Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Barbieri versus KNBR/Cumulus; The Case that Won't be Settled; And It's not about the Money; UPDATED


Conventional wisdom says Ralph Barbieri's impending legal battle with big, bad Cumulus/KNBR will either be settled or thrown out. I say neither.

Months ago when I predicted the Razor would sue, most people scoffed. I also repeated a line I had heard from a local sports exec who said no matter what, "this is gonna be ugly."

Indeed.


And this much I know: Ralph wants his case to be heard. He has a catty, if not spectacular, lawyer, a fellow Italian by the name of Alioto. Her father, Joe, was probably the best mayor San Francisco ever had, but Joe was even a better lawyer. He was to anti-trust law what Willie Mays was to baseball. A magician.

Angela is not her father's masterpiece, no Picasso by any means, but she does possess a great deal of Italian fight. So does Barbieri, hence the this is gonna be ugly assessment. And I do mean ugly, nasty ugly with a lot of garlic thrown in.

I believe Ralph has been planning this out for years. I think he had a master plan in the drawer knowing the handwriting was on the wall, which doesn't mean he'll win, but sets the stage for what portends to be a virtual battlerama in court. Cumulus, no matter what the outcome, will be tarred and feathered, believe me, and I think Barbieri wants it that way, his way, the feisty, fightin' native Italian SF guy taking on the bad guys from Atlanta. Just beautiful.

Again, read: THIS CASE WILL NOT BE SETTLED. It could be thrown out, won or lost, but it will not be settled. Barbieri doesn't need the money, for one, and most importantly, wants his day in court before a sympathetic San Francisco jury. Which, again, doesn't necessarily dictate a victory, but that's not the point. The point is this: Barbieri and Alioto want blood. That's why Angela is taking this case on a contingency. Even if the deck is stacked and the odds are low for success, the players want to play ball.

Good for them. If nothing else, it's high time that Cumulus' dirty laundry be exposed. This case will set the stage, once and for all, for all the bad that is Cumulus Inc. and the Tricky Dickeys. How they treat people. How they inject their form of corporate masochism against the little guys. Barbieri is hardly one of the little guys but when you're talking about a company with vast billions versus a 66 year-old guy with early stages Parkinson's disease, we're talking big against little.

Keep in mind that, as I have stated numerous times, I had issues with Ralph, both on and off the air, but I admire him for bringing this case forward. The easiest thing to do is settle. But that's not the Barbieri m.o. Not for a million, not for two million. The Razor wants blood. It's that simple.

You don't have to be a lawyer to see the strategy here. Let a jury hear the evidence. Provide the forum to which relative documents are provided and seen. Can you really dispose of someone with pretty damn good ratings and 28 years of service to the company because he was late a few times? Can you just dump a man with type 2 diabetes for a case of occasional tardiness? Moreover, what about the ethics of a company with a long track record of wanton, full-bore disregard for its employees. This is more or less a referendum on Cumulus and its policies. Forget the legal angles for a moment and concentrate on the basic moral principles. Which, yes, again, doesn't mean victory for the plaintiff, sure, necessarily, but it will expose the nastiness to which the bad guys abide by.

And that's the ultimate victory, win or lose for Barbieri. His day in court. Before a jury of his peers. Yeah, can't wait for opening day.

UPDATE: Here is the complaint.


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87 comments:

  1. So, what you're saying is, "This is not about the money." I hope you're right. 10 times out of 10 when someone says it's not about the money, it's about the money. Maybe this time things will be different. This will probably tear the lid off of all of the ugliness in the business now.

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    Replies
    1. I agree it is definately about the money in every sense of the word. His exemplary performance in creating high ratings & his recent induction in the Sports Talk Radio hall of fame creating more value. not less. However way more than CUMULUS wants to pay. Then he has his health and existing financial obligations in raising his 12 year old son etc. He is not getting any younger!! Why leave money on the table when one could challenge it or even sue for it. Best Wishes!!
      Here is a copy of the case explaining these specific issues.
      http://media.sfweekly.com/7951244.0.pdf

      Delete
    2. He cried poor yesterday on The Game, then told the listeners he was taking his son on a month long trip to Europe.

