Brandon Tierney, a NY native talker, is headed off 'The Game' and over to CBS to co-host a new morning show, according to a report.
I've never been a Tierney fan. He talks big and doesn't say much. Likes to interrupt too. There's been a lot of speculation that Tierney has been sniffing around other markets even though he made a big fuss about signing a new deal with Entercom a few months back. He's also been off the air recently which added to the speculation.
And The Game, in spite of a recent modest ratings spike, (mostly due to the A's surprising success), continues to lose traction. Entercom has been coy about how long it's gonna play ball with the all-sports FM SF outlet; major issues still haunts: poor signal strength and KNBR's stronghold in the market.
*Ronn Owens is recovering from back surgery, (in addition to sepsis), and is due back on KGO, next week. Owens has been off the air for a couple of weeks and, according to a station source, in quite a bit of pain. Again, while I have had major issues with Owens, I hope he's on his way to a complete recovery.
The timing of Ronn's ailing health status brings about a potentially awkward and unpredictable round of negotiations with KGO and Cumulus. Owens deal with Cumulus runs through the end of the year, yes, only six weeks away.
An ominous rumor: Cumulus is negotiating with Owens agent to secure a medical settlement.
*A certain morning sports co-host on Knibber got an ear full from a certain 1050 host; most of what was thrown can't be said on the air. (Damn!)
*KCBS' AM sports tonsil, Steve Bitker, asked John Madden, even though the Raiders got thumped by the Saints, "was the running of 'Marcel Reece a 'silver lining?" (Reece had over 100 yards rushing). Madden punked back Bitker: "No, when you lose there's no silver lining." Beautiful. I agree, coach.
****Tune in LIVE, this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24 and 25, for the Rich Lieberman Show on KOMY from 8-11 PM. Click the link at the top of the page on the right to listen live!
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Must be Kreuger and Bruce. Kreuger as I predicted months ago would side with Raddy. It doesn't matter that Krueger is more like Bruce in temperment.
ReplyDeleteI just love's that KNBR LOVE hosts have for each other.
Its so genuine!
I think most people knew Tierney would crash and burn in this market pretty quickly. The vast majority of posters here, at BASG, and even on 95.7's facebook page have all stated how awful the guy is. This isn't the east coast and that whole interrupting, blow hard, chest-thumping, egocentric act just doesn't play here. Honestly, I'm surprised the guy lasted this long. Don't let the door hit ya!
ReplyDeleteI didn't mind Tierney. Use to work side-by-side with a New Yorker, and they liven up the room. I thought Tierney did that.
ReplyDeleteCertainly hope it isn't true about Entercom possibly pulling plug. Listened to Murph this morning and he and Pecan kind of laughing at how bad the Raiders are and how they'll have a high draft pick ... then mentioned it going to Cincy because of Carson Palmer trade. WRONG: Raiders lose their second-round pick. Nevertheless, it was another mistake by Murph on something East Bay relate.
Now, I would normally pass that off as a radio guy's mistake. Afterall, talk show hosts are not to be confused with print journalists. They are neither the media nor reporters.
But Murph does have a print background, and his lack of knowledge on that simple fact about Raider draft picks related to Palmer just shows how lazy he's gotten being on the Knibber.
Lately I have also noticed Murph's limited knowledge. Sometimes I think it's the caffeine talking, but even his book on the Giants glossed over some of Giants history like the Giants team in 1982 (i.e., Joe Morgan homer off the Dodgers). "Sigh!" There are no perfect sports radio hosts . . .
DeleteTierney was above average. I knew though that he and Bucher were not long for this world. Like Felix and Oscar of sports..only they DIDN'T complement each other..just bad chemistry.
ReplyDeleteI did post a few months ago a crack that Kreidler made about "next year" when he said "If I'm still here next year". Just him or the station,I wasnt sure exactly.
THEGAME-making progress,I would hate to go back to KNBR exclusively. I sure don't fit the 19 year old backwards cap, death metal long hairs or beat the bitch, hip hop demographic.
Stan, This is sad, just sad. You still don't know the difference between a comment and a "post". You made a comment months ago (anonymously). Rich is creating a post with his great blog. You are simply making a comment.
Deletelol..I love how people like you are called wankers on Yahoo with your "english" corrections. You never notice I dont give a damn?..Ever?
DeleteSorry Stan, rick is right on the money. He really isn't commenting on your "english" but you might want learn how to write coherently.
DeleteIdiots galore. Can you read that?
DeleteOh,did I just "post" a comment"?. Mothereffers.
DeleteI don't think Tierney was above average at all. If anything, he's the lowest common denominator or sports talk. He's a contrarian simply to spark empty debate. Maybe that can work once in a while, but only when you can admit you're wrong, which Tierney can't do. On the rare occasion Tierney got it right, he would spend 20 minutes beating his chest about it. On the many times it was pointed out that he got it wrong, he tried to dismiss it instead of owning which means they guy has zero credibility. Just look at how the guy started on the Game with that cheap bell ringing shtick. Sizzle means nothing without steak.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't sound like Entercom will let Tierney out of his contract. After all he did just sign an extension only 4 months ago.
