HE IS INDISPUTABLY ONE of SAN Francisco's leading broadcast sports figures, and today marks a quarter-century in his glossy tenure at SF's all-sports radio station.Ralph Barbieri, part of KNBR radio's, ( 680 AM) afternoon hit show, the "Razor and Mr. T" from 3 PM until 7 PM celebrates 25 years at the Cumulus-owned station with a few celebrity call-ins, some choice commentary from sidekick/partner and ex-NBA player, Tom Tolbert, and a bevy of some interesting views and news from the past.
Few listeners, media analysts, or Bay Area radio folks would have guessed that the "Razor", as he's commonly known, would have survived for that length of time, including Barbieri himself, who told morning host Gary Radnich that a station exec once told him his voice, which is "unique", a sort of "gravel-meets the throat" effect, was not conducive to the audio format. To his credit, Barbieri persevered and proceeded to become a fixture in KNBR's all-sports conduit.
He persevered in spite of a growing legion of listeners who objected to his on-air boosterism of the SF Giants--KNBR is the team's flagship station. Barbieri makes no bones about it; he DOES root for the home team, but to his credit, he has also been one of their very vocal critics, to a point where the team's GM, Brian Sabean, is reportedly uncomfortable about doing on-air interviews with him.
Just a few weeks back, as partner Tom Tolbert sat by idly and uttered nary a word, Barbieri conducted an unintentionally hilarious, albeit classic, 20-minute interview/interrogation of Giants President Larry Baer. The gist of the session was a rather vocal plea for the Exec to sign baseball free-agent Manny Ramirez.
Baer was quite flustered, airing out occasional audible sighs and grunts as Barbieri lectured the Giants top suit that Ramirez' addition to the team would boost attendance, make the team better, and listening too all the audio thrill's was, we'll, "good radio". Not so much to Giants officials, who reportedly called KNBR management and insist that the interview be removed from the station's web site. The interview is no longer at KNBR.com. Coincidence? You be the judge.
Barbieri, to his credit, is consistent. Yes, he's occasionally known to berate callers and inject a healthy dose of his sometimes juvenile opinions, but is undoubtedly one of SF radio's best interviewers. His interrogation-style, pressing of guests, particularly those who've been figuratively kissed by everyone else in the business, is refreshing and must-hear radio.
While the "Razor" has been at the helm at KNBR since 1984, twelve years later, then station PD, Bob Agnew injected a new co-host into the show, Tom Tolbert--at first, there appeared to be a slight friction from the duo, but today, listening to them, one can safely assume that both blend well with the other.
To Barbieri's occasional spicy, overly-long monologues, comes Tolbert's offbeat, zany, juicy Internet chit-chat; OK, at times, the relevant question is legitimate: why aren't they talking about sports? They'll get to it eventually, be patient.
Congratulations to Ralph on 25 years. It's a milestone that deserves proper commendation. Now, about those San Jose Sharks,...
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KAREL, back on SF Radio beginning tonight.
KAREL, the openly-gay radio talk-host, who was fired from KGO Radio over remarks made about "Joe the Plumber", returns to the airwaves tonight on "ENERGY", 92.7-FM radio, with a show that will air on the all-music station from 9 PM PST until 12 AM. Plans for syndication are also on the agenda, but first, the show will be fine-tuned.
I will be a guest tonight shortly after 9 PM PST.
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