Ted Leitner

Ted Leitner is a former KFMB News 8 sportscaster and former longtime radioman of 760 KFMB as sportscaster for the San Diego Chargers. He left KFMB and assumed the San Diego Padres play by play broadcast responsibilities with XX Radio. His association with the Padres dates back to 1973 [http://mlb.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=sd#leitner MLB biog of Leitner] ] . Although he makes it a point to take a back seat to legendary sidekick Jerry Coleman, Ted has become a San Diego institution in his own right and his name appears on the ballot for the Ford Frick Award with the Baseball Hall of Fame. Leitner's current contract with the Padres runs through the 2008 season. [ [http://www.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/sd/y2006/m10/d13/c1711066.jsp Padres extend contract of broadcaster Ted Leitner ] ]

Background

Leitner graduated from Oklahoma State University in the mid 1960s, and attended graduate school in Norman, Oklahoma. Before starting his long tenure in San Diego, Leitner worked for the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Diego Clippers and Chargers, and with university sports in Oklahoma and Hartford markets. He has six sons and one daughter.

ports commentary

Leitner is known for his outspoken style, and for referring to the team as "My Padres" when they are winning and/or playing well. When the team is losing or in a bad stretch, he refers to the team as "Your Padres". For years, Leitner did television on the Padres' cable TV network, as well as doing the 5 and 11pm sportscasts for KFMB-TV.

Leitner has a history of mocking those who like NHL hockey, and those who complain to the station that he does not show highlights. To "appease" hockey fans, Ted would occasionally show a highlight clip of an NHL game, which was most often two enforcers squared off in a fight. Or if only one NHL game was being played on a given night, Leitner would claim that he was about to show every goal scored in the NHL that night. The 3 or 4 goals would then be shown, rapidly edited, in the space of a few seconds.

Political commentary

Leitner has also dabbled in news and political commentary during his career and once did a news-oriented talk show for KFMB radio. One of his most notable programs was when the guest was entertainer and outspoken Bush administration critic Harry Belafonte. On the 20-minute segment, Belafonte would condemn the entire Bush administration, especially then Secretary of State Colin Powell as well as Attorney General John Ashcroft. [ [http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/harrBy.htm Harry Belafonte Slams Colin Powell As Race Sellout ] ]

Just before Christmas of 2005, Leitner did his daily radio show for XX Radio from a U.S. military base in the Baghdad, Iraq region. During another Christmas season Leitner and other XX personalities did their shows from Camp Pendleton.Fact|date=September 2008

References