The 49ers have not always played an exciting brand of football in the past few seasons. One of my neighbors, Tripper, told me last year that he did not always make a big effort to get in front of the TV to watch the games.
He found he had a lot more fun listening to Joe Starkey's descriptions on the radio.
"Aren't you going to listen to the game when you're driving home?" she asked.
When I answer that I had not planned on listening, she shot me a look as if I were from another planet.
"Listening to Joe Starkey is better than watching it, anyway," she said.
Today, Starkey announced his retirement from the 49ers play-by-play position he has held since 1989. Starkey will call the 49ers' final two games of the season. He said he plans to continue to broadcast
"Our fan base owes Joe a great debt of gratitude," 49ers chief operating officer Andy Dolich said.
Starkey, who identifies himself as "over 65," said the travel demands of calling college and pro games on back-to-back days had taken its toll on him physically. He pointed to a situation last month in which he called the Cal-Stanford game on a Saturday, had a 12:45 a.m. flight to
The following week, Starkey got ill. He missed his first game in a career of nearly three decades because of a bout of laryngitis. Starkey did not call the action the following week, either.
"That trip that put me out of action," an emotional Starkey said. "The last couple years, the travel was almost impossible to deal with."
Starkey cited the cutbacks in flights, which made connections more tenuous. He said he has considered ending his association with one of the teams for several years.
"One way of another, one team had to go," Starkey said.
He decided he would stick with
"It's a testament to Joe that he could bring the level of enthusiasm and professionalism going through the experiences he talked about," Dolich said.
Starkey worked as the 49ers' sideline reporter during games in 1987 and '88 before replacing Lon Simmons as the voice of the team for the 1989 Super Bowl season.
The 49ers will name a replacement for Starkey in the offseason, Dolich said. He declined to name any candidates. (Joe Fonzi filled in for Starkey during the two games he missed.) Dolich said the team plans to have Gary Plummer back for his 12th season as the analyst.
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Dolich is correct when he says the fans owe Mr. Starkey a debt of gratitude. Heck, we all owe Joe a big thanks.
It's been a pleasure getting to know you through the years. And thank you for helping make Sundays a lot more enjoyable. In describing his contributions, I can only think of a few appropriate words: "What a bonanza!"
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Oh god no. He can do the 49ers instead of Cal. Talk him out of it Matt, please talk him out of it.
Starkey rules. Haven't listened to him this year because I have managed to watch every game on TV, but I still value what he does. His call of Steve Young's TD run against the Vikings was epic.
Ill never forget his call of T.O.'s TD catch to beat the Packers in 1999. Gives me the chills.
He is close to being a living legend. The Cal Stanford and Owens calls belong in the Hall of Fame. He will be missed. He was definitely one of us in the booth. Travelling these days is really a pain and I completely sympathize with him. Thanks for your passion and preparation, Joe.
Joe deserves plenty of tribute for dedicated service, but I'd rather pry Greg Papa away from the Raiders. Have you ever heard someone call a more exciting game for a worse team than Papa?
Sadly, I can see KNBR trying to prop up milquetoast Dave Fleming as the new football voice. And, please, not Bob Fitzgerald. Lon Simmons before Fitz.
Now if we could only get Gary Plummer to retire...
"OWENS, OWENS, OWENS!!!"
One of my fav calls (even tho I think T.O. is a drama queen bum now). Joe's the man, period. I know I'm not the only one who's put the t.v. on mute and put on the Joe and Gary's radio broadcast (the time delay was well worth it)!
Rod Brooks to the booth!
My dad used to put the game on TV, and turn the sound over to KGO so we could listen to Mr. Starkey because he was so much more exciting and entertaining. His calls are often on ESPN for their jubilance. I always got the feeling he flat out loves the game of football, regardless of which team is winning. Sad to see him go, but at least he will still be calling Bears games. Best of luck to Joe, and I will certainly agree that, as a fan, I owe him a big debt of gratitude.
Does anyone know how to get a copy of Lon Simmons call of Steve Young's run that plays before the Steve Young show on KNBR? Now that is the call that gives me the chills. I could listen to that over and over and over again.
Dang, he will be missed... he's awesome ! If anyone knows if there is a place that has famous radio calls, please share.
Nooooo. I love Starkey. Joe - You will be missed. Matt said it best "What a Bonanza!!!".
Let's not forget his most famous call from 1981 "The Band is on the field, The Band is on the Field". I do love that "Owens Owens Owens"
Joe did not have his same energy level last week in Miami, either. I'm glad at we can at least keep listening to him during the Cal games.
good luck Mr Starkey...we will be listening on saturdays....and let's get Ted Roberson to the booth..
Man, this is a LOSS. You fully realize how great Joe is when you hear radio commentators from other teams - so many are such obvious, sycophantic homers that it's disgusting. Joe always kept a professional enthusiasm, showing excitement for any big play regardless of what team it benefited. He displayed true integrity in his job.
Good luck Starkey, you're going to be missed.
Here is the Joe Starkey call of the Owens TD against the Packers in the playoffs. Not great quality so listen to it with the volume high. Gives me the chills every time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN4cNFcetU4&feature=related
"Owens! Owens! Owens! Owens! Owens! Owens! He caught it! He caught it! He caught it!"
A all that will bring chills down my spine til the day I die.
Very, Very sad day!! Who could fill his shoes? Not Joe Fonzi that is for sure id rather listen to Joe Buck for four hours than him. Joe Starkey is a great announcer and a very nice person I met him in a Best Buy in Concord a few years ago. 49er fans will miss you!!!
Does anyone know how to get a copy of Lon Simmons call of Steve Young's run that plays before the Steve Young show on KNBR? Now that is the call that gives me the chills. I could listen to that over and over and over again.
So we lose Starkey and Dave Morey in the same day? That ain't right.
I already hate it.
Joe is the best
i'm probably the only one on here who never liked starkey...i always thought of him as a poor carbon copy of LON SIMMONS, the BEST 49ers announcer EV-VER!
any fan who followed the niners before '89 will agree with me on this...
i also found starkey's voice annoying and consistently TOO LOUD...i will always remember the worst call i heard from him, which was when jerry rice broke steve largent's 100TD receiving record against miami.
"HIGHWAY 101 BELONGS TO JERRY RICE...NEXT STOP: HALL OF FAME!!!"
ugh...it made me cringe thinking how long it must've taken him to think of that line.
anyway, i'm sure i'll get criticized for not being a starkey fan but whatever...it's just my opinion.
If I'm ever depressed I just have to hear " the band is on the field..." and a smile comes to my face. Thank you Mr. Starkey. I'm glad to hear you will continue broadcasting Cal Football. Maybe next year you will get to broadcast from the Rose Bowl!
Joe Starkey is a legend, he will be sorely, sorely missed from the Niners. Always sucks when a voice and personality you've grown up with leaves the airwaves. Reminds me of when the good old Ken Allen retired from AFN radio...it was never the same afterwards. Best wishes to Joe and his family. He made my life just that little bit richer. And I'll never forget his calls!
The wife and kids were napping Sunday afternoon following a long evening at the Emerald Bowl, so I turned on the radio, cracked a banquet beer, and listened to the fourth quarter on the front porch. By the time the Niners came back and Singletary had been hired, my son joined me in the front yard for a catch and Starkey's farewell. As we played catch, he asked me why I had tears in my eyes...
I will miss Joe on Sundays, but am grateful that our relationship will continue on Saturday afternoons. Thanks Joe, it has been a Bonanza.