      Delete
    3. Humm, a San Francisco Liberal ~ one percenter??!! Heavens no!

      Humm, can he collect unemployment while in Europa??

      Delete
    4. it's definitely about the money.

      Delete
  2. The dismissal is all about being late. For months, Ralph was not in the studio at 3:00. How hard is it to show up at 2:45? Three times a week, Tom would start and not say a word about his absence. Then at 3:22, Ralph's would slide into the conversation. The pair thought this strategy would fool the listeners and KNBR's brass. They documented these and they also have air-checks. KNBR also never let Ralph do the show solo. They knew it was bad radio.

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    Replies
    1. Ralph has to take the blame for some of this. When you KNOW you're employer is gunning for you why would you give them any ammunition by showing up late? For someone who's making $380K a year, to routinely show up late is inexcusable. His entire workday was only 4.5 hours anyway!

      Delete
    2. i agree. how hard is it be on time for a job you don't deserve to be paid that much? that you don't prepare for. at least be on time.

      Delete
    3. Rich knows the law as much as roy bowman really is an 'italian lawyer'

      Delete
  3. "The razor"will win!

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    Replies
    1. Go Cumulus GO! Show the fat guy who the boss is!

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  4. All of the dated Italian stereotypes you include in this post reduce you credibility. If Ralph thinks he is a victim of discrimination because of a disability, would he really be less outraged, or less desirous of his day in court than if he was Jewish or black? This post comes off as if you have a personal issue with Italians, which I guess is kind of a cute, retro/vintage prejudice you don't get to see to often anymore. Way to keep it alive.

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    Replies
    1. that's funny and true.

      i just found this blog about 2 months ago, and as an italian lawyer myself, was subconsciously moved to post for the first time. this guy writing this blog clearly is not a lawyer or a writer or italian or happy.

      Delete
    2. Completely agree. That stuff is not good for credibility.

      Delete
    3. I so agree with you Roy. Not a lawyer, not a writer, not someone who should actually command our interest or respect. This blog could be shortened to a couple of sentences without any loss of content. It is irritating at best.

      Delete
    4. And yet, you read it.

      Delete
  5. this is hilarious.

    i really like ralph, and enjoyed the low-tension atmosphere and camaraderie of the Razor and Mr. T, but you really don't know what you are talking about here.

    a friend of mine who worked there told me was late well over 100 times. that you have to be at the station over an hour before your station and he was never there. cumulus probably started documenting his lateness once they realized it was a problem and knew it could be used for termination, especially if he was told by management multiple times it was a problem. one has to think if they were planning this then he was notified. ralph probably blew it all off since he was probably really comfortable.

    he won't win his case. fact.

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    Replies
    1. The most rank newbie knows you should be in the building at least half an hour before you go on the air. It's a matter of respect to your colleagues. Unless you're Don Sherwood and Ralph's no Don Sherwood.

      I feel badly for him that it ended this way, but if it's true that Ralph was stupid enough to be late 100 times when they watching him, it's almost as if he wanted to be fired.

      Delete
    2. Mr. Fong, why would you comment on gossip? Perhaps Mr. Bowman is correct; perhaps he is not. That's what courts are for. To comment as you have here ~ without irrefutable proof ~ is irresponsible for someone who is a columnist and supposedly guided by a journalistic code of ethics.

      Would you like us to post gossip about you Mr. Fong, so that someone may comment: "... but if that's true, that Mr. Fong was stupid enough to be late 100 times when they {sic} were watching him, it's almost as if he wanted to be fired."

      Oh, so now, not only are you a gossip-monger, Mr. Fong, but you are a mind-reader? Hey, can you tell me how the stock market is gonna do next week so I can move my investments?

      Give me a break. No wonder The Chronicle is tanking.

      Secondly, anyone with an ounce of supervisorial experience, HR experience, legal experience, etc., knows YOU NEVER write an email that says, "I am very concerned about your health and on-the-air energy," as Mr. Hammer did.

