If you peruse the talk-radio airwaves, you've heard him.
Uh, he's either got a hell of a lot of time on his hands, possesses a great degree of conviction on something so bizarre, so comical, maybe he's just joking.
It's a joke with a heavy dose of compilation and compelling thought, at least if you believe this guy and frankly, he's a little busy if you know what I mean.
The he I'm speaking about is the infamous one; the guy that makes his way onto just about every radio talk show in the Bay Area and beyond, (he's even hit CSPAN too).
What he says is this: John Lennon was murdered by Stephen King. I'm not kidding. OK, quit laughing. Did you really think we were gonna talk about scones and coffee today?
This Lennon/Stephen King guy is a serious dude. Either that or he's one persistent bastard. He's infiltrated just about every radio outlet around. Producers can try their best to catch him, but all this does is give the guy more ammo to make his way onto the airwaves and he does so despite the fact that they're catching on to him, but he still evades them. Yes, he's that good.
He's earned the purple heart at KGO, which is now good, since any devious act on the albatross is fine by my book. The Lennon/Stephen King caller has nailed Ronnnnn Owens, Christine Craft, Pat Thurston, John Rothmann; I'm leaving out others, but he's an equal-opportunity shit-disturber and he's even gone national lately. Larry King would have had a field day with this guy, ditto Howard Stern, a real-time babbabooey.
**I understand something's being demolished near the Golden Gate Bridge. Have you heard the news?
**Why they call it the toy dept, part 5678: As usual the Aubrey Huff story was largely covered by the sports guys, without hardly any mention by the news people. The end result was a cornucopia of pieces, (with the exception of the Chron's Henry Schulman), of an issue that had no business in the sports domain.
Aubrey Huff is a baseball player with the SF Giants. That's where the sports part begins and ends.
His disclosure that he's suffering from anxiety and possible depression is where the story takes a news turn and has nothing to do with sports. Depression and anxiety attacks should not be used as a venue to mix in sports minutiae. "When will he be able to come off the disabled list?" Huh? I heard that beauty on a sportstalk show.
The frat boys on Knibber in the morning--showing their usual lack of worldliness and utter disregard for the topic, had no clue had to handle the Huff episode. Instead of taking a diplomatic route or just say nothing, they decided to frame the issue as a sports topic, where they, as usual, failed miserably. They can't help themselves--but that Pauley guy can sure play stupid sound effects with his music box, what a rockin' genius.
**Another reason why I'll skip the Olympics: Bobby Fitzgerald, grand master ass-kisser extraordinaire for the Dubs and Knibber will apparently be working for NBC as basketball PBP-announcer. Rudy does know how to play the brown toilet-paper game, don't he?
**Lloyd LaCuesta is splitting from KTVU after 36 solid years; one can only hope that Rita Williams and Tom Vacar are staying on duty...Williams, a veteran continues her dogged work and remains at the top of her game, but she's in her 60's, which in local TV news is a warning light. I would doubt KTVU would mess with Rita as long as Rita wants to stay on and work.
Vacar too is still quite the consummate pro and does a good job on consumer affairs, but he too is in his 60's. A good reason why the station won't mess with him: Vacar happens to be a lawyer and the last thing Cox Broadcasting, (which owns KTVU), wants is an age-discrimination suit.
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Today's Trib had a front page story on Anxiety and Huff and other sufferers.
ReplyDeleteAnd-Amy G. was flat out gorgeous last night. I thought I was watching a romance movie when she talked at dusk,hair flowing in the breeze..sheer blouse and delicate earrings. A vision of beauty. Breathtaking.
Haven't seen any coverage of the comments that PCon made on the air about Huff needing to "man up" like our "grandpappies," or words to that effect. Why do they put a mic in front of him?
ReplyDeleteThe Huff story IS a sports story. It also can be a stepping off point for non-sports treatment of the issue. If sportstalk asks the question "When do you think he'll be back"?, there's nothing wrong with that question in that venue. To say otherwise is total BS and a holier than thou viewpoint. Huff is one of 25 guys on a team, makes a ton of money, and his absence is important to that team, regardless of the reason he's gone. Anybody with a lick of sense feels for Huff, but that doesn't mean discussing when he'll come back or how they will replace him is off limits for public discussion...
ReplyDeleteHuff Coverage
ReplyDeleteI see no reason to criticize the way KNBR or the other media outlets covered the Huff story.
He's got problems, he's addressing them, he's on the disabled list, and at some point he'll be able to return.
This is not a Magic Johnson, I have HIV moment.
Huff is going through a hard time, he's got marital problems, emotional problems, baseball problems, I'm sympathetic and wish him well.
But really, what do you want KNBR to do - hold a depression/anxiety radio-thon? Buster Posey had a broken ankle, did we need to delve into the issues of broken bones and joints and hear testimony from others who suffered similar injuries.
I'm perfectly happy with the way KNBR covered this event and frankly it seems that this blog will find a way to criticize them for whatever they say or don't say and they can never win according to Media 415.
If I'm not mistaken, it seems Pauley has anxiety as well. He sounds nervous half of the time and does not offer any meaningful sports insight other than a few mhms and nervous laughters. He's a waste of money on Cumulus's payroll, much like Ralph but minus the $300k/ year.
ReplyDeletePauley is the luckiest man in media. Think about it..a 6 year ,6 figure salary..for a man nobody knows or thinks of. And,he doesn't say much if anything to guests. He's been here years...and still is never mentioned,quoted,or seen on any show on Comcast for one. He's KNBR's resident ner do well..with his song parodies just adding more of the "privileged guy"...He makes a fortune for just saying "That's right Mac".
