KGO's Copeland points out Memorial Day foibles

KGO's Brian Copeland, (substituting for Ronn Owens) made fun of stores advertising "Memorial Day 'Sales." and lamented the fact that the holiday is nothing more than the end to a three-day weekend. (Wouldn't you know the first spot after Copeland's opening monologue was a Macy's Memorial day sales ad)

Copie should have heard Lisa Lee, a  newswoman on sister station, KSFO, offer a "'Happy Memorial Day!" to substitute host Mark Williams, (think about the absurdity of that statement, "Happy Memorial Day, although Lee isn't the only one who utters that foolish remark.)

Yeah, have a 'great Memorial Day and enjoy your BBQ at the beach. Save some ribs for me.

Townsend shines on A's/XTRA post-game show

When XTRA Sports AM 860 added Chris Townsend to the A's post-game radio mix, I was a bit skeptical that the former KNBR tonsil would be his wee-too-giddy, baseball-induced, booster-club glee man.

Wrong.

Townsend is a refreshing, funny, informative and, yes, delightful host who has matured to become a welcome and infinitely competent addition to the A's broadcast team, with a nice bit of folksiness, intellect and just enough energy to compliment the entire Oakland contingent: the great pbp-man, Ken Korach and color analyst Vince Cotroneo.

Townsend knows his element and isn't trying to become something he clearly isn't; he's good at focusing in on the baseball end of things, (it helps too that the A's are playing great and are in first place); Townsend is adept at keeping the pace of post-game calls and isn't afraid to criticize when he has to. In other words, yes, satisfy the fan base, but also be aware of the neutral followers who don't give a hoot about Dallas Braden.

Townsend hosts both the pre and post-game shows; (he replaced the sadly underwhelming Robert Buan) and also does a weeknight, syndicated sports-talk show, (10 PM-1 AM--carried locally by XTRA.)

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Warriors cut list of buyers to four from 12; Friday pulse

The list of potential new buyers of the Warriors has been narrowed from 12 to 4. The SF Business Times has the latest account.

One of the 4 is Larry Ellison, from Oracle. Big surprise.

One of those days...

1. NO computer since 8 Thursday night.
2. Tech support? Oh sure, just 12 different talking heads in India

3. No power.
4. No communication.

**And how was your day?

I'm, uh, back on-line, somehow and someway, and let's just say it was an eventful Thursday PM/Friday.

In between I managed to do a radio interview, (forgetting I was scheduled for 2: 15 on Roxy Bernstein and JJ Stokes, ("JJ and The Mouth" --XTRA 860 AM)-- it's a good thing I had my cell phone. (More on that interview next week, plus Raiders/Niners stadium issues)

The power is back on and I'm just getting back in business.

I need a cold one and a good turkey sandwich.

Check back soon.

Radnich gets called out by "Fire-Sabean".com creator

TELL ME what's wrong with this picture:

KNBR radio and renowned part-time therapist Gary Radnich called out, (again) a guy who has put up a "FireSabean" web site

A kid called Radnich' show, (actually not affiliated with the credited site) this morning and was essentially lectured and 'knibbered by Raddy, who mixed usual shtick with "do you have a life? are you married? how old are you?

Funny, the guy made Radnich look foolish. (That isn't hard these days)

After the assorted same-old--hit, ("are you married?") the caller sarcastically shot back to the insecure one, "What?, is this 'e-harmony? 'What does that have to do with baseball?" Good point.

Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of Internet-let's fire someone, but who really cares? I mean, sports is not a part of the real world anyway and this guy sounded like he was well-grounded and, like, so what?

The BIGGER point: Radnich tries to have it both ways: at the very same time he seriously has issues with bloggers and sports Internet guys like this, he then conveniently uses them as shtick fodder for his latest mail-it-in crap fest.

Giants most powerful franchise in Bay Area sports; Media notes; Thursday pulse

**No matter the fact its radio partner has lost a great deal of cachet, the Giants and KNBR hold considerable clout in Bay Area sports media.

More to the point, the Giants are the most powerful sports franchise in the Bay Area.

To wit:

The Giants possess a virtual audio territorial rights on KNBR's schedule, with priority over the 49ers and Warriors; no matter the standings, the Giants are first banana on 680 AM, while even the Niners have secondary status and in any broadcast conflict, are moved to KNBR's sister-station, 1050 AM.

The partnership has been good to both sides; KNBR has tailored its talk shows around the Giants, (keep in mind that KNBR/Cumulus own about 5% of the team)

**Last Friday during the first A's-Giants inter-league game in Oakland, NBC Bay Area's TV crew of Jon Miller, Mike Krukow and Ray Fosse were absolute first rate in all aspects; on-air chemistry, production, and some good-natured baseball chatter between Fosse and Krukow.

In contrast, while Comcast SportsNet Bay Area has an equally talented production crew and first-rate telecasts, Krukow/Duane Kuiper on Giants and Fosse/Glenn Kuiper on A's don't carry the show like Miller/Kruk and Fosse.

**Yeah, I heard it: the 9-Noon guy on 680 AM did his usual "I-love-sports-and the Giants and don't care if they play bad on the field" blather, (in addition to taking shots at Damon Bruce and XTRA's Chris Townsend)

What he didn't gauge had he bothered to read the Giants fans heated disgust on SFGate's Giants page and blogosphere was that his rah-rah act  was counter to about 97% of the fan base. His shtick is wearing thin, even among his peers.

**Ronn Owens update: Owens contract at KGO runs through 2013, so if he gets into the radio HOF in November, (he's nominated) unless I'm told wrong, he's not going to hang it up and disappear. Of course, nothing is 100% certain, but we'll see.

**A show with a healthy following: KQED's "Check Please"; good host, fun restaurant angles and reviews and lots of hungry viewers afterwards.

**That higher-up guy at the media gulch near Broadway/Battery/Front needs to check his ego at the door, according to a few tavern owners.

