Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Stacy Taylor on KGO; Damon Bruce on KNBR; Trouble behind the KPIX Sales Dept; I love KGO-TV's Ama Daetz and other assorted Tuesday Media Nuggets


*There's some heavy-duty in-house grumbling behind the doors of the KPIX sales dept. Lots of complaints from the rank and file over the top dog who, say the workers, has this habit of overspending with a lot of CBS coin.

*The day after I reported Stacy Taylor had "resigned from my temporary job," the talk show veteran that was a semi-regular at KGO Radio, got an e-mail from management asking if he was available. He was. Taylor appeared on the albatross 810 AM last Saturday and Sunday. By the way, KGOne? The wicked NY witch has become quite a comedy act Sunday night. Makes Spencer Hughes look like Art Finley. Keep up the good work, schlockmeisters.

*To the nitwits telling me and a few others to "get over it", a la KGO, uh, sorry, but this is my place, no, you get over it. Besides, I've been over it; it's the folks, the Bay Area listeners who still feel betrayed and remain incredibly bitter over the dismantlement of an outlet that was beloved and treasured. The public airwaves used to be owned by the public and some of them still resent the hijacking of their friend by the Atlanta radio mobsters. They have a backbone too, as opposed to some of the zombies still shilling on the KGOne mikes.

*Have been watching a lot of Larry Beil and Carolyn Johnson at 4 PM on KGO-TV's softened news show. I use the term, "softened"not in derision, but as fact. The news program is good. It's not chock full of a lot of hard stuff, but the effort put forth by Johnson and Beil works. I've been a frequent critic of Beil, but the more I watch his work, the more I'm impressed. I just wish his occasional bits of looking and sounding overly serious would cease and he simply just read the news like he's paid to do.

*Class and intelligence...still:  KRON's venerable Catherine Heenan.

*30 minutes of uninterrupted civility and thought-provoking discourse: KCBS' Sunday feature, "In-Depth" (8: 30 AM and repeated, 8: 30 PM). Imagine: an informative news interview devoid of useless banter, sound actuality and commercial spots. Eat your heart out, Terry Gross.

*A madman with a Batman fetish goes bonkers in Colorado and kills 12 people, seriously injures scores of others. Perfect recipe for cable diet and Sunday talk shows. Yes, welcome to the new world.

*Ted Robinson, the Bay Area's Bob Costas. That's a compliment. Too smart for merely sports...By the way, Robinson will be in London doing Olympics work for NBC. In addition, Robinson was just named the lead PBP-man for the new Pac-12 Cable Network.

*Hey, Giants fans, can you tell your beloved radio broadcasters that's it's OK to GIVE THE SCORE every now and then: give a listen on any given game and count the MINUTES between the time said announcer actually GIVES THE SCORE. I love Miller. Great announcer, professional and all, same thing with Kuiper and Flemming too, but the lack of announcing the score is an embarrassment. Not to mention an uber-annoyance.

*Underrated: KTVU's weather guy, Mark Tamayo...KPIX' steady, Lawrence Karnow.

*KGO-TV's Ama Daetz: I'm in love.

*Hats off to Knibber's hard-working tonsil, Damon Bruce, who is the only guy in town who has covered, in depth, the whole god-awful, PSU/Sandusky/Paterno mess. A talk-show host on radio who has been relentless on dogged commentary, interviews with some of the national big-shot media types who actually reported on the story. Bruce is the antithesis of his alleged "competition" at sister-station, KNBR 680, otherwise known as the Noon-3PM clown and shill show with Rudy and the angry man.

Furthermore, Bruce' repertoire is, on most occasions, a three-hour broad-themed amalgam of entertaining, unpredictable, and substance galore content, seldom heard in the land of sound-drop central, the boorish, boring and dummies that inhibit the 9-Noon den.

*When I rip, and I rip often because if you take a look and see and listen to the rank amateurs here in this town, I rip with MY NAME behind the said rip. I DO NOT HIDE behind the keyboard and throw shots, personal and professional, with any degree of anonymity. Those of you that do so, (and I'm on to you, soon, trust me) are just plain cowards.

