Fair enough.
I don't think Radnich intentionally tried to de-ligitimize the MLK holiday. In fact, he's married to an African-American woman.
But he clearly crossed the line by making fun of the caller's legitimate questions. It could have been the caller may not have appreciated Radnich' ill-timed blather. Certainly, if Radnich was that ferklempt, it would have been far more professional to let the guy have his say and go from there.
Instead, what ensued was perhaps one of the main reasons why Radnich' shtick rubs many people the wrong way.
Gary is just a bloated "has been" who thinks he owns the Bay Area sports. He thinks he is George Michael (may he rest in peace).
ReplyDeleteRe-read your post. I'm mystified at what your complaint is -- is it that Radnich said it didn't feel like a holiday and was rude to a caller who said that it should?
ReplyDeleteHow, praytell, does that "de-legitimize the MLK holiday?" You need more detail.
Personally, I am a black man who believes that while Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the greatest Americans to live, he wasn't deserving of a federal holiday. Why not? Simple: Only two Americans' birthdates were recognized as national holidays previously: The first President, George Washington -- nuf said -- and the sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln, who kept the United States was we knew it from splitting into two rival republics.
Eventually, Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays were merged into one holiday -- Presidents' Day -- and stripped of the identity of both men. This leaves King's namesake holiday the only one specific to its honoree.
Like it or not, that act implies that King is as important a figure as either Washington or Lincoln, perhaps #3 among great Americans. I don't believe that's an accurate portrayal of U.S. history. IMHO, King is not even the most important black man in American history; in my mind, that honor ought to go to Frederick Douglass.
L.N. I clearly state that I had no issue with Radnich on the matter...I DID have an issue with a caller who rightly DID have an issue with what he perceived as Gary's dissing of the King holiday and that Gary cut off his comments.
ReplyDeleteTHAT was the issue. Whether you agree or disagree about whether Dr. King is deserving of this day is another issue. I happen to think he does,--you don't. Fine, you have a right to your opinion, but that wasn't the issue of my post.
The treatment of the caller WAS.
Somebody needs to get to Gary and tell him to stop doing his “stream of consciousness”. He is not funny. He comes across as a know nothing rude buffoon. His MLK comments stem from his silly “stream of consciousness”. Just because you think it and say it fast does not mean it’s funny.
ReplyDeleteGary, leave the stream of consciousness to the very talented broadcasters, namely Michael Savage (the very best) and Howard Stern. You’re not even close to either of those two.
I saw that on Comcast and,as the caller pressed Radnich on the matter,Radnich face went serious and he actually called the caller a jerk.
ReplyDeleteI know many African American professionals who work for corporations that dont acknowledge MLK day,take the day off as respect.
Being married to a black woman only means he likes black woman and also his black music..after that, Radnich couldnt care less about MLK enough to take a stand.
And I'm sure his views of many social programs using his tax money to help poor blacks is like that of most Republicans. And when he talks of his closeset personal friends...they are all white men.
That was quite a turnaround.
ReplyDeleteYesterday: "Friday's rant on some of my least favorite media peeps and things was over the top which I intended. What? You want PBS or nicey-nice? This ain't the spot. In fact, this is tame compared to NY"
Today: "I don't think Radnich intentionally tried to de-ligitimize the MLK holiday. In fact, he's married to an African-American woman. But he clearly crossed the line by making fun of the caller's legitimate questions."
When Wayne Walker retired, Radnich inherited the mantle of the Bay Area's "go-to" sportscaster; if there was a big sports story that day, you wanted to hear about it from him. In the years since, he's turned boorish. Maybe because his main gig at KRON became so mickey-mouse, he developed a "WTF" attitude. His KNBR show has become a loudmouthed, petty back-and-forth between him and his juvenile sycophants...I avoid it.
ReplyDeleteRadnich's former crush on Pam Moore (Frankie Beverly and Maze) was awkward on Channel 4 and always very random. Big man on campus disease. Johnny the Gout Man did more for Radnich's career. Good thing he settled down because...I will just leave you with this: Teddy Pendergrass (RIP) and Gary had much in common regarding their hobbies.
ReplyDeleteJohnny the goutman, great hearing you today. Take care, bc
ReplyDelete