**Bay-to-Breakers loses major sponsor; may lose TV too: Promise? Seriously, this event has clearly lost its energy and charm, if it had any in the first place.

It was once just OK and mildly amusing; now, its just a mess and I'm not even mentioning the morons who drink about 20 corona's and urinate on the street. Yeah, please go away.

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Oakland Super Bowl? Raiders push for NFL Big Game

An Oakland Super Bowl? That's what Raiders CEO Amy Trask relishes.

Now that New York has won the bid for the 2014 game, in spite of the probable chance of inclement weather, (read: cold,) other cities and metro areas, (like the Bay Area?) are more emboldened than ever to get the NFL's big show.

Trask speaks glowingly to Bob Glauber of Newsday about Oakland's chances that the Raiders will pursue a Super Bowl if/when it gets a new stadium.

"I think Oakland would absolutely be a terrific site for a future Super Bowl and we're working closely with the city and the county and all sorts of exciting ideas with a new Bay Area stadium," Trask said.

As noted in profootballtalk Trask thinks there are obvious benefits that make the Eastbay's biggest city a viable choice.

"We like the site of our existing stadium," Trask said. "It's very centrally located in the Bay Area as a whole. It's on a freeway, and there are two public transport options that drop off right at the stadium. Where other stadiums are trying to figure out how to bring public transportation to their site, the Oakland site has [Bay Area Rapid Transit], Amtrak, and the Altamont Commuter Express."

Of course a lot of what takes place in Santa Clara's special election next month for voter approval of a new stadium for the SF 49ers may determine not only a new home for the Niners, but a realistic shot at a future Super Bowl in the Bay Area.

Of course, even if the Santa Clara proposal is passed, there's no guarantee that a stadium will be built, which would enhance Oakland's chances. Particularly if the Niners feel that the only realistic chance of a new facility would be to share one with the Raiders in Oakland.

Super Bowl Facts and Figures--

The Bay Area did host the 1985 Super Bowl at Stanford's Stadium, (49ers vs. Miami)

151.6 million: Number of people who watch at least part of the game.




194 million: Approximate number of blades of grass on the football field.



232: Number of countries and territories in which the game is broadcast.



34: Number of languages the game is broadcast in.



Number of languages in which the word "football" doesn't mean "soccer."


HOW MUCH MONEY MOVES AROUND FOR THE BIG GAME?




$5.6 billion: Amount consumers spend on Super Bowl related items.



$400 million: Amount of money added to the local economy because of the game.



35%: Ticket holders writing-off the game as a business expense.



$12,500: Price Tiffany charges to produce the Vince Lombardi Trophy.



$2.8 million: Cost for a 30-second advertisement slot during the game.


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Laguna Honda Hospital flack gets 'handsy with KGO-TV reporter Dan Noyes, (camerawoman too)

Just got off the phone with ABC7/KGO's Dan Noyes, who, while doing a story on alleged Laguna Honda Hospital financial irregularities, was the recipient of some bizarre, hands-on, behavior by one of LH's chief brass.

I asked Noyes point blank about the whole escapade:

"In over thirty years of being in the biz, I have never encountered this type of behavior--never, " said an obviously annoyed Noyes.

Let's be clear here: Noyes is a bulldog reporter.. An in-your-face, relentless pursuer of the facts and won't take any bull---- and frankly, this town could use a few more like him. Be that as it may, even Noyes shouldn't have to be subject to some lame hosp. guy, (I don't want to mention the guys name) touching him over 41x. (I counted at least 30, but I hear through the grapevine it was actually over 40.)

I know this is San Francisco, but ...

Just when you think you've seen enough on the video, the weird hospital director goes full-throttle touchey at Noyes KGO camerawoman, who can be heard telling the guy to go away.

Uh, yeah, weird.

I mean, hell, even Mike Wallace wouldn't put up with that kind of crap.


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San Francisco, The Getty Block, Pacific Heights; where POTUS will eat tonight

Ronn Owens nominated to National radio Hall of Fame

Ronn Owens, KGO Radio's seasoned talk vet of almost 35 years has been nominated to the prestigious National Radio Hall of Fame. 

According to several of my broadcast sources, if Owens were to make the radio HOF, it could be bittersweet; there's been talk he might hang it up after getting to the broadcast Cooperstown.

We'll see if we can get a quote from Mr. "two N's in Ronn."

In any event, congrats to KGO's 9-Nooner.

Where's Wayne Shannon? Ex-KRON commentator in the media wilderness

Wayne Shannon, hard to believe, was at one point one of the biggest and well-known SF TV news personalities in the Bay Area.

The former KRON commentator in the mid-to-late 80's was a sort of curious, but always compelling local fixture who had a habit of irritating many viewers and colleagues alike with his brash, snippy sarcastic little 90-sec bits and pieces on everything from Oakland city life to the burgers at Bill's place.

He was best known for his "Bible Belt Unbuckled"spoofs of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, his cracks about Milpitas and a feud with an East Bay columnist whom he called "pond scum"-- (I believe that was HuffPost blogger Bill Mann)

Shannon left KRON in 1988 embroiled in a contract dispute with news director Herb Dudnick, (in those days, the money was pretty good--ask Van Amburg, late of KGO-TV and KFRC)

Shannon briefly toiled at CNBC in 1999-2000 before heading back to the Seattle area where he now lives and according to my spies, has retired.

Presidential visit brings out full-throttle Bay Area media; Obama comes to SF

Nothing like a visit from the President to the Bay Area to bring out the full-service Bay Area media.

