No, the Damon Bruce experiment with Raddy was not a publicity stunt as some have skeptically figured.
What it was was a colossal failure of mass proportions from the PD who is supposed to be creative and innovative. Instead, he has a lot of egg on his face, from the back office sales dept. to the listeners who, from day one could see, (and hear), how bad and embarrassing it was to pair a grizzly bear with a poodle.
It wasn't and isn't just embarrassing, it's potentially a job dismissal for the head of the Knibber amen corner, Lee Hammer. Don't think for a moment that the Cumulus boys, who oversaw this train wreck, are feeling rather lousy today.
Even by KNBR standards, the Radnich/Bruce fiasco is a black mark, not just for the station and its client base, but everyone who works inside the building. The bean counters and interns had to be laughing uncontrollably.
You don't announce a major splash, (like the Aug. 1 beginning of the Titanic), produce a ton of new promos, sell advertisers on the idea of the new dynamic duo and have it all explode in front of your face. Listeners hated it from the very start; there was no on-air chemistry, no degree of ebb and flow from the talent to the on-air product. Bad.
And it all came to a crashing thud twenty-nine days from inception. Quick thought: you'd have to think that that the PD--knowing that the prime player takes August vacations would have started this grand show, oh, I don't know, September? Maybe the Monday after Labor Day? Hammer on that for a moment.
And don't think the new boys in town, (Entercom's 95.7 FM), are awash in giggles. They still haven't made a dent into the Bay Area sports radio arena, but this type of boondoggle made for lovely backroom chatter, I'm sure.
Another thing: and we have said this before: KNBR is absolutely beholden to the SF Giants. And to a lesser degree, the 49ers too. That's not unique nor sinister, it's a fairly common relationship that exists between other sports franchises and their broadcast affiliates in other markets.
But the Giants' stronghold on the leader is the mother of all locks. They absolutely CONTROL everything, from the broadcast dept. to the sales dept. to the mailroom. Nothing gets past Larry Baer, not a thing. Damon Bruce knows that. And so does Larry Kruegar.
I don't think the Giants and/or Raddy had a hand in this move. I think this came down to just a really bad fit and it showed. Sure, Baer and company aren't shedding any tears either, but the conspiracy take is simply not there. Yet.
Simply stated, this calamity was a bonehead move by a inane and mostly incompetent, overly-hyped and powerless, ego-inflated PD; the same guy who made his face onto the team photo at the White House ceremony.
It's nothing new. The Lackey Leader. Sounds about right.
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according to gary, the "gary and larry show" was scheduled to start on monday...but his travel plans got in the way. i don't think damon got that memo.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing this morning Gary states that he and Larry should have started their new show on Monday, no mention of Bruce.
ReplyDeleteAnd the coward is doing the show on location so no TV this morning ... gutless bastard.
Radnich is like an anchor, weighing that station down. His act has become tiresome. Strangely, this morning they act like Damon Bruce and Gary never worked together. Totally glossed over. Its as if Damon Bruce never existed. I suppose its too embarrassing for them to face the music.
ReplyDeleteTried to listen this morning, Radnich is in hog heaven babbling away. I'm going to the Wolf until noon and hopefully Damon will be on 1050.
ReplyDelete9.30 Damon Bruce doesn't exist hello? Furthermore if you really believe anybody at the Giants is really listening to KNBR vs working and or trying to figure out how to win 'again' you're in dreamland. It's like the ceo of chevron is listening to green radio rip them comparison, not happening. Damon Bruce was a stinker and that's the end of the story.
ReplyDeleteThe Raddy/Bruce experiment was a Bungeroff call NOT a Hammer call. Bungeroff micro manages everything at 55 Hawthorne. This is a classic example of a out of market, control freak, bean-counter thinking he knew better than his PD. Now he'll let Hammer be his fall guy as far as the media is concerned. Your assertion is wrong RL. Hammer's being unfairly blamed.
ReplyDeleteThe Lee Hammer moment at the White House will always be among the most embarrassing of any team sport celebration in front of the President. That alone should remove him from his job. Knibber and even the Giants had egg in the face after that. What a shame.
ReplyDelete10:11
ReplyDeleteSorry, but your analogy doesn't work, unless Chevron owns a large piece of green radio, and green radio is Chevron's essential marketing tool. You better believe the Giants monitor their own public image, especially in terms of how its being shaped by their own flagship radio station. They'd be fools not to. GE/MSNBC, now that would have been a stronger analogy.
And no mention of D.Bruce by the new pairing, after all the announcements, promotions, cakes, Gary insisting he approved of the deal, etc. etc... doesn't that strike you as ignoring the "elephant in the room"?
Lee Hammer will always be "Bob Agnew's Bitch"
ReplyDeleteYou should review your characterization of the poodle and the pit bull. The poodle does a lot of yapping but in the end has no bite; the pit bull may be silent or may be loud but when he strikes you'll know it. So lets just let the poodle get on back to 1050 land and forget it ever happened. Ps. Gary & Larry, 5 minutes i heard wasn't bad.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Rich so angry about everything?
ReplyDeleteHe's been complaining about Raddy and Bruce since this began but now that they've undone it he's still annoyed and angry!
Why not Gary & Gary - Radnich and Plummer. Three full hours of, "Pound it, pound it, pound it."
ReplyDelete@ 10:30 AM Anonymous.. That is the absolute truth. It was ALL Bungeroth and not Hammer on that one. Everything you said is true. Anyone blaming Hammer on this one has it wrong! Bungeroth loves Bruce!
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