      That fact that Mr. Hammer did not respond to Mr. Barbieri's email back is an indication that perhaps Mr. Hammer realized his error, or HR did and hammered Mr. Hammer for a very stupid, and junior-level mistake.

      The fact that Barbeieri's show was first, second, first, second or vice versa (I can't recall) in the months surrounding this Hammer note is an indication that Mr. Barbieri's health had no effect on the ratings, whether or not he was No. 1 or No. 2.

      As for Mr. Fong's false assertion about a half-hour early, in my years in radio, that NEVER happened on a regular basis. NEVER.

      Now, I worked at mid-market stations managing news, but I observed people. Perhaps in Mr. Fong's experience, it is true. Perhaps at KNBR, it is true, but to make a blanket statement for ALL radio stations in the world, nada.

      Now I know why I never read Mr. Fong's column.

      Disclaimer: I have no association, past or present, with Mr. Fong. I never heard him on air. I don't read him because he's clueless and even more boring than Mr. Barbieri.

      Delete
    3. Hey, Anon@11:35: The poster you refer to as "clueless" is named KENN FONG. The guy in the Chronicle is named BEN FONG TORRES. If you want to see "clueless" take a look in the mirror. That is if you can find it, Sherlock!

      Delete
  6. Rich knows nothing about the law.

    Court rooms are not available for people to go make speeches and tell the world about how some big nasty corporation hurt your feelings. Ralph was not doing his job, he is incapable of doing his job, and Cumulus won't have to pay him a dime.

    It really doesn't matter whether the Dickeys are devils or saints. Ralph doesn't have a legitimate claim.

    ReplyDelete
  7. There is a process for using tardiness as an excuse for termination. One of the things you need to do is attempt to document everyone's tardiness. If they can show they scrutinized everyone and have it documented then they (mgt) have a case. If they singled him out and didn't apply the scrutiny equally as a corporate policy then Ralph can claim he was discriminated against.

    This case is not about tardiness. It's about using the legal process to get transparency with respect to the corporate culture that exists and to force people to tell the truth. In highly politicized environments nobody speaks up, nobody volunteers to tell the truth and everyone tells lies to flatter their boss. Ralph didn't have to do this because his job performance depended on ratings and he could be fired if his ratings fell off.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. i would bet a lot of money cumulus has italian lawyers as good as ralph's, and made sure they documented everything.

      Delete
    2. I would bet a lot of money cumulus has italian lawyers better than ralph's.

      And, with all due respect, this case has nothing to do with transparency. This is all about Ralph's ego. He thinks that the rules that apply to all don't apply to him. He got called on it ... he got fired ... he became a victim who has done nothing wrong.

      Between Barbieri, Cumulus and Alioto, has there been any case in recent memory with a more unlikable cast?

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    3. Between Barbieri, Cumulus and Alioto, has there been any case in recent memory with a more unlikable cast?

      Excellent observation....if there was only some way all involved parties could lose!

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    4. Good points. A lot of this case comes down to process. Did they watch everyone? Did they document these alleged late start times? Did management council him on improving the problem with his performance?

      The last one is a big one. It brings motives into view. And/or did they fire him for the poor performance or did they use the being late to get rid of him for other reasons (such as discrimination)? Whether he had warnings from management about being late is very important to which way that question would be answered.

      Delete
  8. Rich, What's with all the 'Italian this, Italian that'? You can peg a nationality because you've watched 'Goodfellas' 20 times?
    When you protested the coverage of Oakland crime and the Oakland Occupy you didn't bring up Chinese or African American stereotypes as I recall.

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    Replies
    1. ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR SICILIAN FLAG!!!!

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  9. Rich never said this was about paying out dimes or if the claims were legitimate. This is about the bloodbath that will ensue when you have people being forced to answer questions under oath. A lot of very juicy tidbits are going to come out of this and the motivation to get this out in the open is far larger than the dimes that are no doubt going to be paid out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You gotta love the armchair judges, juries and executioners litigating this case from their mother's basement making wild predictions about the outcome.
    This thing could easily drag for two to three years before we even got to a trial. Give Ralph credit for taking on the two headed Dickey monster. Not sure why anyone would side with Cumulus on this one....unless they work for them....