Mr. Obama and his White House entourage will arrive in SF, Tuesday and have a fundraiser dinner, (for $27 grand no less) at the Getty mansion for Sen. Barbara Boxer. He will also visit Fremont and a tech center, (there's a joke in there somewhere)

All the local TV outlets have promised expanded "team coverage" and all the radio newsies, (KCBS, KGO, KQED-FM) will also bring out all their biggies, (whatever that amounts to these days)

One things for sure: whenever the President visits the Bay Area, (this is Obama's second visit,) there is a controlled mass chaos because not only does the local media contingent follow the POTUS, but add in the full WH press corps and you have well over a hundred or so reporters looking mightily for a story. Good luck there. Fundraiser trips don't necessarily mean a good sound bite from the chief exec, particularly when he's faced with mounting criticism over the handling of the gulf spill disaster.

Quick side note: Don't be surprised if Mr. Obama tries to get in an inning or so during the Giants-Wash. game, (SF plays host to the Nationals Tuesday night); You may recall during the 2000 maiden season at AT&T Park, Bill Clinton made a visit to the ballpark and hob-knobbed with Larry Baer and Peter Macgowan.

I'm told a few Giants higher-ups have notified the Obama people that they'd love for him to try to catch a part of the game Tuesday. (Can Obama hit?)

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Why I loathe KNBR and am taking it easy on KRON; Monday pulse

A BIG PART of the job of being a media critic is NOT liking things.

Frequently, I have called out both KNBR 680, (1050 has more legs and is actually listenable) and KRON-TV.

To continue to flog KRON is not fair; after all, this is a company whose corporate owner recently went BK, (and recently re-emerged out of it); I have no urge to step on ants and tear the wings off of flys. KRON is what it is, to borrow a trite phrase, so while I sit idly by and see all the goofiness on local TV's version of The Gong Show, at least KRON has an excuse. I mean, why pile on?

And then there's KNBR.

What else can I say? A lot.

People ask me if I have a "vendetta?" No. A lot of the anonymous commenter's inquire  that "you must have been "fired" at KNBR, (no).

Here's my favorite: "Nobody reads you--you're just have an axe to grind." (The same people who say 'nobody reads you are some of the most frequent posters)

So, why do I rip KNBR so much?

Well, where do we begin.

First off, I have never worked at KNBR. Unlike KRON, they're worth going after because they are so bad now they're good. If you ever feel bad about yourself, give a listen to almost anything on KNBR and you'll feel better about yourself. Seriously.

Look, I'm no day at the beach, but I got a pulse. I'm there even if occasionally my mind wanders a bit, but even moi isn't in the KNBR Love Canal. Remember the Love Canal? That's the 21,000 acres of toxic waste near Niagara Falls that was infamous in the late 70's. Toxic waste or the KNBR "morning show". Which is worse? More on that later.

KNBR is like cheesecake when you're supposed to go on a diet. A sort of guilty pleasure which is why I listen because just when you think it couldn't get any worse, it gets worse and worser and worserer. Like a trip to the dentist to get root canal, but at least you can get the gas and dream about Amanda Peet.

KNBR is Janet Reno in a mini-skirt.

In the morning, they have alleged hosts who pretend to be funny. If you got a dollar bill as many times as the morning show "hosts" said "dude", you'd be a multi-millionaire. You could retire and lounge in Buffalo and buy a round for people in Modesto at Grumpy's. Not the Grumpy's in the city, (the best tuna sandwich in SF)

Brian Murphy and "Paulie Mac", (the latter, who has a fake New Jersey accent) are alleged morning "talent", but are not that talented. Their idea of funny is playing endless sound effects, drops, schnops, whatever...actually I think that's the reason why "Paulie" is employed at the morning zoo--so he can play his sound board so Cumulus doesn't have to hire another engineer.

Last week, I called out "Murph" for playing the sound "drop" of a barking dog while noting that Bruce Bochy's pooch had to be put down. Technically, I found out it was actually a "producer" who played the barking dog audio, so I owe the UCLA alum "dude" a bit of a mulligan, then again, Cumulus only pays roughly $9-an-hour to producers, (who sometimes fill in as "updater's", twitterers, coffee barista's) so what are you going to do.

There are those who like thee sports leader; I know they're out there somewhere, lots of truck drivers, plumbers, Steve Moskowitz, Larry Baer, but the vast majority of citizens here don't care to listen. I know for one that most women don't listen to knibber because knibber's sales staff think only young ball dudes that drink a lot of beer and call the Giants post-game show with Mikey Urban and complain about the lack of bunting. Women don't get off on that and KNBR doesn't really care too; after all, we're talking about guys, sports, beer, boobs, and numbers, ratings.

Tank!

Dude, even the ratings have taken a free fall on knibber. The A25-54 demos that knibber gravitates to are way down the pike--like, dude, think of a "Supertrain" of radio kinda pike. Well, at least they got the Giants, Niners and Warriors, (nice weekend, btw, 'Gints)

So in the morning, you get this: 18,000 sound "drops", 51,231 passes to "P-Con", (the wingman of the morning show who also caddies for the 9-Noon guy) bizarre stories that segway into other stories that segway into another round of stories and so on and so on...that's the beginning, not the end.

Then there's countless UCLA references, (Murph makes it a point to plug UCLA--always good to do that while "hosting" a morning radio show in Northern California); oh, Murph and Mac like to talk to "Kwoop and "Kwipe" about the Giants, in between the sound effects and sports updates, anchored by "Dibs", who actually is a good guy and a decent voice in spite of his KNBR gig; "Dibber" likes to play golf, actualities, (without crediting the announcers) and be the overall straight man to the "wacky Murph and 'Mac."

Nine to noon, its the "Gary Radnich show." Gary doesn't talk about sports much; he likes to talk about himself, "Dibs", "P-con" and also is a part-time therapist who tells his listeners that if you don't have kids and weren't brought up by a family, that, well, you really haven't got a life and should go hold yourself and "blog."

