in a bad light. But while the Te’o story was again bypassed in favor of topics that had nothing to do with Fitzgerald’s Fighting Irish, it wasn’t for Brooks’ lack of trying.

Brooks started Friday’s show by making jokes about a long-distance relationship with his co-host. How because Fitzgerald was calling in from San Antonio, there was no way to know if he truly existed. Obviously a Te’o reference, right? Fitzgerald refused to take the bait, leading Brooks’ bit to fall flat. Thud.

About an hour into the show, Fitzgerald teased a future segment with a reference to how he would talk about the “biggest mystery in sports.” Brooks asked if the mystery Fitzgerald was referring to was the “girlfriend” of Manti Te’o. Fitzgerald chuckled awkwardly and said, “I don’t know what’s going on with that.” Brooks quickly backtracked, laughed a little (a common coping mechanism for both hosts), and apologetically said how he was just “being a wise guy.” The topic was immediately dropped and never broached again.

Should a sports talk show aired in a metro area that’s largely worried about an upcoming NFC Championship Game focus on Te’o for hours on end? Not necessarily. However, pretending the story isn’t worth talking about (without even explaining why the story isn’t worth exploring) is so ridiculous, one has to wonder what KNBR is thinking. Is Fitzgerald driving such great ratings that he can refuse to talk about something, especially if that “something” leads more people than usual to tune in just to hear his reaction?

He knows that people want him to either eat crow or at the very least recognize that his university is embroiled in an embarrassing scandal. But Fitzgerald just rambles on like everything is normal, and the main issue of the day is whether or not Stephen Curry will make the All-Star Team. The arrogance is astounding.

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.

25 comments

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Stormshadow

Does anyone even listen to that show? Damon Bruce kicks their ass by far and whoever is on 95.7 The Game (I think it's Greg Papa) at the same time probably pulls better numbers then Fitz and Brooks. I feel sorry for Rod, he seems like a good guy. KNBR needs to let Fitz go. Everyone knows his dad got him the job by playing golf with former PD Bob Agnew. Go to Chicago Bob and be a homer. No one likes you out here!

Otis Byrd III

Greg Papa just said that Fitz's family had a family illness. Hopefully he and his family are ok.

Otis Byrd III

BTW, where's Fitz been the past couple of nights? He didn't call last night's Warrior game and he's not calling tonight's game either. I'm guessing he probably got sick or something. He sounded fine when he was calling the game against the Thunder this past Wednesday. If he's sick, hopefully he's ok.... I doubt they fired him. With that being said, Tim Roye and Jim Barnett is not a bad tandem though. They don't do games together enough. Other than this, the only time they do games together, is when Warrior games are nationally televised on TNT, and Barnett partners up with Roye on the radio on 680.

JayT

Remember when he went on endlessly about how NFL head coaches are overrated and Singletary just didn't have the players? Haha - I still haven't heard him own up to that one, either.

erik

Was there anyone else that went local besides Ralph that went to USF?

Otis Byrd III

Mychael Urban also went to USF.... I'll admit, I kind of miss Mychael Urban. I miss him talking baseball really. I mean, it was good 95.7 tried to give him a role, where he didn't just talk baseball, even though he had that Saturday morning baseball show, but baseball obviously is his strong suit. It will be interesting to see if he possibly resurfaces on either KNBR or 95.7, if not CSN Bay Area, when baseball season starts back again. I was kind of surprised no one talked about this last year during baseball season, but it was interesting how he was back on CSN Bay Area last year during baseball season, but I think it was only on those days when they were doing the Giants pre and postgame shows from AT&T Park for Tuesday night home games aka the "Say Hey Tuesdays". But yes, Mychael Urban is another USF alum.

Fitz's Future Unemployment Check

ratto

Southbay

Its a "requirement" of KNBR that you mention where you went to school. especailly radnich fitz tolbert ,scott and to lesser extent bruce,kreuger as often as possiable. At least the gang at 95.7 avoids that subject.

Fitz's Future Unemployment Check

Because we all know that Townsend NEVER mentions SJSU

Otis Byrd III

haha. Yeah, Townsend mentions San Jose State quite a bit. He sounds like he had a really good time there. At least he represents the CSU's for all of us that went to CSU's.... San Francisco State (SFSU) represent! Bucher mentions that he is a Dartmouth guy, even though sometimes he sounds embarrassed by that. LOL. I guess he doesn't want people to think that he's either a nerd or an elitist. I didn't even know Bucher went to Dartmouth, until he mentioned it on 95.7. I would've guessed maybe UCSB or something. No offense to him. He just looks like he could be a surfer guy from SoCal or something. Maybe the blond hair gives it away? I never would've guessed that he is from Cincinnati and went to Dartmouth. Anyone agree?