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  11. I will take it on faith that Rich's statement, "Barbieri doesn't need the money, for one, and most importantly, wants his day in court before a sympathetic San Francisco jury" is true and that he has information off the record stating so. If so, this is not about the money, it's about getting his pound of flesh. I love it.

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    Replies
    1. Make that 300 pounds of flesh . . .

      Delete
  12. I am so pumped that Ralph Barbieri isn't taking his dismissal by the new management guys at KNBR by just sitting there with his headphones in his hands. Instead he is gifting KNBR management back - with a wrongful termination lawsuit.

    Ralph, in addition to his ample talent, becomes a broadcast hero for the thousands who were blown out of their jobs for no good reason and reacted like sheep. For all the on-air folks that were told, "you do not figure into the new plans we have for the station," then escorted from the building, this battle is for you. Put a picture of Ralph Barbieri on your refrigerator and say something encouraging to it every day.

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  13. Dear Shadetree Lawyers:

    Restating cliches to prove a point is boring and uninteresting, especially when the cliches are irrelevant and non-responsive to the original post.

    Also feel free to go back to sfgate.com where the other morons also get little stiffies by fluffing the puffery of phony self-righteous indignation to cultural references. And if that is too wordsmithy for you, here's a restatement. Fuck yourselves where you breathe.

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  14. If it means setting a precedent against sCumulus and every other untrustworthy corporation, then by all means, go get 'em, Ralph!

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  15. My son now c'ant go to a 30.000 a year school. over

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  16. Go get 'em Ralph!

    —Rich Ambroson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Slap him around Cumulus.
      The Rat.

      Delete
  17. A lawsuit isn't cheap..but for Angela the publicity might be worth it. And of course,a settlement is always a great chance. Ralph would have a hard time convincing Angela to give up her share of a large settlement to just get revenge..and then lose.
    I see a settlement..KNBR knows it will spend big bucks to defend and still get have its nocturnal rodent owners the Dickeys drawn out to the light-that they hate?
    A ruthless business person knows what they are.

    ReplyDelete
  18. If yesterday's appearance on 95.7 was meant to be any kind of audition, he blew it. His voice was hoarse and he sounded like the doddering old guy 95.7 built their promos around when they first started. He started off by kissing Brandon Tierney's ass (which I never thought I'd hear anyone do), and he finished with his signature "Angels fly" sign off compete with KNBRs call letters. In between he just sounded like a bitter disgruntled ex-employee. I don't like what KNBR did to him, but I don't really miss him on the air.

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    1. I also listened to Ralph yesterday and it was a painful experience. Aside from his vocal struggles, he rambled about being fired while insisting that he was still able to perform proficiently on air.

      Had a jury heard that performance I don't think Mr Barbieri would have liked the verdict.

      Delete
    2. I agree. It was a poor performance. He should have canceled when his voice was better. he did sound unprepared for it and really bitter and sucked up to the hosts like a hoover.

      I liked ralph in his prime he was great. But his prime is gone. I am sure he is after any money he can get and is just bitter about his dismissal. I read the court filing and I know if I showed up late like he did I would be looking for work. I thought it was self serving of him to say I am a single parent and want to be there for my kid as much as possible. Guess what Raplph, I am a single father too and I do not get the time I want. Such as life. Enjoy your retirement Ralph.

      Delete
    3. his rambling was getting worse and worse. out of touch with sports. and lost the give and take of conversation. i think even he got lost on his original points. nutty old man.

      Delete
    4. What he said is one thing but how he sounds is a tech thing. His microphone needed to be adjusted for his voice.

      Delete
  19. Go Ralph!

    It's clear Cumulus has hired a "reputation management" firm of anonymous commenters to sway the public opinion on sfgate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Cumulus schills are so easy to spot. They stand out like a three fingered hand. Shame on you Cumulus. Go get'em Ralph!!!