Oh, Raddy hits a homer every now and then with his Tony Bruno segment, but lately is back to ripping bloggers he claims he never reads; rates various female rappers of their upper wares even though he claims he's a "family man" and gives numerous shout-outs to his other caddies like, Mychael Urban, Frank Paul Santangelo, "Dick Zinn", Willie Brown, Larry Baer, (they're all "just great")

Rabinnowich has been doing a lot of cable work lately because he's one of the last KRONers and he has a lot of "overhead." Be careful, dibs, of Gary because if he perceives you as a threat, it's "bye-bye!", (Ask Pete Liebengood and Tom Nettles.)

Gary indirectly credits me by proxy, (blogs) but was told and memoed by management to "not talk about Lieberman"; but he can't help himself, its so bad that he has to use the "barrista" to perform his venting. That's OK, I can handle the coffee guy as long as he doesn't show me his pay stub; at that point, the pity card gets me. Dang!

For the 900th time, can I tell you more stuff about the Noon-3 guys or as one of my minions call them the gruesome-twosome. "Schlitz and Books" or "Rudy and the angry LSU guy" are so bad, they're bad. They used to be so bad they were good, but that went out the door many moons ago.

How they continue to lumber on escapes me but something tells me they'll be a unforeseen Cumulus purge and they'll be the first out. Rudy, (he's to Notre Dame what Murph is to UCLA) likes to laugh at his own jokes, a lot; my last over-under on his cackles amount to about 500 a show, (take the over); then there's his "partner-in-crime", Rod Blooks, eh, Brooks, the angry man who once, (seriously, I'm not making this up) on the air confronted an on-air guy after a post game 49ers show. That's good knowledge, I know.

The angry man is angry for no apparent reason but one can assume maybe he doesn't have the Fitz/Brooks "mojo."

From 3-7PM knibber actually goes legit-mode with the Razor and Mr. T, (Ralph Barbieri and Tommy Tolbert) Yeah, Razor does way too many pizza ads and shows up at 2: 59 but at least he's got some gusto; ditto Tolbert, although the 12,324 Arizona references are beginning to wear; Tommy has insights on the Vegas tipsters, wrestling, NBA and Hondas, Sleeptrain, McDonald's, the whole meghillah.

Razor and Mr. T like to talk to Ray Ratto of the Chronicle too. A lot. Speaking of writers.

Many a writer don't ever criticize knibber because they like appearing on the various shows. That's a quick ticket off the thee sports leader, but in the press box and on the blogs, lots of writers, cab drivers, plumbers, criminals, et all like to make fun of knibber--why? Because they can. Have you ever listened?

Finally, at night, there is Frank Paul. Used to be a Giant and that's big at KNBR because he's a ballplayer and Larry Baer likes mature ball dudes to plug the local nine, especially when the home team gets swept by the A's at that crappy old Coliseum over there in Oakland, (Memo to KNBR production staff: never make fun of the east-bay guys who may have "crickets" for fans, but look rather splendid outscoring the beloved Giants, who score a run in 27 innings--bad timing indeed)

Frank Paul is getting better on radio and knows Eric Byrnes and Eric Chavez a alot--presumably that's what got him the gig there, because the guy he replaced was sort of cool, but dare ripped into the Gigantes and was sent to radio Siberia.

At this point, O'Reilly would give me the last word and all I would say is that I hope you understand my position now. Remind me to tell you that I don't work for KTRB, (save those comments) am not "salty balty", never sold Amway, (but did sell cars and make six figures), don't have toe fungus, and as of late, have never bought any Viagra.

Listening to KNBR is a way to brighten my day up; even those days when I was depressed and was thinking about swallowing a case of shamwows, but with advice from Steve Moskowitz and Amy G, decided to back down and listen to real estate shows and hooked on golf. Then, amazingly, I felt a whole lot better.

808-KNBR, your thoughts?


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Rick Quan, Korach and others in the Coliseum press box ghetto

Went over to the Coliseum to witness a 1-0 A's beauty over the SF Giants.

Great game, big crowd, fast and furious pitching gem by the A's Gio Gonzalez, who at one point retired 20 in a row, yes 20 in a row...

Ran into former KPIX sports anchor Rick Quan, who is enjoying life, occasionally subbing at KGO-TV...All the semi-biggies in the box: Joe Starkey, A's pby-guy Ken Korach., Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper.

Said hi to A's TV color analyst, Ray Fosse. Fosse correctly predicted that Bob Geren would take Gonzalez out of the game in the ninth for saver Andrew Bailey. I told Fosse "no way." Sure enough, Fosse was right.

End result, Bailey saved, A's win.

**Big crowd, 35,000-plus. Sellout. Back at the saddle and ready to explore windy night in the city.

Saturday...in the park

I'm headed over to the Coliseum and will be in the celebrated "press box 'ghetto" to schmooze, muse and try to get a little sun too.

A's--Giants, Bay Bridge series, game 2, (whenever I heard "Bay Bridge Series", I always think back to '89 and quake, goodness)

I'm also going to say hi to Ken Korach and see if I can talk about the Dallas Braden perfecto HE called on Mother's day. As usual, Korach was superb, probably the best who could have handled the chore.

Check back on Monday for a full series of postings.

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Savage triples A25-54 demo at XTRA Sports 860

Michael Savage hit it out of the park at A's flagship XTRA Sports 860, tripling the station's key A25-54 demo from March to April:

Savage's numbers are staggering in both the key advertising-friendly A25-54 demo and the "overalls."

The breakdown:

Adults 25-54 March Cume 27,500
Adults 25-54 April Cume    91,300 (up 232%)

Adults 12 Plus March Cume 70,400
Adults 12 Plus April Cume    168,500 (up 139%)

Savage's numbers ironically have provided a strong lead-in to A's games even as initial feeling was that his politically-charged, unique audio tour-de-force might be fodder for an uneasy relationship between XTRA brass and the A's.

Not now.

While Savage might not be the prototype sports lead-in to baseball, his impact on numbers has no doubt sent a shock wave into the Bay Area radio circuit.

As they say, numbers don't lie.