*Sussman: the weird thing is this: We'd probably have a blast over a couple of beers. It's nothing personal, I just can't stand your politics of attack and belittle. You have a right to air your venom and I have a right to respond. I have no freaking clue as to why I listen but when you occasionally show bits of deference, the show is entertaining and flows well. And when you and Mel interact every now and then, it can be very good radio. Just remember, some "libs" have a sense of humor too, Suss.

*At war: KRON's illustrious "People behaving Badly" reporter, Stanley Roberts and SF's bike people. A beachhead has been established. (More to come).


*Amazing and sad to learn it's been five years since the death of former KGO-TV/Radio anchor, talk-host, Pete Wilson. Yes, a reader had it right with this comment: "What would Pete think about the state of the business today?"


*Follow me on Twitter




85 comments:

  1. I got a kick out of the timing with the Stacy Taylor resignation. Funny how when you throw things out into the universe......

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    1. I agree. Peter B. Collins should also resign KGO via this blog and hopefully be invited to take over the NY comedian's spot....

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  2. I wonder if the trolls will come on here and tell us to get over Pete Wilson's death!?
    I can not believe it is already five years. I remember so much from the days before his passing. Burns tried to reassure Pete about the surgery after Pete had voiced concern and fear. My wife and I were going to breakfast in Berkeley when the KGO newscaster fighting back tears announced Pete's death. I fondly recall one his last shows on the 4th of July. Such a good show. Man he is missed..

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  3. Good post Rich, like your take on Sussman, does he have sense of humor about himself, I don't think so. I have never heard it, but then I hardly ever listen to him. I wrote KGO applauding them for bringing back Stacy Taylor, hoping he is permanent, instead of Candace DeLong, she was a disaster, hardly got any calls. I also suggested that they put Christine or Peter B Collins on Sunday nights instead of Maureen, can't for the life of me, understand why is on, when they have local and superior talent available. Baffled minds wants to know. Still miss Pete, yes would love to hear his take on today's KGO, would love to hear Gene's take as well. Gil and John Rothman has said very little, which I understand, they are on a new station and wants to look ahead instead of back. Ronn was very good this morning, first hour so and so. The second hour very good and interesting, had a guest on discussing Obama's foreign politics. (Can you imagine Maureen carrying on an intelligent, knowledge conversation about foreign politics? Can hardly carry on an intelligent conversation about anything.) Last hour Ronn had Alan Dershowitz on briefly and then continue to discuss guns and some Penn State stuff, two very solid hours. Perhaps because there so few good hosts left on KGO Ronn comes of better and better. He is a pro and a perfectionist and it shows. The problem with Maureen she doesen't seem to get better, I almost get the feeling she is not trying. I have an insurance license, when I started selling insurance I wasen't very good, slowly I got better, by attending seminars, practising, going out on appointments with top sellers, by keeping on learning and trying to improve. If she really wanted to be a good talk show host, she could do much to improve, perhaps voice lessons, improve her english, so she don't have to use terms like "pissed off" and similar often. Perhaps she is paid so little it is not worth the trouble. I found out when I get better at selling insurance my income got better as well.

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  4. Today's Raddy update. He promised a hater-fan,that he could call in and have 5 minutes to rip him on air. And,the H-fan wasn't bad,got in some body punches to Raddy who flinched,and was building until he was unplugged at 2 minutes or so. Radnich said Lee Hammer ordered him to be cut off. Lee,just like his grand dad at Treblinka,loves orders-taking or giving.
    Give Raddy some credit..you dont hear that everyday.It was almost like public art for the ears.

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    1. Geez...invoking Lee Hammer and concentration camps is unnecessary

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    2. I heard the call too and found it entertaining enough to keep listening even after I pulled into my driveway. Always a good sign for a radio show. But as soon as Hammer pulled the plug so did I. They just don't get it.

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    3. Or Jeffrey,incredibly accurate.

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    4. Or as a high school history teacher, which I am, I just see it completely inappropriate to make a comparison such as that. Just my opinion.