      Delete
  20. Michael, Michael, I never wanted this for you. Ralph and Ms. Alioto are going to the matresses. Faccia culo-Cumulus. Ciao

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  21. Byrnes is so bad, I even miss Ralph

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  22. Catty anti-Italian remarks from a Jew. Way to go, Rich.

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  23. Mr. E / Shadetree Lawyers:

    Ya'll forgot the most important question.

    Who is his Consiglieri?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Please don't underestimate Ralph. He is Italian, and more importantly, a Scorpio. A lethal combination. He won't go down (or away) with out a fight. Believe it.

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  25. Ralph has such a massive ego. Oh my god. They don't have to renew his contract. Employment isn't guaranteed. Cumulus is a business, they can go in any direction they want. The egomaniacal Barbieri just needs at attention and everybody knows Angela Aliotto is a wannabe Gloria Allred. Ralph, meditate, gather some peace and move on.

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    Replies
    1. he really does look like a cranky old crotchety man about it. he contributed ZERO to the show. just his old argumentative crap over and over. his shtick was so tired.

      Delete
  26. I listened to part of it and from what I heard the Cul guys must have loved it. Ralph admitted he was often late, he didn't prepare for the show and he wanted us to feel bad becuase he made $290,000 a year? He didn't sound good at all and quite honestly just seemed lost. It doesn't help that KNBR #s have been good since he left. Ralph's time had come and gone. He is probably most upset becuase he lost his free Sharks tixs, his front row passes for his son to get autographs, and his free pizzas!

    ReplyDelete
  27. He takes what 80+ pills how does he keep track of em all. Never heard anybody take that many meds. In a day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. maybe that's why he was so late.

      Delete
  28. You may already know this Rich but Barbieris lawyer will be on at 535pm with Gross on 910am...

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    Replies
    1. Thought Gil's comments were insightful. He mentioned how the KGO hosts were fired and compared to Ralph's treatment. He commended his new station and how classy they handled Gene Burn's health problem when Gene had not worked a day for the station.

      Cumulus seems like a rough crowd!

      Delete
  29. As others have commented here, Ralph Barbieri came across poorly yesterday on 95.7 The Game.
    In the poll of public opinion, Ralph lost a lot of credibility.
    Instead of taking a mature approach to his dismissal he came across as a bitter, angry old man who has been cheated by life.
    Sometimes things do not work out as planned Ralph.
    Go on your merry way. Retire gracefully.
    By the way, how's that gig in Europe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm calling it: Cumulus shill.

      Delete
  30. Ralph takes 91 pills a day. Angela Aliotto just said so on 910 am. I listened to the interview- Angela talked but didn't say too much. Time will tell if they have a solid case against Cumulus.

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    Replies
    1. i'm confused. she's pointing out how sick he is. yet he feels like he was able bodied and bright enough to do the job and illness was not an issue.

      Delete
  31. Any station that "bolsters" personalites like KT "what the hell did she just say" Scot and bloated blathering "Marines" like P-Conn who is so vile and so wicked,,,that he personally black balls the little people... all the while shoving good guys like Ray Woodson to the back of the line... is evil incarnate itself...In an era of Frank and Mike and Isabel Lemon these things never would have been allowed...there is no morallity in radio these days but if there were...at KNBR they still would stoke the flames of hell...GO get them Ralph if not for you but for every person who has felt and smelled the stench of 55 WHorethorne...

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  32. The pizzas will be flying across the courtroom.

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  33. Let the discovery process begin NOW. I am sure Angela will get Raddy, Fitz and the gang on tapes and on records.

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    Replies
    1. Haha! I'd love to see Captain Hook's deposition. That would be fun!! As a gag, during the deposition I would ask Raddy about his feelings towards guys in Jaguars who cruise the Tenderloin at night looking for a good time LOL!!

      Delete
    2. On the record of how they have been treated by Cumulus as well?

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    3. Chicks with Sticks, Party of 1?