Ken

Hi BASG: I think it is a complete waste of time for you to micro-disect Bob Fitzgerald's desire to not talk about this over-played saga. It was the story for all radio stations 24 hours a day for a couple of days. What can he (or any other human being) can add to this totally over-played, over-debated topic? Kudos to Bog Fitzgerald for not talking about it. It is his show, and frankly, he has every right to run it the way he wants. And to anyone who thinks that Fitz is damaging his alma mater more for not talking? Huh? You serious? Until this article no one knows Fitz is from Notre Dame, and nor does it really matter in the universe of sports. For you guys to overplay it for a local radio guy, this means you guys are really desperate and have nothing really meaningful to talk about or write about yourself, BASG. --Ken, Notre Dame hater

Fitz's Future Unemployment Check

I agree this story really needs to be talked about a lot less, freaking soap opera. The issue being brought up here is that he's not doing it for that reason, he's doing it because he's an alum and as usual refuses to acknowledge anything bad about the Warriors or ND. Its called taking a crap on journalistic integrity. He doesn't pull punches when it comes to talking about the Lakers, USC or any team that rivals the ones he protects, yet he refuses to so much as talk about a bad story about his precious ND. This story really does need to go away. But, next time there's one that should be talked about (like that girl who committed suicide after ND swept sexual assault under the rug), you can bet Fitz will be doing everything he can to avoid talking about it.

Paperback Writer

LOL You have got to be joking' '. LOL ----Notre Dame winning, ND going to BCS game, Heisman Trophy candidate, multiple college football award winner, undefeated ND. - like we didn't hear that from Bob? Yeah, kudos for Bob - for burying his head in the sand. I guess the one smart thing you have done in relation to the Fitz show is not listen to it. - I say that with confidence - because if you didn't know he went to ND......LOL And if you feel Bob can run his show the way he wants, then can't BASG run his blog the way he wants?

hurricane

fire both fitz and brooks, 4 or 5 years overdue

Southbay

Fire brooks especially fitz is ok by himself does have knowledge and speaks cleary..But Brooks is terriable wonder why he was hired. Not an ex jock or established talk show host or media member before KNBR.Does anybody know his previous sports talk resume before knbr? Surprised KNBR with all the cost cutting decides on retaining him unless the pay is not much. Maybe Brooks does not bring up ND as maybe he is dependent on Fitz for his job as well? or how does it explain he has the job for so long as others have come and gone.

Stan

What I didn't like was Bob played three hours of Regis Philbin records. Scratches and all....

Beaver

For me, Fitz just being Fitz does more damage to Notre Dame's reputation than these periodic stories. If they can crap out a turd like him, they must not be quite the institution they claim to be. It tells me something about the Warriors as well.

Slam

Yeah Bob can rip LSU for being a crappy academic school while Rod laughs at the insult like Ed McMahon, but criticize the almighty sacred Notre Dame ? NOOOOOOOOOO !!!

Otis Byrd III

Seriously, right? Rod must really have thick skin to hear Fitz criticize his alma mater LSU, but Rod can't do the same for Notre Dame. If I was Rod, I'd bring up the Manti Teo thing just cause. I wouldn't care if Fitz gets mad.

Slam

If Rod ragged on Bob about this fiasco, it would give the show a badly needed kick in the ass

Otis Byrd III

I totally agree!

Eric

Its actually kinda absurd. I still can't fathom why is ok to rip on LSU (Rod's alma mater...see 'Honey Badger'), and completely neglect a story about Notre Dame. Is he really that big of a homer? Once again, this is just very poor sports radio, and journalism to boot. One would think that Bob has MORE insight into this than the average host, and could discuss it tactfully and respectfully, even if sticking up for the university. That I'd respect at least. Peculiar, as well as arrogant. The question is, are the Cumulus Execs reading this page?

paperback writer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/01/17/a-fake-tragedy-gets-more-tears-than-a-real-one/ Maybe if Bob reads this post, he can read the above article from The Washington Post about this and other Notre Dame scandals - AND see it's written by a ND graduate who isn't afraid of asking the school to actually live up to it's boastful standards.

Fitz's Future Unemployment Check

Arrogant. On the other hand, I'm tired of this soap opera and really can't stand anymore talk of it. Too bad I'd never listen to that show anyway.

TommyJ

When Kevin lynch was on during Thursdays show , he asked Brian Billick about Teo's potential draft status and Brooks was fine with it (was on a commercial break from the other two shows ). I thought the other shows did too much of it with the NFC championship game this weekend, but it had to be mentioned at least in passing. Used to love Bob on sportsphone 68 (preceding Scott Ferrall) and on the king and the kid with Pete Franklin. Even the first few years with Brooks were good. However denial and arrogance of opinion are no way to run a sports journalism business.