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    5. That concentration camp reference is stupid and tasteless.

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    6. What's taste got to do with it? Its far more tasteless that Lee Hammer as PD has NEVER allowed a person of color to broadcast on KNBR. Brooks? As Radnich has explained it..he's a Tom. And a pre Hammer hire.
      So Jeff..explain to your class how a sports station in the bay area has a Program Director who discriminates with the blessing of Cumulus corporation. And how that relates to ethnic cleansing's of the past. You do that.

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    7. It's so accurate Jeff..Lee Hammer could never sue ..How can you sue the truth and facts?

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    8. With a name like Scott,your not familiar with being the discriminated one. Hey!..Hammer hired a white woman named Scott.
      Case closed.

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    9. Stan @5:16
      No one in this thread mentioned suing.

      No one in their right mind would equate the arguably objectionable actions of a manager at a radio station with issuing and following orders to kill hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Nazi death camps.

      And for you to assert that it's "truth and facts" suggests a very weak grasp of what those words mean.

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    10. At 813...I could say accurate sarcasm is above you,but then again your post show that ethnic cleansing at starting with employment doesn't seem to grasp you. It does me,and people of color. Your kind enables racism.

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    11. @813, you could say "accurate sarcasm is above" me but it would be as nonsensical as everything else you've written.

      Accusing a station manager of ethnic cleansing because you don't believe their is sufficient diversity among his on-air personnel is scarey stupid and ridiculous.

      Your gabled grammar speaks to your lack of education. Equating the holocaust to radio station hiring practices speaks to your ignorance of history and lack of common sense.

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    12. And- as always- include Bill Bunghole and the Dick bros. They do unto others what they never want done unto them. Like it's their mantra to be able to look in the mirror after cashing checks..

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    13. I know 851 that your schtick is go after all my posts..including the many you feel are mine but weren't. But to go on about underSTANding while you get it wrong. I said Lee Hammer's grand pappy. A truly accurate metaphor of social conscience. Your just too sensitive to read this blog. Spare yourself the heartache.

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    14. My 1st post here. So Lee Hammer would never have a "person of color" [hymns resound] work at KNBR, but Rod Brooks doesn't count?

      Why is that? B/c he speaks proper English?

      You guys got issues. I bet you think Dr. Thomas Sowell isn't black, either. Ugh.

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    15. 1216..Brooks as I pointed out was pre Hammer. Since Lee Hammer was promoted,he and Bunghole have conspired to keep ALL people of color off of KNBR. NOT EVEN AS A TEMP..that's what's so obvious..any vacations by KNBR hosts?..always a white man to fill in-for white men.
      If all this isn't blatant discrimination and racism then what is it?

      PS-Interesting that THEGAME might bring a Henry Wolford from Comcast to fill in..KNBR only a Korzimor or Dave Benz.Just so blatant. Hammer and Bunghole can go to hell.

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    16. BUT when Rod Brooks goes on vacation?..white men fill in. BLATANT.

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    17. @12:16
      You need to realize that the guy who posts this nonsense never lets real facts or reality enter into his diatribes.

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    18. Funny 135..Now my saying that you conservatives never point out where I'm wrong..you just rant that I said it,is your new bit?.
      So now,your doing the FOX news -Bush campaign bit where Kerry the decorated vet was a coward,and Bush the coke head was a war hero reversal on me? The last arguments of a conservative scumball.

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    19. Laughable that 1:17 pretends to know that Lee Hammer and Bung "conspired to keep ALL people of color off of KNBR"

      Right, these two high-level KNBR insiders entered into a secret conspiracy and somehow 1:17 knows all about it.

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    20. Whats laughable is that your arguing makes you dumber by the numbers. Since it IS TRUE,that nobody of color has hosted a KNBR sports show over the last 5 years at least.
      That includes weekend shows. THEGAME seems to have no problems finding people of color. So,Lee Hammer and Cumulus are bigots.

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    21. You're forgetting Rod Brooks. He's been hosting a KNBR sports show for as long as I can remember.

