Friday, December 14, 2012

Yeah, Eric Byrnes is out at KNBR Sportsphone; Radio and Media Notes; Ross Mirkarimi fatigue; Friday Opener


Yeah, Eric Byrnes is no longer the Knibber Sportsphone 680 host. Ray Woodson is the permanent host.

Are you losing sleep? Neither am I.

I've never been a big fan of Red Bull lungs. Byrnes always seemed to me contrived, sophomoric, adolescent really and while that sort of brand may fit well at KNBR and MLB TV, it doesn't work well with the majority of listeners.

Speaking of sports, I have a question for you guys here at 415 Media: Do you like more news items or sports? I know a lot of you don't care for the latter and a majority of you prefer the former. Talk to me.

*Housekeeping and Notes...

Yes, I hear you on the podcasts. I'm working on it as fast as possible. Bear with me...Last week's show was gremlin-free and one of our best. Yippee...

*Just added to the Saturday guest list after Len Tillem on radio Saturday night: A's PBP extraordinaire, Ken Korach. from 9-10 PM....Sunday night from 9-9: 30: Raj Mathai...OK, I'm officially proclaiming we've jettisoned into Ross Mirkarimi fatigue. This story is beginning to nauseate me and I get the feeling I'm not alone...Between Mirkarimi and the Fiscal Cliff, I'm exhausted.

BIGGIE Interview on radio Dec. 30. Just wait.

*Follow me on Twitter

48 comments:

  1. Is he out or he just didn't want to commit to the job full time? Will he be back with Tom once baseball season starts?
    Don't like the guy on the radio. Its like a poor mans FP Santangelo. Which is pretty poor.
    Way too much "surfer dude" speak.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cover both. And both need it. I never knew that sports could be so slanted in a socio political way until I started listening about four years ago. All I heard was neo conservative views of sports in the liberal bay area??
    The hypocrites and liars run the bay area sports media. Compare it to the news dept. Where are the minority woman in local sports media compared to the straight news? From what I could tell it was like a flaunting of equal opportunity hiring rights in local sports media. And ITS JUST SPORTS!,there is no college in the land that gives a degree in sports media!. So,how is it,only middle aged white men are 99% of on air sports hosts??
    Eric Byrnes?..Lee Hammer loved Eric Byrnes because Burns is a neo conservative. Lee Hammer is like public enemy no.1 because since I started listening to KNBR four years ago...I have yet to hear him allow a non white person to host a show other then Rod Brooks who is like Hammers token to hold off lawsuits.
    I am not exaggerating..just amazing that for years now,any person that has even filled in at KNBR..has been white.
    And local sports media wont stand up to a Larry Baer or Lee Hammer who keep KNBR that way.
    Stan

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    Replies
    1. Stan,

      What planet are you from? Apparently you haven't been here on Earth long enough to notice that sports broadcasters are a unique breed, humans who possess not only the requisite verbal skills and some degree of likability, but an obsessive interest in all things sports.

      What percentage of people are obsessed with all things sports? Not a big number from what I've seen, and if you separate them by gender, males outnumber females by an enormous margin. How many women do you know who keep up with, and have an extensive historical knowledge of, more than two or three sports? I don't know any. In fact, I've met damn few men who do, and not a single one of them had the talent or discipline necessary to turn that obsession into a career.

      Outside of those who work only one sport (usually one in which they competed), I've never encountered a female sports broadcaster whom I thought interesting. Relaying what some cornered head coach said during halftime, which seems to be the forte of token females, is not talent, it's something a tape recorder can do.

      Better you aim your ire at the lack of heterosexual men in the gossip industry? Or is being bitchy a talent you comprehend?

      Delete
    2. I thought that first paragraph was sarcasm at first. And then later I see you meant it. So,all those Black,Latin,Asian,and Female former athletes don't have a passion and or verbal skills? None according to KNBR. Open your eyes,or shut your mouth.

      btw, I think Rupert Murdoch has plenty of straight men who love to gossip.They will phone tap and hack to get it.
      Me again.

      Delete
    3. For those not familiar with Stan, he's the internet equivalent of the nutty guy on the street, muttering to himself or ranting to anyone who'll listen, the kind of guy you walk away from or ignore.

      Delete
    4. Stan is an angry guy searching for a coherent argument. He brings up politics all the time but it's nonsensical because of his lack any actual political knowledge. He's like a 5 year old; anyone he likes is a liberal, anyone he dislikes is a conservative. It has nothing to do with politics.

      Delete
    5. 'Im in a hurry so..there's that guy who stalks all my post's-lol. Where he can be anonymous he will be. And that guy? He loves Gary Radnich as he answered on one local sports blog-LOL. All you need to know.
      Maybe he has ties to KNBR. Who knows?..lol.

      Delete
    6. Rich - I prefer the sports items, but it is your forum. Keep writing whatever strikes you. Thanks for the website and content.

      Stan,
      Read the room. Take a social cue. Your “post’s” on this site and the BASG blog get questioned and ‘disliked’ for a reason. 11:55 is so correct with his comment about the nutty guy ranting on the street. For someone who uses the written language as his form of expression, you have no clue about the English language. Then you claim it is “stanbonics” and that makes fracturing the written word all right. Again, you are not “posting” anything, you are merely commenting on Rich’s blog.