DeleteMore evidence that the local sports media is in the tank...Amy G, 'P-Con' and 'Pauley' Mac are talking sports...and sounding empty headed and ridiculous as usual. I guess management can feel good though, because the one-time 'boy genius' Bobby Fitz is still
ReplyDeleteat the top of his game (sucking off management and getting more opportunities). What a sad state of affairs for local sports fans.
i think that its sad that here we are in the 21st century, and schulman had to think twice before divulging that he has suffered from depression and anxiety
ReplyDeletewe now know that all mental illness has a biological component
no one is afraid of saying that they have diabetes or heart problems
centuries of treating the mentally ill as pariahs needs to end now
dont really care when huff gets back...only that he get well
Amy G does what she's paid to do..interview players in a MILF,Soccermom,relaxed way. NO pretense to Amy G. Give her that.
ReplyDeletePCON? he's ALL schtick. He has the worst southern accent in America. I could get the Mexican gardeners to say Y'all more natural then Pecon. Overalls one day and then a very flamboyant Phoenix rising from the ashes T-shirt the next? razzberry to that. Sure. Mixed messages Pat.
He's one of those nice guys trying be or to follow the SternRushSavage of the South formula, pretender. And,If I'm wrong and he really does hate almost everybody?..feel sorry for him. SF isn't the place to work or live if your xeno/homophobic and a misogynistic.
So you post a racist comment to call someone xenophobic?
DeleteReally? If I had said Russian pilot or Chinese embassy counsel could sound more southern then Pecon would you have said that was racist? Or is it that you look down at Mexican gardeners? ..It might be you who are the racist.
DeleteThe point was real cultural accents vs phony put ons.
This is what corporate radio wants now...cheap, unprofessional, and out of touch with what's going on. The cretins who make the decisions could care less what kind of crap they put on the air, as long as they don't have to pay much for the talent.
ReplyDeleteExpect more and more amateur-hour radio and TV in the days ahead as these big-box companies continue to lay waste to our electronic media.
You hit the nail on the head! Could not have said it better myself.
DeleteWhy isn't Huff's anxiety a sports story? He's a baseball player..hello?
ReplyDeleteAs yes the John Lennon guy. I met him at the Santa Rosa JC library back in 1983, listened to him talk for 10 or 15 minutes, and he actually seemed lucid. The librarian asked him to leave as I recall because he was using school property without being a student..lol. Supposedly he has or at least had a trust fund which lets him call into talk shows and drive that van with all the "John Lennon conspiracy" stickers on it all over the place.
I'm sure his parents would be proud of what he does with their equity...
DeleteAnd how about a salute to ch7's Lisa Argen(t?)...who has to be near 20 years of weekend weather with ch.7
ReplyDeleteShe has that Lea Thompson look and vibe. Not getting old without a good fight.
Hiya Lisa!
The Lennon Guy has been calling KGO for decades...it's incredible. Since I used to listen to KGO all the time I often heard him. I got to the point where I could recognize his voice by 5 words spoken. He'd sound kind of lucid and respond to the topic then ZING, he'd mention that our government is covering up the truth about the Lennon "assassination".
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if he called in tonight at midnight while Christine Craft is interviewing Ross Mirkarimi. That's destination radio!
christine craft protecting abuser, loser, wife beater. that wife beater sheriff pled to lesser charge so not to go to court so we could all see the truth. leave it to kgo and that dude christine craft to spin this one.
ReplyDelete"Abuser,loser,wife beater..." the man had a domestic dispute with his wife that went too far. Jesus H. Christ! Is the PC crowd in The City trying to get the man to kill himself? Will they be satisfied then? Or is the bloodlust that strong? He made a mistake. Well, two, with the coverup attempt, and people won't allow the man and his wife to work it out and deal with what is a private matter. He's lost everything because of this. Time to let the guy reclaim his life
DeleteSeveral years ago, "The John Lennon Guy" did get through on CNN's Larry King Live. King cut him with dispatch. I got the impression that wasn't the only time he called the show.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 90s he left the Bay Area, and spent a couple of years in Maine ... Stephen King's home. On his return, he called Jim Eason's show. Jim, wisely, engaged him in a little bit of conversation, and asked him to call the program sometime when there were a number of topics under discussion, without trying to sneak by the producer. He told "JL guy" to be honest about his topic, and they could discuss his theory. I don't remember him calling Eason, after that. I think that he just enjoys the challenge of getting on the air.
We all know Gary Radnich waited on the grassy knoll as a backup at JFK's hit.
ReplyDeleteAlready, at ten years old,Radnich would do ANYTHING for the right wing to get ahead.
DeleteStephen Lightfoot is always a hoot to hear on the airwaves, and his missive about John Lennon's murder is well worth the five bucks he charges for it. I highly recommend that everyone who enjoys catching his sneak-in calls to talk shows, goes out and purchases his 'book'. Just like a donation to this site keeps it afloat, getting Mr. Lightfoot's publication does the same for a Bay Area Institution!
ReplyDeleteThere's an old joke at KTVU: Q: How do you know when Tom Vacar's on vacation? A: He only files three stories a day.
ReplyDeleteHardest-working man in the business, period. Even former GM Kevin "Ego" O'Brien, after once telling the newsroom staffers they'd better stop complaining about working conditions because he works harder than any of them, paused and added, "Except for Vacar."