Jon Miller, the primary radio play-by-play tonsil, who was let go by ESPN, will now, presumably work the Giants weekend games, although Miller supposedly wants the Giants to sweeten his deal. Miller has two years left on his contract.
Furthermore, Miller was miffed that the team sought to immediately take care of the expiring contracts of Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper, (who both landed six-year extensions,) all the while leaving Miller's status on the back burner.
Hey, it's a business, right?
Nobody at the Giants is talking and Miller is mum, although we expect this matter to be resolved one way or the other.
Miller's first spring-training broadcast is Friday, (today) on KNBR.
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Its interesting to see the less respect Miller gets from the Giants and KNBR. I dont think Jon is as big a "pal" for Giants brass like the shameless K&K are.
ReplyDeleteLarry Baer strikes me as cutthroat,another Al Davis as far as you need to be a total complacent employee,loyal in a submissive way. Baer is a vindictive kind of guy too. Ask KNBR hosts who didnt march in lockstep.
If they don't extend him they are absolute idiots. He is the best announcer in the business.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the hiring of a host for KNBR Sportsphone is postponed until after the Citadel-Cumulus deal?
ReplyDeleteHe's vastly overrated.
ReplyDeleteAnon. @ 11:30, I'd take Miller over at least 90% of the other radio PBP guys in MLB. Any time I listen to one of the other broadcast teams on XM radio, more often than not it's God-awful.
ReplyDeleteNice info, Rich, I was wondering what was up with Miller the other day, and here is the info...well done! I'm not sure why Miller is uptight, he has two years left on his deal, and as of now, weekends off...guess the income hole from ESPN matters more than some time to smell the roses, maybe he'll go the Radnich route and get multiple other gigs for the dough?
ReplyDeleteI have to somewhat agree with the "vastly overrated" comment; he's part of the sound landscape that has become familiar, and obviously has a good rep nationwide, but sometimes I wonder where this reputation comes from. When he lapses into his "schlock radio voice" as if to poke fun at himself, it is not too far from what it sounds like most of the time.
The stress that Dave Fleming has to feel to fake laugh at Miller's oft-lame "bits" has to be wearing on Flem, also, but he's probably loathe to get on JM's bad side and they do seem to have a friendship, as evidenced by Flem attending the HoF ceremony last year and all that.
I guess it's time for some Hawaiian slang, stories about Hayward High School journalism teachers nee recently departed people, and the excruciating post-game show, but wow, maybe the Joe Angel days were not that bad after all (yes, they were...Angel and Miller sounded so alike at times it was frightening, but normally if it was something totally bad it was Angel)...
In the sports business, the talent (both on field and off-field) are like drill bits. if one wears out, breaks, gets troublesome or makes too much noise, just get rid of it and buy another one.
ReplyDeleteThe Giants way overpay K & K, but they are more "homers" than Miller.
Miller is not a homer like K, K and Flam. Miller sometimes tells it pretty straight.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy him way more than K+K.
ReplyDeleteK: "That ball was high..."
I give K+K average to above average marks... in that "we're one of the guys" manner...
K: "They should really try to pitch him low and away, he doesn't hit low-and-away very good in the day light hours..."
But who were these people writing last year that "these guys are tops in the business". Really?
K: "Great location on the splitter. Did I tell you that I threw the splitter in college?"
These guys can't hold a candle to Vince Sculley, Bill King, or Hank Greenwald.
Do you guys agree?
why would you think of extending a deal that has 2 years remaining before you would work on contracts that had already expired? nobody's talking but I guess that doesn't stop people from guessing about a "possible" story...
ReplyDeleteY'all are spoiled. Listen to most anyone else and you'll be reminded how good the G's announcers are. Miller could tone down his schtik a little. However I listened to him to the radio during the ALCS and he was all business. Among the best announcing jobs I've ever heard. Re K&K, Kuip had an off year for sure. Krukow is still funny but I'm as old as him. Listen to the A's TV drones some and you'll appreciate the K's. It was great to hear a couple of innings today.
ReplyDeleteFlem will be a HOF announcer.
ReplyDeleteWhile Miller is still the best play by play man not named Vin, He is so much better than the other talent across the major leagues. If ya can, check out some of the other radio/tv talent. Homer hucksterism that is vomit inducing. That being said...I think it's obvious to anyone who's listened to the post game raps that the Big Kahuna has a big ego.
ReplyDeleteI prefer someone who can tell a rich story or have a quick wit (Vin), over the ball-and-strike drones.
ReplyDeleteK: "Last time they pitch him high.. we'll see if they pitch him high again... maybe they'll pitch him low thistime."