      Rick

      Delete
    7. Stan, the let me stir it up, of Bay Area websites.

      Delete
    8. As usual the right wing here,don't say where I'm wrong!..they like children talk about spelling or "votes" by the very mentality that ruins sports.
      Stanbonics was pretty funny. It was a joke Rick. A joke.

      uhg,What a battle to get change.

      Delete
    9. Stan - This isn't right wing or left wing. Your unintelligible ranting:

      "The hypocrites and liars run the bay area sports media", "there is no college in the land that gives a degree in sports media!", "Lee Hammer loved Eric Byrnes because Burns is a neo conservative."

      make no sense. It's disjointed gibberish.

      Delete
    10. 551,classic comeback from somebody who isn't left wing. Everything's fine the way it is ,right 551?

      Bring it on. I take on all comers. No hiding here.

      Delete
  3. Fortunately, he walked away with $11 mil in guaranteed contract money when he was last cut, so he'll be able to continue paying the big money for his couffures.

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  4. I enjoy when you have a sports topic on here. Beating up Gary Radnich is old but there are many sports commentators in the bay area that would be interesting to discuss or hear about.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good for Ray Woodson. This is long over due. He has eanred it.
    Finally, KNBR has brought some sanity to Sportsphone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Except that Woodson's show is unusually boring, he doesn't seem to have an opinion on anything and his callers tend to know more about the subject at hand than he does. His attempt to be funny by forcing pop culture references, usually right before a commercial ala Radnich come off forced and ill conceived.

      Delete
  6. Glad to see KNBR make that move. He was just as hard to listen to as Ralph. I had to constantly adjust my radio volume, finally I gave up and now I am back listening to KNBR pm hours. Tom is great, Ratto is a great addition. Good vibe between the two.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yeah! What took them so long, Now I hope they can take Nick and Arnie off the Air when CBS radio comes onboard that one is even worse than BYRNES if that is possiable 2 New York comics bs about anything in bad tast. Even the former Dan Partick show was not as bad as this one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. And to Rick and the idiot who says I'm ranter or what have you. Bay Area Sports Guy quotes THEGAME's Program Director-Jason Barret- as admitting local sports radio isn't integrated. HE SAID THAT.
    Well?
    And once again I challenge Rick to give us the long list of people of color who have hosted shows on KNBR,filled in,or hosted on the weekend. Now,lets compare that to the all white Hammer and Bungeroth's people who have done it.
    I challenged Rick last time...and he came back with my spelling-LOL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1143...Your an idiot,in any language or slang. Laugh at that.
      Bring something.

      Delete
  9. HUH? Stan, you just proved the point made by whoever said you rant. All these vendettas sound just plain crazy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well,720,your what I rant against.

      If I said 2+2=4? Your kind says, "That's convoluted".!

      Delete
    2. Once Gary Radnich read an email on air-not mine- And Radnich never looked up- a tip off for whats to follow, And he read out loud "Why are the local sports hosts and announcers almost all white?"..and I swear this is what Raddy said without even looking up at the camera "So,we are all white? You work with who makes you comfortable,just the way it is"..and then tossed the email side. That's the gods truth.
      Stan.

      Delete
    3. @7:21 "your what I rant against" ---- They start teaching contractions in third grade.

      @7:47 - By fifth grade they start teaching students to try to communicate a coherent theme in their writing. It is impressive however that you watch on TV as Gary Radnich read emails.

      Delete
    4. 926 I was taught about equal rights, equal opportunity, and the evil of bigotry and much more long ago. KNBR violates all.
      But,your (take that)fixated on spelling,not the message. Stay anonymous you asshole..
      btw Rick..I'm waiting my man..the KNBR list of people of color Lee and Bill have allowed to host a KNBR show for the last half decade. C'mon get going. And don't forget..also list the whites too.

      Delete
    5. "equal rights, equal opportunity, and the evil of bigotry" - cue the violins.

      Might have helped if you learned grammar! LOL

      Delete
    6. Dear Confused Stan,
      I have never stated, nor do I have an opinion regarding the on-air people of KNBR and their ethnicity.

      I have questioned your consistently non-relevant comments and the clutter you bring to these good media blogs.

      Final question (it has been asked before, but you have never answered it): Please explain why so many other commentators respond negatively to your “posts”. Also explain the very large number of ‘dislikes’ on the BASG blog.

      Rick

      Delete
    7. Rick here is your problem and those like you. You say I don't answer about those negative votes. And Im sure plenty have read me over and over say,that THOSE people who vote negative are the ones who are the problem. You also might notice that when I challenge you to list the complete people of color(minus token holdover Rod, and read what ESPN's Rod Parker says about people like him) who have hosted KNBR shows over the last 4 years I've listened. You never do. Just off the top of my head,the caucasians ..
      Raddy,Pecon,Bob Fitz,Ray Woodsen,Murph,Pauly,Kate,Dibbs,Lynch,Ratto, Greenwalds kid, Spears and horses,the Golf guy,Damon Bruce,Holer,Bryrnsee's,Santangelo,Hal Rainys kid, Damon's producer has filled in-white,Ted Robinson,Myke Urban,Amon Sweeney,Tom Tolbert,Ralph B....all have had speaking roles on KNBR.