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April trends; 'this and that Friday pulse; Bay Area media notes

**April radio ratings--415 MEDIA NOTES

KCBS is solidly #1 across the board; yes, of course it helps to have an FM presence, (106.9);I'm sure KGO would love to have an FM outlet, (in the 80's, there was KGO-FM, which once was KSFX, where Rosie Allen worked with the late, great Stephen Kapen)

Give KCBS credit; they have stuck to their 'meat and potatoes: news 24/7, with lots of traffic updates, but the "15-45", traffic/weather, and morning dominance, (Stan Bunger--Susan Leigh-Taylor, John Madden, etc) definitely is an AM staple for commuters in cars that don't listen to satellite.

As expected, KNBR picked up the pace with help from Giants baseball; KOIT was KOIT, and KGO held serve, as did KQED-FM.

People ask me about KGO and I tell them I keep hearing all sorts of things; Ronn Owens is suddenly getting a ton of rips, but he's still at the top of his game. He's still making money for the company and getting all the good guests, so don't ride him out just yet, (although Ronn, please, enough of the theme bumpers coming out of spots--its cute to a point, but it loses its edge when its become too cutesy...plus, does EVERY guest have to read the Sleeptrain spot?)...

THIS AND THAT: Quite a stir at the local Emmys the other night; seems someone; a "star" had one "helluva time", (apparently the skirt was extra short)...Please, please, I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating: quickly 86 the "800 kars-for-kids" jingle for humanity sake, (not against cars for kids, but THAT spot is for the garbage bin)...KSFO morning "dude" Brian Sussman repeats this about 321x: "You, sir, (fill-in guest) are a "Great American"...and after sound bite4, "he's a 'great American" and seconds later, "YOU are a GREAT AMERICAN'--evidently, Sussman has a copyright on "Great American"...Does anybody know what the hell happened to FM radio? Oh, I know its become irrelevant and satellite radio is the mantra, but still, other than a few KQED's here, an 80's-lite, KFOG there, and KDFC and KCSM, I can't make out anything--they all sound the same; ok, I forgot, "Alice, 97.3 with heavy Tom Petty...Speaking of KCSM, I can only keep asking, how do they keep this little treasure going?...Oh, hey, yeah, I know about interns doing updates on KNBR. That's old news. Sort of like the Cumulus philosophy: if its cheap, we can deal with it...Another "yes-I know" dept.--KTVU has been using revolving anchors with its Noon news, (Sports anchor Mark Ibanez hosted and shined in Jan--Rita Williams too; its a part of the new reality in local TV news; they have 'utility infielders who DH'--its the new business model--get used to it...Speaking of KTVU; they still dominate the market and make lots of money for Cox; how much? Try in the mid $40 million range; p.s: someone who  would know told me once about five years ago that the "10 o' clock News" alone accounted for 1% of the gross earnings for Cox Broadcasting, (that's powerful)...Got an e-mail from Malou Nubla who does the "sell" show on Channel 2; yeah, I know its a part of "DA business"; Ms. Nubla was cool enough to say she reads this crap, so I owe her lunch at Tommys Joynt...BREAKING NEWS: Steve Moskowitz is considering calling EVERY morning, noon, and evening radio show in EVERY market in US; alert authorities...Yes, I rip, but I can praise too: Mychal Urban is very good on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, or at least way better than he is on radio; sorry Mikey, but the schmaltzy "unicorn hour" and assorted other knibber isms you spiel forth are not my cup of coffee, but that's just me...Another pain in the royal tuchas: the use of the phrase: "at the end of the day"--oh, hell, get a damn life! ..Another beauty: "For the 900th time...blah-blah-blah, (don't get me started)...Psst, between you and me, THAT GUY, Mr 9-Nooner? He keeps saying the SAME stuff day after day after day, I mean, he thinks I have no life--he should look in the mirror after he's done talking about how if you have 'kids and your father and mother took care of you in life'-blah, blah, blah, (meanwhile he still occasionally mentions sports every now and then when he's not rating the ta-ta's of various female rappers)...I was just thinking, actually wishing what would Herb Caen think about the state of the world these days? Could you imagine the lines Caen would pen on "American Idol" alone?...Tony Bruno had me howling a bit on Thursday with his bit with Radnich on knibber. Bruno cell-phoned on his way to LAX and continued on through the terminal area on to his SWA airplane about to "get down" on his way to Scottsdale. Bruno either intentionally or unintentionally left his cell open when he made it to the plane and was heard uttering a few choice things--yeah, it was funny...PS Emmys: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area took home eight Emmys and Wayne Freedman got his usual multiples...Is it just me or do you too frankly don't give a damn anymore about the Bay to Breakers? Used to be fun to watch and now has been relegated to "who gives a -shit" dept;...FINALLY: Tips and e-mails are warmly encouraged here. If you don't want your name used and desire anonymity, that's cool. Every tip is checked and investigated.

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#1 KCBS dominates April trends; KOIT too; KGO in third

The April Arbitron trends are out; again we must point out that these "overall" ratings are more of a beauty contest and the advertising people only pay attention to the A25-54 demos.

No doubt, KCBS is a happy camper today.

Here are the April numbers:

SF msm ignores KNBR morning show mock of Bochy's dog; Thursday AM pulse

SF's mainstream media largely ignored the item I posted about the KNBR morning show mutts making fun of Giants Mgr. Bruce Bochy's dog, Jesse, a black lab that was put down in San Diego on Tuesday.

I contacted Stacy Slaughter, communications chief for the SF Giants, and asked for a comment and she agreed that the "bit", (while making notice of Bochy's dog, Jesse, being put down, a sound "drop" of a barking dog was played while co-host Brian Murphy was heard in the background laughing) was "not funny."

Both the SF SPCA and PETA officials were contacted about the matter and spokespeople from both orgs. said they will look into the matter.

Lee Hammer, GM at KNBR, was unavailable for comment at press time.

Outside of a mention from the Bay Area Sports Guy, the rest of the local press ignored the story, but as Internet notice on this matter becomes more fervent, I'm sure it will get its justified play.

