Traffic is important business in the Bay Area.
On radio, its part of the AM/PM drive-time zenith, or haven't you heard about 4000 times a day, "traffic and weather together" and "traffic on the 8's?"
Traffic reports on TV? Get serious. KTVU's Sal Castaneda is serious about it, working the Oakland-based FOX2 early-morning news blocks and "Mornings on 2."
He is, by my account, "Mr. Traffic", the most recognized, formidable, congenial traffic reporter on the local TV airwaves.
Castaneda, who has been at Channel 2 since 1999, is both solid and unassuming. He knows what he is and what he isn't, and that's what makes him so popular. Sure, covering the Bay Area's vast highways for pile-ups, 'fender-benders, big-rig mayhem, is vitally important, yet Castaneda knows he's not curing cancer. It's a smooth, steady, series of reports, with a steady diet of occasional humor. And it works.
Castaneda is also a general assignment news reporter for the 5 and 6 PM news, (and a good one at that,) but to me and many morning viewers, Sal's forte is reporting the traffic conditions on the roads.
Now, Sal, about that big-rig situation on 880...
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To me, he'll always be Sal "BONECRUSHER" Castaneda from LIVE 105.
ReplyDeleteI miss those days!
Paging 'Big Rick' Stuart and The Lobster.
ReplyDeleteRich, you nailed it. Sal has always been "real" and well grounded. He does great work and I've enjoyed watching his success. - Bob Gowa
ReplyDeleteHey, R.R., I thought I was the only one who remembered the "Bonecrusher" nickname!! I think it was Big Rick Stuart who made that up. I watch Sal everyday on the morning news and I always think "It's Sal 'Bonecrusher' Casteneda'!"
ReplyDeleteI don't think Sal has ever seen a traffic jam that he didn't describe as "pretty well". He glosses over the glowing red and orange parts of the road sensor map and shoots for the pretty green areas. I think Sal should report the traffic from his car sitting in the messes that he calls "not a bad commute". For the most part the only time Sal states that traffic is bad is when he is referring to yesterdays traffic, which was described as "pretty well" during the original broadcast.
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