      Also an African American Eric Davis replaced white Gary Plummer on 49er broadcasts, als on on KNBR

      Sure you are talking about the same KNBR?

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    22. 817 WILL you read ???...I've said a few times now that Brooks is pre Hammer and that in the last few years no people of color have HOSTED on KNBR as talk hosts.
      That means about 2 dozen white guys and one white gal, only are on Hammer and Bungholes speed dial.

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    23. 2:55 PM SAID:
      "Since it IS TRUE,that nobody of color has hosted a KNBR sports show over the last 5 years at least."

      That obviously was incorrect.

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    24. NO,1126 It wasn't I explained why many times. Your now just trolling by the very definition..arguing just to argue. SO screw you.

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    25. Anonymous 12:13 PM, I don't know who you are.

      Anonymous July 25, 2012 2:55 PM said something that was plainly wrong and I corrected.

      If you are now saying that you are Anonymous July 25, 2012 2:55 PM and you said something else prior to 2:55 that was different so that what you said at 2:55 is correct, I don't understand how would be possible.

      Obviously it's not true "that nobody of color has hosted a KNBR sports show over the last 5 years at least" regardless of what you claim to have said at any other time.

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    26. 151,Its not wrong...If you insist on only reading part of the story,then -again-screw you. And IF I do decide to expand the parameters and include Rod Brooks a pre Hammer Bunghole hire- Its still a pitiful record. So,no matter how you cut it-or in your case 151,play dumb for a reason only known to you- KNBR has a history of discrimination and bigotry.

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    27. Rod Brooks is a person of color who hosts a KNBR sports show - and has for many years - regardless of whether you or anyone else "decide to expand the parameters."

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    28. @2:29 Don't forget that Eric Davis replaced Gary Plummer during the past year or so. That was under Hammer. Maybe time to check your facts.

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  5. Pete Wilson and Tim Russert...two voices of reason in our unreasonable world... Both are missed. I miss the discussions, debates,and respect to the opposing view in today's political reviews. Thank you, Rich, for keeping the rest of us informed.

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  6. I love Damon Bruce. My teenage boys follow him on facebook and I follow him on twitter, plus listen to him when we can. And I am a 47 year old female. I think he could pull off a talk show on many other subjects aside from sports. Much better than Ronn Owens and a younger perspective as well. just my opinion. And my kids and their friends' opinions as well. signed, mom from sonoma...

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    1. DB did some weekend shows at KGO before the bloodbath and he was very good. As I recall Rich gave him good marks as did other listeners including myself. I think he could wipe the floor with Tim Montemayor

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    2. He was horrible and arrogant and insulting to anyone over 30 who was not a male. His show was directed only at his demographic and he made no bones about letting his listeners know that the rest of us didn't matter anymore. I don't even remember his topic but his manner and style were rude and distasteful.

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    3. Bruce did three or four shows on weekends and he was not rude or distasteful at all. If anything he was a bit self effacing because this was a first for him. He did ”news of the day” topics and was very solid. Indeed, there was one instance when his show was followed by Mike Finney and they introduced themselves and chatted for a minute or two very amicably. Montemayor can't hold Bruce's jockstrap

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    4. I called Bruce up once on KNBR, and he was rude and insulting.

      I was going to make some basketball comments per the Warriors, and I said that I had played a little ball. He asked, "Where?" I said nothing big, high school in L.A., played against a couple of playground legends, and hooped with some college players and Chris Mullin a few times.

      Damon Bruce called me a liar per the Mullin comment. What the toolbox douchebag doesn't know is that there are high-end gyms in wealthy areas, like the East Bay, where the pro athletes live, where they work out in the off season.

      Radnich, Wilson, Owens or Burns wouldn't be so childish to such a simple statement.

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    5. Agree. Damon Bruce is a quality talk show host.
      It is too bad is he is relegated to 1050AM.
      In fact he is only one (sports talk hosts) who has spoken about the Penn State scandal with any intelligence.

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    6. 12:21: You nailed it.

      You called up just to offer an opinion and get called a liar! What's up with THAT?