ReplyDeletehttp://sportsrantz.com/media/2012/10/28/morning-drive-plans-derailed-for-tiki-barber-brandon-tierney/
NY Daily News says Tiki & Tierney Show is a done deal.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/raissman-jenkins-backtracks-koing-sanchez-comment-article-1.1203776
Tierney has a very strong ally in NYC working at CBS. A young VP in programming has also liked what he's about. Brandon was waiting to get out of the Bay, and to NY as fast as possible.
ReplyDeleteHe has a modicum of talent, but he's just really not that smart outside of sports knowledge, which is also a topic of debate.
The bigger issue is why he was hired in the Bay Area in the first place. Being from NY is not an issue as there are other long time hosts here who are from the East as well. But in Tierney's case he never left New York.
Jason Barrett has not a clue how to run a sports radio station. That's the issue here. How he got this gig is stunning.
As for the contract, you don't keep someone on the air who you are warring with. He'll just crush your station. You let him go. You make CBS pay.
I dont know if working with Tiki Barber is a step up. Barber was hated at the Today show..no work ethic,and a quick temper. If Brandon thought he needed to back down to Eric Davis to keep the peace..Barber is nuts.
ReplyDeleteRick Bucher(sp) is worse than Tierney. How the hell did that guy get an afternoon slot? He's a complete bore.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Dana Jacobson and Tiki Barber have to be two of the most unlikable media personalities I have ever witnessed on television. This sounds doomed to fail.
ReplyDeleteTiki isn't exactly the poster child for NFL off the field activities either. I'm surprised some feel he is still a draw? Unless it is the train wreck effect? Or perhaps just NY decisions wanting a NY player to cater to the biggest possible market (NY)?
ReplyDeleteI agree about the comment on Tierney about the contract. If the guy doesn't want to be here, why keep him? The New York bluster is a tough sell in the Bay and we aren't fond of carpetbagging (anyone remember Carver on the Giants weekend TV games in 2002?). We like our broadcasters to have some vested interest in the area. This is why we like Kruk and Kip, Townsend, and yes, even Radnich at times while we haven't yet warmed to the new guys on Comcast who haven't clocked in enough time in the Bay.
I gave Tierney a chance and looked past the east coast bravado and even defended him here. But for all the "I'm here to stay", I hope The Game gig wasn't just the Bay holding the guy's dick for him while he was looking to jump back into the bigger markets back east again.
Still, I can't fault the guy too much since even many of the local athlete/announcers are always jockeying for the bigger and better gig. Byrnes. F.P. Eric Davis. Even Tommy (who at least kept the local gig while doing national stuff). That is just the way it is and, with an aggressive sports type, even more so. You want to play with the better team.
I just hope they find a good combination on The Game. I do like it better than KNBR and we need a viable option to just one sports station in the Bay. They should just finally grab Damon Bruce from KNBR exile island over on the other station and be done with it. Bruce isn't everyone's cuppa but he is good and has clocked in enough time in the area for people to embrace him. And he will make a bigger impact than the other new hires at The Game like Matt "Somebody get me a coffee and wake me up" Steinmetz and Ric "I'm a local guy even though I haven't been here for years" Bucher.
re the use of the term "silver lining" by Steve Bitker. I believe the usage was correct, as in "every cloud" has a silver lining. The cloud was the Raider loss and the silver lining is Marcel Reece.
ReplyDeleteI could not handle 5 minutes Of Tierney, just a self absorbed loud mouth.
ReplyDeleteNo comments about Owens?
ReplyDeleteWHY would KGO need to give him a "medical settlement"? Is Owens fishing for money? If his contract goes through the end of the year, let him take his sick days, his vacation days, and then "bye bye".
Or are they alleging that thge septis was caused by KGO studios? Huh?
This makes no sense to me except being a money grab.
I think it was sepsis..
DeleteMaybe I missed this from Rich, but I am not clear on Owens' status.
ReplyDeleteIs Owens open to taking a pay cut and continuing on? And does Cumulus want thim back? After all, Owens did a good job of towing the corporate line and throwing his "friends" under the boss during the KGO massacre.
What ever happned tih Eric Byrnes not a co host with tolbert anymore gone from KNBR?
ReplyDelete95.7 should go with either espn or nbc or even fox sports radio instead of yahoo thats the worst of the four sports talk networks. which evr one knbr does not hold the rights to.
For the prime morning show strange selection not a NAME talent to start the programing day with others such as rome gottlieb even farell.
Well Byrnes just completed another Ironman Triathalon so I think he was off training for it.
DeletePost at 8:09am
DeleteI was hoping you would tell us that Byrnes was gone for good.
I could not stand Brandon Tierney, especially when he would say "The Aaaa's" like he was "The Fonz".
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Yahoo Sports Radio is terrible. If Cumulus dumps ESPN Radio in favor of CBS Sports Radio after the new year, 95.7 has go jump on ESPN.
ReplyDeleteI much favor the Game over KNBR, this having grown up listening to KNBR. Better talent, way more interesting chat. But I could not stand BT...not funny, took himself too seriously, and I'm pretty sure Tiki and Tierney will be a disaster.
ReplyDeleteBut if the Game can't do something about their signal, they are sunk. I start to lose it around Vacaville, meanwhile I can still get KNBR at night up in Idaho. FM can never match AM is this regard, but if they can't up the strength then they won't be able to land the Warriors or Raiders, which they must do. As well as hire Bruce away--that should have been job one, not bringing BT west.