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  34. Ralph was lucky to work as long as he did, and lucky to make the money he did. I don't think he ever truly realized just how lucky he was.

    That said, what Cumulus did to him was reprehensible, but typical of the bloodless, corporate, scum-sucking weasels who are now overpopulating the media. They have no interest in broadcasting, they only care about getting fat and satisfying their shareholders and higher ups.

    I wish with all my heart, that the Dickeys and their minions could have their jobs forfeited and their fortunes impounded through legal action, but wouldn't it be even better if many of the greedy corporate bastards who have bought and sold our once beautiful country down the river, went straight to jail? So many of them leading us into a new 'Age of Shame,' and they have their high priced jackals (i.e. lawyers) protecting their fat rear ends.

    Cumulus is only a small, and rather insignificant example of corporate malfeasance in the greater scheme of things. The ills that they have perpetrated in the radio industry are damaging, but compared to the shenanigans of the banking industry and how many of these tech industries exploit their workers, their behavior pales in comparison.

    America has sadly become overrun by venal, self-absorbed, greedy, slothful, ignorant people, and 'The Brand' has become more important than the individual. Just turn on you TV or your I-pad, computer, cell phone, smart phone, or i-pod, and turn off your brain, and you too will be sucked in by the lies and the crass commercialism that they all try to foist off on us.

    I wouldn't waste the time to even piss on Cumulus, even if they were on fire.

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  35. Lets face it, even thought it isn't PC in Liberal Bay Area land, your DNA is only a handful of generations from somewhere else. We all conform to ancestral stereotypes to some extent. You've got to love those pure bred kick ass Italians. It'll probably get thrown out by a Jewish judge. Now... can we get back to talking about what Ronnnnn is gonna do?

    (Seriously speaking, where is Christine Craft's wise counsel on this discrimination business? Does Mr Barbari have a case? On what grounds?)

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  36. HONK! If you believe that somewhere between BF-T's "Coffee table" pink pieces and this sports radio-heavy blog lies the need for coverage of the Bay Area media scene that doesn't absolutely suck rocks.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ralph is Bay Area sports. When the Giants won the World Series, he represented all of us as the SF fan. Too many of the clowns on radio today could care less. Even more are just cheerleaders polishing the local brand or even worse, say nothing. If you have any doubt, listen to his interview with Brian Sabean back in the spring of 2010. A classic. I hope he resurfaces. Cumulus has to live with the environment they created....good luck

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  38. So, an attorney is taking a what looks to be a difficult case (expensive) on contingency. She's OK with the objective of her plaintiff which is he just "wants his day in court before a sympathetic San Francisco jury.".

    There will be NO settlement! Nope! Not gonna settle!

    There is a very good chance of losing, meaning no pay for her or to cover her out of pocket expenses for her staff.

    Sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. typically in contingency cases..the plaintiff still pays out-of-pocket costs. the contingency arrangement refers to the lawyer(s) actual work..not stuff like photocopies, and other incidentals.

      Delete
    2. meh, they will absolutely take the money if offered. seems like a weak case, though. looosah.

      Delete
  39. Very well put, Rich. Whether or not it's about the money is irrelevent. It's about time somebody took a stand against these jerks and Angela Alioto is just the right lawyer to do it. The two of them make a very good combination and should give Cumulus a battle they will long remember. I was never a fan of Barbieri but I am now. And so what if he was late a few times? He's an entertainer and his performance was judged on his ratings, not his ability to show up for work on time as a rank and file employee.

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  40. There is plenty of talk here on this blog that has nothing to do with just sports, but deals with the local business of broadcasting. Perhaps Rich spends more time discussing what is happening on News and news talk and sports talk radio, mainly because of the alarming downsizing that's been going on lately. Perhaps you're not interested or just haven't been paying attention.

    Music and entertainment radio are great and they have a place.
    There are many fine FM music stations in the market that have been 'cutting edge,' such as KFOG, 'Alice,' and others.