      Pete Wilson and his successor Gil Gross (sorry, Rich but just because Gil ain't your cuppa tea doesn't mean he is not brilliant and tactful) were/are so humble and kind to their callers.

      I enjoy Michael Krasney on KQED. He is smart, does his homework and is polite to all.

      My FAVORITE has to be Neil Conan with NPR's Talk of the Nation! First, it's just a wonderful show, chock full of stories and news. I am particularly fond of Wednesdays when the Political Junkie analyzes the last week of political news.

      And Neil--he is a sharp contrast to Owens when dealing with callers. Owens is impatient and cuts people off in five seconds if they aren't ready to talk RIGHT THEN. If you've called into a radio program, it's not unusual to be on hold for half an hour and JUST MAYBE RONN! Your callers have a life beyond talking to your PERSONALLY on the phone.

      Neil Conan, in sharp contrast, is a gentleman and really--a scholar. Of course, his staff vet the callers and as it's a national show--we get the best. But Neil is SO sweet.

      I like when ends a call with, "Ok now. Bye Bye!'

      Ronn's thing is kinda limited--he's so much more interested in HIMSELF than most guests or callers.

      Funny thing--say what you want, Gil Gross is a NATIONAL journalist. Ronn's not.

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    7. Anon 8:54 - when I then saw Damon Bruce's picture, I understood much, much better.

      I'm no pro athlete, more of a semi-weekend warrior, but I am quite tall and semi-athletic. I've got lots of friends and such who played mid-level college ball. And once you've travelled in those circles, its not uncommon to hear that "I played bball with Barnett, and he was a dick", or "I played golf with Michael Jorden ($1,000 a shot!), or "I hooped with Barry's kids", or I saw McGuire in the gym, and he only chatted with the ladies and barely worked out in 2 hours", or a former Warriors power forward looking lost and unmotivated in the gym (the opposite of Mully).

      These all happened, no biggie.

      But the one we all recall was when Jose Canseco's wife - ESter - was kicked out of the high-end gym because she didn't have any underwear on!!

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    8. 12:11 is a "mother" alright and when her precious darling boys who can do no wrong, meet girls they want to marry, "mother" will hate them all as not good enough for her marvelous boys.Mama is a misogynist, the kind who hates her own gender.

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  7. Pete Wilson was appointment radio for me at work and the ONLY show I listened to on KGO... yeah Ama Daetz- Hella fine !! Mark Tamayo- good and steady. We've all watched him grow from his (first ?) job on KRON back when he seemingly had one "cheap" suit as the fill-in behind Raleigh and Brian Hackney (?) to the cool and mature KTVU weekend guy.

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  8. *At war: KRON's illustrious "People behaving Badly" reporter, Stanley Roberts and SF's bike people. A beachhead has been established. (More to come).....good, I hope that is a battle in which Stanley wins. And although I am not a huge fan of Stanley Roberts, I absolutely DETEST these whiny, self-important, pompous bicycling cyber-idiots who think the entire universe evolves around them and their healthier-than healthy lifestyle.

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    1. As someone who's been riding w/o training wheels since I was 4 years old (over 40 years now), and ride dirt and street, I have to thank ANYONE who takes a stand against the SF Bikey folks. The SF Bicycle Coalition and the Critical (m)Ass idiots have set cycling BACK in the minds of the average citizen.

      Hey bikeys—when someone is on the fence, don't go pushing them over to the other side... treat 'em nice and maybe they'll drop in on your side.

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  9. It's been 5 years since Pete died? Im willing to bet he is rolling over in his grave at the state of TV and radio.

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    1. The state of TV and Radio were terrible 5 years ago when he was alive. I'm sure he was aware of it.

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    2. Unfortunately you are right 3:11pm.

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  10. They give the score at the top and bottom of every half-inning, plus when any run scores. That's normal. And it's enough. You should drop this pet-peeve of yours. It's a non-issue!

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    1. "B-b-b-b-but Bill King did it more than that!"

