Times have changed. Tolbert is now relaxed, funny, candid, most importantly he knows his sports and he's become a terrific interviewer.
All the while Tolbert has cachet with several of the Bay Area sports community and therefore he's able to get the best guests and draw more personal info from jocks who might otherwise not want to divulge too much.
Furthermore, I like Tolbert's take-no-prisoners persona and hold-the-bullshit stance --it's a refreshing change from some of his other worker bees who hold court early in the day.
It would be nice if KNBR cut its commercial overload into four clusters as opposed to ten-minute blocks during the afternoon, (and mid-morning drive), but the Tolbert PM drive show is worth waiting for. I know, I can't believe I said that too.
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Tolbert hasn't changed. You have warmed up to him.
ReplyDeleteI've been a fan for a long time. I didn't listen for quite awhile after knbr sacked Ralph, but after a while ended up coming back (after byrnes was gone; that guy is TERRIBLE. but I digress...). Tom was always a great listen, and I never had any concerns with him (some of the things you dislike are what I enjoy about his show), but you're right that he's really stepped it up.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the best show on knbr. (and it's best with Ratto, though the other sidekicks other than byrnes are good too)
The "Bro" show with Steve Young? Must listen radio or podcast!!!
I can't find the Steve Young show on Podcast. Is it on another site?
DeleteEric Byrnes not Bymes
Deleteyeah the Steve Young podcasts don't seem to be on the KNBR website anymore. Anyone know what's up with that? Even entered "Steve Young" into the KNBR search box and got "No Results". Curious.
DeleteI like Mr. T, and his show is my weekday favorite on that station.
ReplyDeleteTire of the show after 10 minutes. Rock on, fanboy. Maybe he'll have you on or plug you.
ReplyDeleteTolbert's fine, but they need to get rid of Fitzgerald - I stopped listening to KNBR 2 years ago because of him...the Warriors need to dump him also.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy listening to Tom because he loves sports, doesn't rip people, follows just about everything going on n sports, and has a wonderful sense of humor. Also Rich, I just wanted to point out that I've worked locally for many years in the media and I want you to know that virtually everyone who works on the air whom I know, reads your posts regularly or at the very least occasionally. Much as I enjoy Ben Fong Torres, he seems to to limit his columns to stories about DJs and the local music scene, and many of us like to read about what the local news, sports and weather people on TV and radio are doing. You provide a valuable outlet, and although you've upset many of us with your sometimes caustic and sarcastic comments, which I have occasionally found a little excessive and unnecessary, you do provide a service. Glad to see that you're finally getting some traction. Can you give us an estimation as to approximately how many folks are reading your blog on a daily basis? And you've been doing this post for what…ten years now? How do you get all of your info and how often are you watching and listening to local radio and TV? Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions and thanks again for the valuable service that you provide!
ReplyDeleteTolbert needs to tighten up the show if he wants to get to the BIG TIME. He's got the talent there's no question but the show just seems adrift at times. Worth a half hour but sometimes difficult to listen for hours on end. He's got the talent to be on TV etc but not in the current climate over at 55 Hawthorne. They won't give him the tools.
ReplyDeleteHe's actually better without Barbieri and even when he doesn't focus on sports is a natural. ESPN thought enough of him to make him a color analyst and I'm glad he's back with the Warriors doing it. Ratto is a good foil for him and Ratto is smart enough to know it's Tolbert's show. All his weekly interviews are pretty good - Young, Sabean, Brent Jones, Affeldt, and I'm sure his weekly shows with Kerr, as with Mark Jackson last season, will be good.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with anonymous posted at 9:22.....I could not have said it better. I have told Lee Hammer those exact words many times.
ReplyDeleteReally like Tom he has really improved and is perfect for drivetime. Also, his commercials are as well delivered as Franklin and Tillem.
ReplyDeleteHis show is more the Tom Show now. And its better for it. Old cynics like Ralph and Ratto and Radnich wear people out like a grouchy Dad more then the ratings show. When they are gone.ratings go up..
ReplyDeleteA young crowd see's young cynics as hip on the other hand. Just the way it is.
Ask the rock gods how it works for another example.
Shocking how many people seem to like this hack. It really shows just how low the bar is in this market, just because he laughs at his own stuff does not make it funny. i think funny would be if Fatto slapped him in the mouth next time he disagrees about anything
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed Tolbert on the airwaves since he was a regular correspondent on the Jim Rome show during his playing days, but nobody - NOBODY is worth sitting through the amount of commercials that are played during each hour on KNBR.
ReplyDeleteGood guests and good interviews. Ratto is his best co-host. Tom has a tendency to ramble, probably in an attempt to eat air time.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason I listened to The Razor and Mr. T was because of Tolbert. Ralph Barbieri was insufferable. I look at Brian Sabien in a whole different light now that the interviews are not so contentious. This the only show on KNBR worth listening to. The rest of the regular line up is pretty much a disaster. .
ReplyDeleteAgree regarding the Sabean interviews. Unlike Ralph who treated Sabes shabbily, Tom knows how to treat his guests--with hospitality.
DeleteBelieve it or not, Tom was a pretty good basketball player at University of Arizona right behind Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr. I believe they made it to the NCAA Final Four. I wondered what happened to him after the draft (before the days of the Internet) when lo and behold, he turned up on the Warriors squad.
I would suggest that the best reason to listen to Tolbert (and Ratto) is that he doesn't always talk about sports. Who really gives a crap about Joe from Livermore venting his spleen about how Kaepernick is better than Alex Smith? I'd much rather hear sports talk infused with tales like the one about the Pittsburgh one-time beauty queen who took off her prosthetic leg to beat her sister before being arrested and smearing her own feces all over the police car window. Now THAT'S entertainment!
ReplyDeleteIts not worth sitting thru all the commercials just to listen to Tommy's disjointed train of thought. He sounds unprepared, like he's flipping thru the newspaper and talking about whatever catches his eye. He is so much better when he's playing off a straight man (like Ralph or Tim Roy during W's games) who is directing the content of the show.
ReplyDeleteI still listen, but yes, those commercials seem to clog up more and more of the KNBR airwaves. Just like newspapers and magazines with more and more ads ...
DeleteIt's always amusing when Tolbert talks about "Click-Clacks".
ReplyDeleteI like Tolbert when it talks about sports, but am one who is not amused when he falls back on his juvenile roots. About a week ago he was talking about asking Krukow about if a pitcher mentally prepares to pitch to a batter with no one on base, or with men on the bags, with one out, two outs, etc. Suddenly he swapped to some gross news story, and his producer added obscene sound effects. Don't know how long it lasted because our carpool switch to Bruce Damon and 95.7
ReplyDeleteHe talks more then his guests because he can't ask a question under a 1000 words, also he says " Crying out loud " as much a Mac says the Grateful Dead.
ReplyDelete