    But talk and sports talk and all news radio are the dominion of folks who are truly into broadcasting and news. They may enjoy music as much as anyone, and they may even pay attention to all of the 'juicy gossip' that unfortunately has become more than just mainstream in our culture. But what Rich Lieberman is doing here with this blog is not 'sucking rocks' as you put it. If you don't like it, start your own blog and perhaps you'll get some readers too!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Roy Bowman is actually Italian and did go to law school and did practice law, even if he is no longer a practicing attorney.

    This is a fact about Roy Bowman, albeit, his name is neither Roy, nor Bowman.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hey rich: why no crying for John Dickreson. YOU only cry for Millionares. Burns Dr Bill Gross Lin Tillen and Ralph THE Shitty Pizza BOY. over

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  43. Ralph and his attorney will make some noise in the local media, and those who are interested enough to pay attention will say:
    "That's Cumulus for you!"

    Those who aren't interested won't care. Your typical American is more interested in learning about the personal goings-on of dysfunctional, small time 'celebrities' such as the Kardashians and Paris Hilton.

    The thing is, who spoon-feeds them this 'junk-food' for the mind? The corporate/tabloid media. Walter Winchell would find himself right at home in today's media world, and so would Hedda Hopper. Who would have dreamed that gossip/rumor-mongering
    scoundrels, who don't have a clue of what it takes to be a real broadcast journalist would someday be the norm?

    Sounds like a scenario right out of a Rod Serling teleplay!

    i Some of us have also heard it said that that the media reflects some personality of our nation. If that's true...god help us all!

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  44. For someone who has a "thick skin", Ralphie sure cries like a baby when called to task. By his own admission he did no preparation for a ~$400 K/year job. Not only no preparation, but is late.

    A mentor told me that 95% of being successful is just showing up. His tardiness and whiny disposition contributed to his termination. Maybe if someone Glengarry Glen Rossed him long ago he'd still have his job.

    Being mollycoddled his entire life was his undoing.

    Stay in France babyboy. They appreciate liberals who can't make a commitment.

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    Replies
    1. The fact that Ralph keeps insisting he's thick skinned when he's just the opposite reveals how out of touch he really is.

      If he was as great as he imagines he is, he'd still be on the air.

      KNBR didn't fire him because he was sick, they fired him because he sucked. Cumulus would put Atilla the Hun on the air if he could draw and keep an audience. Ralph is a broken-down old has been and can barely carry on a coherent conversation, let alone do a radio show.

      Delete
  45. Of course the case won't settle. The defendants have no reason to settle, the plaintiff (Barbieri) has no case. The complaint is a joke and fails to establish a viable claim.

    Anyone who knows anything about the relevant law understands this is a very weak case and an unprofessional complaint.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Stop using politics as an excuse to foist your agenda on the rest of us. "Liberals who can't make a commitment." What the heck is that supposed to mean?

    Just because you didn't like Ralphie's politics doesn't mean that every liberal won't commit to a cause. As a matter of fact, I see more commitment on the part of liberals than I do of conservatives in this country, mainly because conservatives have been (with the exception of the Depression and WWII) pretty much in control of this country since
    the turn of the last century, and liberals are usually scrapping to try and change the 'status quo.'

    Ever heard of the 'communist witch hunts' of the 1920s or 30s?
    Who was responsible for those? Ever paid attention to who was fighting against Civil Rights for African Americans in the 1960s?
    And finally, who approved of deregulation in the 1980s, which has helped to lead us to our current economic malaise?

    Pick up a book and read about your own country sometime, and you'd be surprised what you might learn. Turn off Russ Limbaugh or Sean Hannity while you're at it, and do some thinking for yourself for a change! Use you brain! If you can then present a logical argument that has some historical relevance, then you might get a little more respect! Your inane comment gives many American conservatives a bad name.

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  47. ... "the best mayor San Francisco ever had ...."

    That accolade belongs to George Christopher. He was before my time too but he did a lot of good for San Francisco. Talked to him on the telephone once when he was in his early 90s (he was in the SF phone book!) and he was sharp and still current on then local politics and government.

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