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    2. as a life-long Giants' fan I am very grateful for the incredible talent in the broadcast booth, but Rich you nailed it - their one true failing is not giving the score enough during an inning. I believe I heard a story once where Bill King had an egg timer in the booth and used it to remind him to give the score at least every 3 minutes...

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    3. Though it would be good form to give the score...think maybe they are doing so deliberately to build up the TSL ("time spent listening" if not familiar) which then improves the share, which improves the rating(s)?

      These guys are true pros and know exactly what they are doing by NOT giving a more frequent score.

      But it does work both ways, and can become a turn off (potentially) as well...but if you are a "captive audience" without other options, then you are stuck waiting...to their advantage.

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    4. The TSL is important if you assume everyone listening does not gave internet access. The main reason I do not tune in to their broadcasts is because they don't give the scores. F-them, it is not 1982..I can look up the score online and bypass them completely...

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    5. Nope, it should be more than that. The A's Ken Korach gives the score way more than the clowns at Giant's games. Can't stand Kruk and Kuip. Miller's okay, but coukdn't hold a candle to Lon Simmons, Bill King or Ken Korach. He is better than Vince and the old time A's guy Monte Moore, who was way too much of a homer like Kruk and Kuip.

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  11. damon bruce at KNBR, more like 'knbr lite that nobody listens to on the end of the dial with the power turned way waaay down'

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  12. Mark Tamayo and Lawrence Karnow are that great combination of smarts and likability. They're not nerdy nor do they have blustering egos. Love them both.
    Ama Daetz, definitely one to watch. Best thing to hit bay area tv news in a long time. (Note: KPIX, your nighttime reporter Kiet Do can't complete a sentence half the time and this chic is running circles around him).

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  13. Getting over it.... Get over to 910 mhz. Just like old times with LLY back! HEEELLLLLOOOOO........

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    1. actually 910 is hiring the people who were dragging KGO down,ratings wise. KGO smiling about it.

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    2. Are you trying to tell me that Maureen Langdon, Tim Montemayor, Candace DeLong and Karel are better and more talented than John Rothman, Gene Burns and Gil Gross> I guess that is why KGO who was still number 4 or 5 when these people were fired are now number 15 or less. You are a moron, you apperently have no idea what a good talented host sounds like. I guess you like hosts who are superficial, dosen't have the best command of the english language. I guess you are in the new demographics that KGO wants to attract. People who are not too bright, short attention span, and not too knowledgeable about what goes on in the world.

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    3. I think the three you first mentioned are horrid. Karel, though often horrid, is occasionally amusing. John Rothmann is rarely heard on 910, Gene Burns is never heard on 910 unfortunately.Len Tillem always does well giving away free legal advice to people with dui problems, Gil Gross had horrendous ratings at KGO. Didn't you know? Go back to what the roster was when KGO was number one. It wasn't the same roster they had when they were in 4th and 5th place. AFter Bernie Ward left, the big decline began and I'm betting you already know that.

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    4. 4:53--Hi Jared! These people were DRAGGING KGO DOWN?

      On the contrary and good luck with your big career at KGO.

      Maybe you can operate your own internet radio station someday with all the music you steal!

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    5. I don't care about ratings, I care about hosts that I find interesting, informative and intelligent. Sorry, can't listen to Maureen. Listen to Montemayor at times, mostly because no one else is on. Gene and John Rothman was always my favorites. Like Gil, especially on some subjects, but don't always care for his subjects. Didn't like Bernie most of the times, he was just too arrogant, couldn't stand his take in Israel, and I'm a liberal, but didn't like Bernie for the same reason I don't care for Michael Savage or Levin, they don't let callers disagree with them. Like Tom Sullivan and Bill Press. Gene is not heard on 910 because he had a stroke. Obviously we disagree that is okay, but liberal, conservative or in between I just don't care for Maureen, Montemayor or Karel. So I don't listen. Hope they bring back Stacy Taylor more often. I'm not tied to any one station, I will listen to the host I like the most.