      The people of color list over the last four years: 0.

      Don't tell me Lee Hammer,Lew Dickey,Larry Baer don't know this. Bigotry in local sports media has to end.
      Stan

      Delete
    8. Violins,spelling..all irrelevant as our man Harbaugh would say. Prove me wrong is what I'm waiting for. Violins..pathetic.

      Delete
    9. LOL,silly me. I left Larry Kreuger off the list. Even after his bigoted rant,Larry was given a second chance when people of color don't even get a FIRST CHANCE with KNBR.
      I sincerely damn Baer for allowing that- like a slap in the face to the Latin players,with Larry Baer's approval. Damon Bruce? He was sent off to am wasteland. THEN Larry acted. Hypocrite Baer joining hands with Hammer and the true Dickey.

      Delete
  10. To me, sports are still news items. Cover it all. And thanks for the bit on the podcasts.

    So Stan is the online version of the John Lennon caller??? :)

    Yes, Woodson is a little dry but good for him as Byrnes got the title while it seemed like Woodson did the work. I kept waiting for Byrnes to pull a Spicolli from Fast times and pound the mic on his head and say, "That was my skull!" These ex-athletes don't want a 5-day a week night job. They want the higher profile gig with less time commitment, allowing for more time for golf and having fun. Essentially, they are retired with anything else post-career being gravy. Woodson understands the grind of radio.

    Speaking of which, did I just miss him or has Mychael Urban been completely purged from The Game? Even Rick Tittle gets bumped for the young new guy from corporate being brought in. I know you are not a fan but I like The Game and having an alternative sports choice. What's the word behind the scenes on that evening sports talk show brouhaha???

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  11. Rick T is on the single a of sports talk sportsbyline talking to himself along with the video game show. Matt Kolsky sometimes KNBR person has a talk show their as well. Along with Chris Townsend the farm club for the various stations.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Seems this is not exclusive to knbr in all the years of listening to sports talk radio, be it knbr locally, the game, national radio like Espn or even simulcast stuff around the country on various sports tv channels like felger and mazz or mike Francesca or satellite like mad dogs channel, I can't really think of any minority hosts. So this isn't lee hammer or knbr, this is an industry wide issue.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The other day Radnich took a shot at Obama. Pam Moore,airhead just smiled. It would have taken too much spine for her to say "But,Gary your(take that) the one who said Nixon was a great president". Pam and Catherine..two air head puppets that Radnich works. At least the blond has some deft ways with Radnich...Pam and Cathy? bimbo's.
    S

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pam Moore is no dummy. She's worked with Cranky for like 25 years and she knows what an idiot he is. So, like dealing with a crazy grampa, she smiles through his rantings and waits for him to be done. She knows what an embarassment he's become. She's a pro.

      -- Gaga V

      Delete
  14. One last-- before Kate Scott,Berkeley Lesbian (white and blond) was hired? Radnich did plenty of sissy boy humor. Roman GAYbriel he emphasized laughing with Ray. A former KNTV weather caster constantly was inferred to be gay.
    Now? that ended. Sort of amazing isn't it? I wonder how much more KNBR hosts could see the light if an Asian host was right there? Uhuh,it would be THAT fast..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why is this person @10:31, @10:40, S, Stan posting so much crap about Gary Radnich? GET A LIFE.

      Delete
    2. 147.
      You would say the same to Obama.
      SO far...,violins,spelling,votes,life.. NOT one post that said I was wrong-or had proof that I am wrong about an important local media issue-racism.

      Delete
  15. Read the room? You think like Radnich I need to please you by being phony? I say what I mean in ANY room.
    Stan.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Henry Wolford RIGHT NOW on the Game. "You need the Rooney rule to get coaches in the NFL. In order to get the NFL to see what that minority cat has to say,open the NFL to new ideas". Right one Henry.
    btw,In one year? THEGAME has had Henry,John Henry, the Guru,african Americans host weekend shows and fill in during the week. Tim Kawakami hosted a few shows. The ONLY Asian to host a local sports show as far as I know. YET, THEGAME M-F lineup is all Caucasian.
    The cause continues for me...
    S

    ReplyDelete
  17. Rich do you ever block comenters for being a nuisance?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 425,he posted yours. I guess not.

      Delete
    2. "425,he posted yours. I guess not."
      Stan, please learn about contractions.

      Delete
  18. I really like the Game now, they actually talk about sports, unlike Murp amd Mac that will discuss Springstein and The dead over and over again, Tolbert is a undiscipline blow hole and Ratto is painful to listen too, takes a year for him to finish a sentence.

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  19. Cass Centano looked like a person of color ;>)

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  20. Please god NO. BASG is floating a rumoer that Hammer might bring Byrnes back to KNBR to team with Tolbert.

    Ratto and Tolbert are much better and hilarious.

    Lee: Please No Eric Byrnes

    ReplyDelete