Predictably, the morning mutts made no mention of the bit neither apologizing nor acknowledging what they did, probably from the mtg. office, but quickly it fired up on Facebook and Twitter.

Henry Schulman, beat writer for the Giants for the Chronicle, made no mention of it, but that could change, (Schulman presumably was about to pen his 100th "Benjie Molina gets disrespected by ESPN" sidebar.)

Speaking of sidebars, a reader e-mailed what would Tony LaRussa think about this? LaRussa, mgr. of the St. Louis Cardinals and noted animal lover hosts animal-rights fundraisers every January in Walnut Creek and frequently appears on KNBR shows to plug them.

We'll see.

Stay tuned on this one.

KNBR morning show mocks Bochy's dog Jesse; plays barking dog sound drop

KNBR morning show mutts, "Murph and Mac" (Brian Murphy, Paul Mccaffrey,) maintained their well-deserved idiocy Wednesday during a segment that offended animal lovers and most surely will piss off Giants mgr. Bruce Bochy.

Around 7: 20, the goofballs made notice of the death of Bochy's dog.

On Tuesday,  Bochy was mourning the death of his 16-year-old black Labrador retriever, Jessie. Bochy still lives in the San Diego area in the off season and opted to put the dog down before Tuesday's game against the Padres.

While making note of the dog's death, the sound of a barking dog played in the background and host Brian Murphy could be heard cackling through the "bit." Pathetic, stupid, moronic and unkind, you think? Of course.

Keep in mind this is the same crew that mocked the death of an Oakland Raiders linebacker who drowned off the Florida beach, playing the theme song of "Gilligan's island." Taste is a commodity at the "sports leader."

Particularly galling is the fact that "Murph" has a golden retriever and does ads for a  dog food chain.

And you want to know the reasons why KNBR is flailing downward in the ratings? Stupid, insensitive "bits" like this and others are part of the problem, among many. I imagine the animal rights folks might be on to this.


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Bruce on KNBR 1050 blows away Fitz/Brooks 680

I'm going to come out and state the obvious: Damon Bruce on KNBR 1050 is making mincemeat of his alleged "competitors", (Fitz/Brooks) down the dial at "mothership" KNBR 680.

I have never been a Fitz/Brooks fan; one is an unabashed, smarmy and house shill for the Warriors and his partner in crime, Brooks, is one of the most disingenuous, cranky, tonsil with an axe to grind and very little savvy.

They do giggle good together, I'll give them that.

Bruce is trying hard to play down his in-house rivals; great, he has to work in the building over there.

I don't.

Where Bruce isn't afraid to be openly critical of the Giants, Warriors and 49ers, with Rudy and the angry LSU man, its always toeing the company line. They're so predictable and I feel genuine sorrow for some of their two callers who dare criticize them because that's when Rudy and the angry man go into full-throttle attack mode.

In short, Bruce is better and far more entertaining and knowledgeable. Rudy and the angry LSU man are embarrassing.

NFL/LISC GRASSROOTS PROGRAM AND OAKLAND RAIDERS

NFL/LISC GRASSROOTS PROGRAM AND OAKLAND RAIDERS
GRANT $200,000 TO INSTALL SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD AT SOBRANTE PARK

*The non-profit Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation organization will receive a $200,000 National Football League Grassroots Program grant, facilitated by the Oakland Raiders. This award brings the amount of youth related grants facilitated by the Silver and Black in less than a decade to over $1 million.

The grant, awarded by the Raiders, the NFL Youth Football Fund, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), is part of $2.5 million in field refurbishment awards allocated this year. It will be used to install a synthetic turf field and drainage system at Sobrante Park, a multi-purpose field located in East Oakland, designed to serve more than 14,000 young people in the area. Once completed, the new field will offer a range of athletic programming for the community including NFL PLAY 60 activities and tackle and flag football leagues. It will also serve as a physical education site for Sobrante Elementary School and James Madison Middle School. Matching funds will be provided by the City of Oakland and Oakland Unified School District.

“It is always our pleasure to work with the NFL Grassroots Program and LISC and we are delighted to participate in this exciting project, which will enhance the community and provide an improved venue for the enjoyment of outdoor activities,” said Chief Executive Amy Trask. “It has been our pleasure to facilitate the award of grants of this nature throughout the region for the last decade.”

More Radnich blather; rips Lebron-Delonte gossip then uses it in bit

Radnich is getting worse, but we all know that; we listen to his pious blather because its become rather engrossing. Or gross.

On Tuesday, the "if you have kids and were raised by a 'father' blowhard, (same old shit) went to the pious card, (again) bringing up the LeBron James/Delonte West Internet rumor with his usual disingenuous bounce into mock outrage...(you've got to be a low -life, 'holding yourself by doing something like that--blah, blah, blah)

Raddy then proceeds to use the alleged gossip in a bit and repeat his knock on bloggers--this, from a guy who makes fun of Kim Kardashian and at various times rates the looks of female rappers. Yeah, when you talk about "ta-ta's", its OK, but when someone else does it, its "get a life.'

Folks, he's getting worse.

On KGO and KNBR; the Monday pulse

Ben Fong-Torres reported Sunday in the Chronicle on the rapid descent of once-dominant KGO and KNBR radio, the latter, who's only luck is that is has the Giants, 49ers, and to a lesser extent, the Warriors as flagship sports affiliates.

Break Down--

KGO has always been considered "old", even in its heydays as the SF market's perennial #1-rated radio outlet in overall listeners, (1978-2008--Arbitron) but back then, KGO had a more solid corporate owner, (Disney) and a very respected and popular talent line-up with the likes of Ronn Owens, Jim Eason, Michael Krasny, and news vets like Jim Dunbar, Greg Jarrett, and Rosie Allen.