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  14. Count me as another one who won't ever "get over it." Not any more than I have gotten over the theft of the the 2000 election or any number of grievances. The destruction of KGO may seem trivial in the long view of things, but it damaged the quality of daily life for many people who counted on the station for a sense of local connection and community. So I plan to be pissed for the duration. This is my right.

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  15. Has KNBR reduced their power or re-pointed they signal? It's fuzzy in the south bay where I'm at. Not much better than 1050 in terms of signal strength.

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  16. Having not lived in the Bay Area for years, I have never seen Larry Beil on TV. But I always felt he was truly excellent on radio and could easily replace any of those fools on KNBR. My guess is he at some point turned them down to stay predominantly with TV. Any station would be foolish not to go after him as a sports talk host. ... As for Ted Robinson, class act all the way. He deserves whatever comes his way. I hate the 49ers, but as a sports fan, if I'm in the car when they're playing, I always appreciate his ability to clearly illustrate what his going on on the field.

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  17. Korach is solid, but Miller is the ultimate showman. his buttery voice, great sense of humor, respect and knowledge of the game's history are second to none.

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  18. Pete would think what we all think about the state of the biz these day but he'd do what the rest of us do: bitch about it at our desks, offices, and watering holes. Why? so he, like us, could continue to get PAID.

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    1. and if he were still on the radio, he'd be drafting one of those written monologues from which he read, pretending to be speaking extemporaneously, at the beginning of every show...the radio version of a teleprompter.

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  19. Jon Miller has been over-rated for years and the Krukow sucks

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  20. I must disagree with your "class and intelligence" description of Catherine Heenan. Too many times I've seen her just stop talking when the teleprompter quits. Can't she go to her paper script instead of asking "where's the prompter?" on air?

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    1. Rich do you mean Heenan is "ancient" by saying she is "venerable"? Agree with 11:24, she really does not quite fit the "class and intelligence" profile.

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    2. I've seen her too many times have a view..and all Raddy has to do is say the opposite.and she answers "I didn't think of that,I change my mind"..and she wasn't joking.
      Not the sharpest mind.

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  21. Sussman is no Lee Rogers; right concepts, delivery needs work.

    Krukow couldn't carry Vin Scully's jock; neither could his pard-ner.

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  22. Those who don't like Krukow or Miller sound like disgruntled A's fans.
    I don't understand the antipathy toward announcers for the other team.
    A's fans used to bitch about Lon Simmons back in the 1970s, but as soon as he went across the bay and started working for the A's, he was 'the best.' Same with Bill King, who was called a 'homer' by Giants' fans, but was simply the best overall play by play announcer this area has ever seen.
    Only Lon Comes close to Bill, and no one today, not Miller or Papa or Ted Robinson or Fleming is even close to the level of the great Bill King. Think about his longevity....27 years with the Raiders, 25 with the A's and 21 with the Warriors, and for two years (1981-82) he did all three teams...that's never been done before!

    But this bashing of Krukow and Miller..come on! Krukow bleeds Giant orange and black the same way that Ray Fosse bleeds A's green and gold, because guess what, they are employees and former players of the teams they're broadcast for! Krukow understands the game, is enthusiastic, intelligent, and gives you a lot of information about what's going on that other announcers fail to report.

    Miller is one of the best showman in the game and has been doing baseball since the mid 1970s on radio or TV. How can you downgrade the work of someone who is in the Cooperstwon Hall of Fame for baseball announcers? Miller also has a great respect and an appreciation for baseball history and has many friends and fans among the elite of Major League Baseball. This guy is a pro's pro and the Bay Area is damned lucky to have him!

    If you want to hear bad baseball announcers, just go to MLB's web site and listen to the some of the various radio and TV voices of different teams around the country. Michael Kay of the Yanks TV crew is embarrassingly bad, his home run call 'SEE YA!" sounds like some college kid's gimmick. Yanks radio voice John Sterling is a very nice man but a first class clown on the air..'THEEEEE YANKEESS WIN!" Sheesh!

    The guys in Florida sound like amateurs....so do some of the announcers in Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Tampa, among other places.

    Fox TV's Joe Buck is plain vanilla, not even close to the high level of quality reached by his dad Jack back in the day.

