Tony Roberts - Fired

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:14 pm

I know many here won't care, but Tony Roberts was fired. He was the voice of ND on Westwood One, and also did NFL games on Sunday. This is a shame. Criqui is a great replacement, but Roberts should have gone out on his own terms. And so help me God, if Kevin White had anything to do with this decision, I will drive to Notre Dame and fight him, tonight.

Irish fire long-time announcer

By Teddy Greenstein
Tribune media reporter
Published May 15, 2006, 2:37 PM CDT

Hall of Fame radio play-by-play announcer Tony Roberts is out after calling Notre Dame games for 26 years.

"They fired me," Roberts said. "For no cause."

Roberts, who learned of the decision Monday from an executive at Westwood One Radio, said he would be replaced by veteran broadcaster and Notre Dame alumnus Don Criqui. Analyst Allen Pinkett, who had worked with Roberts since 2002, has been retained.

"It was a great run and I'm sorry it's over," Roberts said. "I always wanted to walk away from it under my terms."

Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:25 pm

If FSU ever fired Gene Deckerhoff for no apparent reason, their would be a mob heading to Tally in no time.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:44 pm

i liked Tony Roberts. no one could howl "....and THAT"S A TWO YARD GAIN FOR THE IRISH!!!!"....like him.

seriously, i'm a big radio guy, and i thought Tony Roberts was great.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:52 pm

He was a complete homer, but he didn't try to hide it and he had a great voice. Listening to him during the ND/USC game in '03 was hilarious.

Vito Corleone · Post by **Vito Corleone** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:54 pm

I think all announcers are supposed to be homers for the team they call.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Mon May 15, 2006 9:00 pm

Vito Corleone wrote:I think all announcers are supposed to be homers for the team they call.

True, good point. It wasn't like he was a national broadcaster who couldn't hide his homerisim.

Legacy5.5 · Post by **Legacy5.5** » Mon May 15, 2006 9:02 pm

It will never be the same for me. He has been the voice of the Fighting Irish since I was 2. I like Criqui but no one can replace Tony IMO.

I am Jack's momentious disappointment...........

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Mon May 15, 2006 9:10 pm

What sort of homerish things did he say during the 2003 USC game, the Trojans rolled the Domers in thast one

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Mon May 15, 2006 9:16 pm

SoCalTrjn wrote:What sort of homerish things did he say during the 2003 USC game, the Trojans rolled the Domers in thast one

His disgust for Willingham/ND was very apparent. He mailed in the entire 4th quarter. That's why it was funny.

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Tue May 16, 2006 3:43 am

WTF? Is the fan base pissed? How can they just can the guy who's been their radio persona for 26 years?

Damn, that's fucking bullshit...

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Tue May 16, 2006 3:45 am

Killian wrote:
SoCalTrjn wrote:What sort of homerish things did he say during the 2003 USC game, the Trojans rolled the Domers in thast one
His disgust for Willingham/ND was very apparent. He mailed in the entire 4th quarter. That's why it was funny.

So did Notre Dames team

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:47 pm

^^^^

Which it was why it was time for Ty to go. Look at the halftime scores for the 3 ass kickings during his time at ND and look at the final scores. Can you say "struggles with halftime adjustments"?

PSU,

Yeah, I would say 97% of the fan base is very pissed. Tony has started to slip, but nothing like Keith Jackson levels. It was frustrating at times that he didn't give a score very often, or that he would call a play and not tell you how many yards the play gained or lost, but overall he was better than the vast majority of announcers out there.

The more I've heard, it was apparently because Tony has stopped going to practices and interviewing coaches, but he still has his opinions. As someone put it, "he has an opinion on everything and most of them are wrong." Westwood One has been trying to get rid of him for years, and this was it.

FWIW, I think Don Criqui will do a fantastic job. I will just miss Tony Roberts.

Terry in Crapchester · Tue May 16, 2006 5:01 pm

Very sad news. I grew up listening to Tony Roberts, and like Legacy said, to me he was the voice of Notre Dame football.

Having said that, if the change had to be made, Don Criqui was a great choice as a replacement. Criqui being a ND alum ([Zyclone]he was the college roommate of the father of a girl who ended up marrying a buddy of mine[/Zyclone]), there's no doubt he'll have the proper respect for the program.

Degenerate · Post by **Degenerate** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:36 pm

I hope the fact that Criqui is an ND alum will at least make him pay attention to the game he's calling. He's been a terrible NFL play-by-play man for twenty years now.