It was also managed very well by GM Mickey Luckoff, who is known as a tough negotiator with regards to contracts, but was nevertheless respected by industry analysts for captaining a ship that for 32 years ruled Bay Area radio.

Today, its another story at KGO, which is now owned by financially-challenged, Citadel Broadcasting, which is trying to re-emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Owens is still tops in his time slot, (9- Noon, overall listeners) and is widely considered a very popular talent in the Bay Area, but his audience demos, (like KGO's) are older and his future status is clouded with uncertainty.

*

KNBR is in a more favorable position, with its sports-talk status, but the Cumulus outlet has always relied on heavy male-dominated, /A25-54 demos, built around the Giants, 49ers and Warriors. The fact that it has now fallen to 18th in its core audience base should be cause for concern for the folks on Hawthorne.



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"Breaking News" not so "breaking" nor "news", but what else is new?

There was a time when the words "Breaking News!!" constituted an abrupt stop to what one was doing; whether it was chatting with a friend on the phone, making dinner, doing the ordinary minutiae that is a part of life, until that once mysterious, often brooding bulletin darted across your flat screen TV.

Until now.

Leave it to the cablers to destroy another institution; welcome to the new world "breaking news", which 99% of the time now is nothing more than repeated "updates" of "news" that took place many minutes and hours ago, at best.

Fox News is the worst at this practice; over at Rupert's palace they call 'em a "Fox News 'alert", and they conveniently always seem to occur at the beginning of a Greta Van Susteran "On the Record show or Geraldo Rivera, whose baritone "THIS IS A 'FOX NEWS ALERT" lately amounts to nothing more than a cable version of a National Enquirer headline.

Fox is not alone.

CNN and its stable of hosts are prone to the irritating use of "We have 'Breaking News"; Wolf Blitzer is a fine journalist and does good, solid work, but does it not seem much too coincidental that many a time, his "Situation Room" opens rather prominently with "Breaking News?", which, again, is nothing more than a re-hash of a presidential press conference, or say, the latest "developments" in the Gulf of Mexico disaster, for example.

True "Breaking News" is just that, news that has taken place, something profound that necessitates breaking into regularly scheduled programming. 9/11, for example, a natural disaster, the earthquake in Haiti, an assassination of a president, something entirely worthy and legitimate of real "news alerts" and bulletins.

Now, thanks to the continued commercialization of when and where we get our news, and the outlets that have marginalized what is really genuine "breaking" news content, "Breaking News" and "News Alerts" don't have the same residue of importance and significance as they did in the past. Now they are mere innocuous audio crawls that shoud be at the bottom screen, if at all.

Wonder what Cronkite would think about all this?

Never mind.

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Bill Graham-Winterland thoughts on a Saturday night...

Those were the days my friend...

'D Bruce hits a homer against the Giants, (again) Saturday short

I'm on my way to the Oakland hills Greek Festival because my tummy aches for Greek sausage and they have gorgeous women up there, but quickly had to zone in to compliment KNBR 1050, (quickly making 680 "mothership" look bleaker by the moment) tonsil, Damon Bruce for his well-deserved, passionate take-down of the SF Giants.

We occasionally drift into spots here when there's nothing on the media dial to report about and knowing how the 'Gnats make DBruce and his missives ever so popular, after their abysmal failure against the SD Padres, I waited with mucho anticipation for his show on Friday to see if he saw what I saw.

I like the words: "BIG Picture." So does Bruce.

While the other wretched scribblers, Internet fakes and TV people did their "its only May" mantra, I sensed this failure with a bit of overall Gnats residue. Although more of an A's partisan, (and boy, don't they look great--thanks for the tease, Dallas) nevertheless, the Giants and their KNBR/Santangelo/Urban enablers look to the stars, DBruce looks to common sense.

He's been on Sabean's ass for years and he's right. How can a GM in pro sports with this guys record the past three years have a gig? What? Does he have pictures?

Bruce delivered, as usual. By the way, I like the palookas who e-mail that I'm 'sniffing Bruce and that he's in my back pocket. Yeah, oh really? Sure, especially when I e-mail and we get into shouting matches over industry crap, my blog, what people think of me, (not much)--truth is, I scream, he screams back and at the end of the day, I still LISTEN to this schmuck because he has some balls and isn't afraid of anybody.

Too bad he has a ficus and talks way too often with 'Bone girls.

See ya. Oh, Monday, in LA for biz--may file a short item, but may not. Check next Tuesday for some major announcement.

More Radnich Rice-bashing; calls out 'media whores'--he's right, but...

Gary Radnich went further on the Jerry Rice golfing goof, (he's 28 over par in the current Nationwide golf tour and admittedly stinking up the joint and making a fool of himself away from the gridiron.)

Fair enough.

Radnich on Friday: "He's (Rice) just trying to get his name out their and wants to make a buck."

Then this: "All the media 'whores who made a big deal about 'this stuff...(Rice on the golf tour)

Conveniently, Radnich left out the KNBR "morning show" that broadcast live from Rice's own Hayward stop on the tour on April 8. Ran promos for well over a month. Humn.

**More dribble: Radnich' 7000th "joke" pronouncing OakTrib columnist Monte Poole as "Mon-Tay" Poole.

First time, semi-cute. 700x later, not funny.

Radnich rips into Jerry Rice over golf pursuit

Gary Radnich spent the better part of two hours Thursday on KNBR ripping Jerry Rice over his decision to pursue professional golf.

Rice is currently playing in the Nationwide tour; not very well, but nevertheless trying. (He missed the cut in the Hayward stop in the tour in early April)

Radnich maintained it was a pr gimmick and that Rice was looking to make a buck off his name.

Wrong.

A Rice spokesperson said JR wasn't "paid a cent." Dan Dibley, Radnich' sidekick even chided Raddy. "Garry, he didn't make a dime--it all goes to his charity." Newsman Ray Woodson concurred.

To be fair, I'm not the biggest Rice fan, but if HOF dude wants to play golf, let him play golf. As a caller later said, "what's he going to do--sit at home and watch TV all day?"