    Those who are critical of Miller and Krukow...I understand it to a degree if you hate the Giants...but compare them to some of the other schmoes out there, and you'll change your tune. Again, go to MLB's web site and you'll hear too many of today's baseball announcers sound like they came from some schlock school of broasdcasting...many are cookie-cutter types. Miller and Krukow most certainly are not!

    By the way....Ken Korach...one of the better radio and more unappreciated radio voices in baseball. It's sad because virtually no one listens to the A's on that FM sports station that can't even muster up a measly 1.0 in the ratings. Lou Wolff is lucky to have Korach as his radio voice, but he ought to at least find a station that people can locate on the AM dial, not some obscure FM station that is fuzzy outside of the immediate bay area.

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  23. Dodgers fan here. I thought I'd offer my viewpoint. I regularly keep tabs on the Giants and I have to say you have some of the best broadcasters in the country. Outside of Vin, we don't have anybody who can touch them. Consider yourself lucky.

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  24. All I can say is what so many others have already bemoaned: the loss of KGO's hosts is a terrible one for many former listeners. I wish 910 would give Rothmann a regular slot.

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  25. If someone brought in Mark Davis or Bill Handel or even Bill Cunningham from Cincinnati, they would eat Brian Sussman alive. The reason no one has is because there's no market for it here.

    If someone came in and truly started stirring up shit like Limbaugh did years ago in Sacramento, the big boys would simply find a way to get rid of him. That's why Sussman exists. He's a token conservative. He's ineffective and predictable. That's what the bosses want.

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  26. I use to enjoy listening to Jon Miller on the radio or TV, but this season he sounds bored with the games when doing radio. While listening to the Giants in Atlanta Miller commented that there were not many fans in attendance and when Dave Fleming asked "Why" Miller replied "Its a mystery". Then it and Fleming talked about Atlanta fans not liking the heat, needing a roof on their stadium like Miami, whether the roof should be open or closed, then suddenly remembered that a ball game was being played. My carpool and I couldn't recall anyone else mentioning poor attendance in Atlanta and wished Miller would have explained why, while continuing to give us the play by play, but he seemed more interested in joking with David B. Fleming.

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  27. Mark Tamayo is bush league. He's always got some weird shoulder angle toward the camera. Amateur hour at best, especially when compared to Bill Martin and Steve Paulson.

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  28. 5:32 nailed it. Over the years, the Bay Area has been blessed with good radio broadcasters. Kruk and Kuip are not my cup of tea but they are informative, passionate and entertaining. For the record - The Ford Frick Award is presented (since 1978) to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball". They are NOT in the Hall of Fame, though their name is added to a plaque.

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    1. Tim McCarver won the Ford Frick award this year so take it for what you will.

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    2. My issue with Miller is not just the fact that he forgets to give the scores during innings but the fact that he starts a story during a inning and keeps droning on while ignoring what is happening on the field.

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  29. Today's Raddy update: He said to Kate Scott "Your a female me" I will avoid the obvious joke. Kate,shouldn't take as sincere since Radnich said the same thing about Dibley "Off air Dan agrees with everything I say" sure,and off air he wished he could get away from that inflated ego in a bloated body. Radnich tends to say everybody copy's him including Vern,Pecon,and a few others. That's part of his fantasy world,He's so great others want to be him. Oh,and include Rich as wanting to be Radnich as the interns Raddy claims. Pitt? Clooney? Denzel?..nope,Gary knows other men wish they were him!
    Like him? as in needing the extra large Viagra bottle?...

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  30. To those of you little sniveling weasels who keep telling us older folks to "get over it," why don't you go stuff it?

    You're nothing but a bunch of semi-literate, spoiled, entitled little boobs who practically bankrupted your parents so they could send you off to college where you proceeded to learn NOTHING.

    Most of your skills are spent finding your way through Face book, texting or 'twittering' (whatever the hell that is!) to you 'peeps,' and even when you do that, you write with incomplete sentences and hyphenated words because you're too lazy to use the english language. No wonder this country is going to the dogs!

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