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KRON is 'Young'; 'Kuip and the rap; Enuf IPhone coverage; Thursday pulse

Yippee, looks as if Vince Young and his Young Broadcasting has officially emerged from bankruptcy and Young himself will maintain direction at what Newsblues called "albatross KRON."

Good news and bad news here. It's Young and his team of soldiers that since day one of buying the station that has systematically ruined this once-fine SF TV outlet, with a big assist from NBC. (In retrospect, think NBC would have swallowed their pride a decade ago and made a deal to stay put with KRON?)

Meanwhile, at 1001 Van Ness, between all the lawn furniture commercials, infomercials, lovely VJ-looking video quality, they somehow roll on. Sign of the times at KRON: we're now getting in-studio "talent" doing segments on "what 'Facebook -page "friends" are saying about local stories. Hey, it's KRON.

**Duane Kuiper looks a bit uncomfortable on the Giants--KNBR rap, which is simulcast on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. after the conclusion of every Giants home game.

I watched intently after Wednesday's post-game loss to the San Diego Padres and Kuiper seemed oblivious to the cameras, frequently lowering his head onto the microphone as if to say, "get outta here."

I agree with Kuiper.

This is NOT a TV show. You get the feeling that its not just Kuiper that's annoyed, but all the Giants' tonsils, even the kingpin, Jon Miller, then again, Miller sported a pretty nice suit Wed. (Looked like an Armani)

I must admit that I'm not a Giants guy, but I very much enjoy the pg-rap. Its fun to hear the guys let loose a bit and hear them uncontrolled, sort of a free-for-all, and although I'm Comcastic, it appears the presence of TV cameras messes up the pg affair. This is like a party that you're invited to, but you don't want everybody invited.

**Can we put a moratorium on all the Apple/IPhone/'schmyphone "found in bar" items that have permeated the entire Bay Area, and for that matter, national media. Apple has to be giggling all the way to the bank over this extra pub, as if they need it.

Any moron with half-a-brain knows most of this "news" is an out and out publicity stunt; only the media lightweights and dim-witted torsos they call "reporters"; the all-too gleeful, gee-wiz, gen-x bimbos and bimbettes formerly from a Milwaukee-area #68-market, are just plain ga-ga and are more than happy to "report" about the goings-on of the latest cell gadget that "turned up in a bar."

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David Letterman - Dallas Braden Top Ten Preview

Del Colliano report on KSFO using KMJ content wrong

I ran a story on Tuesday from radio critic, Jerry Del Colliano, who wrote that a friend of his had heard KMJ content on KSFO.

Turns out Del Colliano's source was wrong.

OK, chalk that up to me, but Jerry's pretty good and fairly accurate, but nobodies perfect. Jerry gets a mulligan and I owe an apology to the minions at KSFO.

Here's Del Colliano's full account.

A's Braden makes the cover of Sports Illustrated

Dallas Braden has now made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Let's hope SI's notorious cover jinx doesn't invade Braden's inner torso, but one could assume a certain ballplayer in NY is hoping for the opposite.

KSFO runs Fresno radio content; the Tuesday am media pulse

• KSFO RUNS CONTENT FROM FRESNO RADIO STATION

Jerry Del Colliano is a respected radio analyst who reports that KSFO is running local content from a Fresno radio outlet, (KMJ) Lots of news and traffic. Humn.

Not surprising given KMJ, like, KSFO is owned by lean-minded Citadel, which is trying to emerge out of bankruptcy in a NY court.

I love this quote from Colliano's "Inside Music" blog:

“As I was reading today's "Inside Music Media" article, KSFO-San Francisco, is on in the background. When the 8:30 am bottom of the hour news came on, I hear the call letters "KMJ-Fresno". That's right I'm in the bay area listening to local news, traffic, weather, commentary and commercials from a Fresno radio station. San Francisco, the 4th largest market in the country, and KSFO simulcast their morning programming from a Fresno talk station. Is it any wonder KSFO's ratings are tanking”.

How sad.

This radio station used to to be the hallmark audio institution that employed the greats like Lon Simmons, Don Sherwood and Gene Nelson.

Its call letters were synonymous with some of the greatest outlets in the biz and its now been reduced to rubble and I'm not even going to talk about its programming.

Its no longer the "World's greatest radio station."

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BRAG DEPT: Yesterday's two big stories; the Dallas Braden appearence on David Letterman, and the Cal Bear football temporary move to AT&T Park for the 2011 season were are exclusively broken here, but a few of the on-line sites failed to credit. Oh well, tough life kid.

**SF Chronicle and SF Gate editor/writer,  Vlae Kershner, and his wife both attended the Braden perfect game at the Coliseum on Sunday.





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• Watch for my upcoming appearences on MSNBC

Braden on Letterman Tuesday night; Top 10 ways to piss off A-Rod

When you throw a perfect game, like the A's Dallas Braden did Sunday, it helps the resume.

Braden will be on "Late Show with David Letterman" Tuesday night, doing the "Top 10" list, (probably via satellite in Arlington, Texas, where the A's play the Rangers Tuesday night)

My guess is that at least seven of the listees will include Alex Rodriguez, Braden's Yankee designated enemy#1, but hey, I'm guessing Dave and CBS extended the invite precisely because of A-Rod's interjections.

Advantage, Braden.

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"Late Show with David Letterman"
 CBS5/KPIX
 Tuesday, 11: 35 PM

Exclusive: CAL to play 2011 season at AT&T Park

Breaking News--

CAL will play their 2011 home season at AT&T Park...

The Bears Memorial Stadium is undergoing a massive renovation and will be ready for the 2012 season.

Although the more convenient temporary site would have been the Oakland Coliseum, conflicts with both the A's and Raiders negated the move to the Coliseum.

AT&T Park seats just over 40,000 for football.

RL 415 Media Breaking News Alert...