*Dennis Richmond, KTVU's much-ballyhooed and retired anchor, was not so nice, off the air. In fact, Richmond was notorious for displaying a rather cold persona.
Michael Krasny of KQED once told me that he met Richmond at some industry function and that he, (Richmond), never acknowledged Krasny. "He looked over my head." Krasny had a few other choice words about Richmond; suffice to say they weren't that warm and fuzzy.
*Gary Park used to frequent the Lantern restaurant in Oakland Chinatown every weekday afternoon before heading over to KTVU to do his weeknight sportscasts. Park was always alone and didn't say a word. Very quiet.
*Steve Somers, big NY media maven, was an Oakland native and had frequent stints at KPIX and KRON in the 70's.
*Milt Kahn interviews 49ers 70's receiver Gene Washington. Kahn was a rather interesting sports anchor and I do mean interesting.
*Pete Giddings was one of the most-feared media personalities at KGO-TV in his heyday. Let's just say Pete was protective of his territory and leave it at that.
*If you watch some of the early Dirty Harry movies, you'll notice that Bill Wattenburg can be heard in various scenes. Dr. Bill is good pals with Clint Eastwood.
*A non-human being once anchored KRON weather--Fletcher the Weather bunny. Suffice to say some thought Fletcher was more accurate than the human.
*Monte Stickles, the late ex-49ers/KGO-TV and Radio sports anchor threw a chair at sports reporter, Dick Steadman in the Oakland Coliseum Press Box during an A's game in the late 1980's.
*One of Gary Radnich's closest friends used to be former KRON and now NY weather anchor, Janice Huff.
*Sharon Chin is married to former PIX weatherman, Lawrence Karnow.
*Follow me on Twitter
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Not surprising about Richmond. He presented the news well, but he did come across as a very arrogant and not pleasant person.
ReplyDeleteRichmond look emaciated in a recent KTVU interview. There was mention of surgery but no details given. Anybody know? He didn't look his usual confident, muscular self.
DeleteI remember a Wattenberg show from back in the day when he interviewed Eastwood. Anyone else remember that?
Speaking of Dr. Wattenburg, he has been absent from his TRN Sunday night show Open Line to America since November. Anybody know what is going on? Hopefully nothing serious.
DeleteThat kind of behavior can also be a sign that the person has an introverted personality and isn't comfortable meeting new people or engaging in smalltalk. Arrogant extrovert personalities like to brag about themselves in ways that are intended to belittle the people around them (ex: I'm a Phi Betta Kappa, I scored the winning run in the championship game, my latest stock pick is up 150%, etc. Think Radnich.). Dennis doesn't sound like that, more like someone who likes to stay in control and therefore avoids uncomfortable interactions. (Speaking from experience.)
ReplyDeleteGood points. I commented above that he came off as arrogant and unpleasant, but you raise a potential alternative that I am very aware of from personal experience as well. Good post 10:36.
DeleteI have some vague memories of Milt Kahn's first night at KPIX. The NFL draft had just happened and he said, roughly '...the 49ers and the Raiders took some running backs, and uh, linebackers but it doesn't matter...' As for baseball scores, Milt said he didn't give scores. What a load.
ReplyDeletePete Giddings feared? Why would anyone fear a weatherman, er.....I mean meteorologist? What's he gonna do, make it rain 40 days and 40 nights?
ReplyDeleteOnly he could appear on the newscast in a polka dot tie. If anyone broke that covenant, he was on the phone to ABC/New York, demanding immediate correction. The local station GM was his errand boy.
DeleteI'd hardly call Dick Steadman a reporter. He was a leech like some of those radio reporters who still cover teams.
ReplyDeleteSteve Somers was also a KOVR in Sacramento. That's where I remember watching him in my childhood. Years later, I was living in NYC and heard his voice on the radio and it was instantly recognizable. Had no idea he was from Oakland.
ReplyDeleteI read once that Steve Somers was the first voice heard on KSAN in May 1968 after the KMPX staff went on strike and ended up at KSFR, which became KSAN...
DeleteRichie: Worst kept secret in Bay Area media was Radnich and Janice Huff. Also, did you know Leslie Griffith and Mark Ibanez used to live together?
ReplyDeleteSee? that's the second Steve Somers reference since a post I sent in about the guy. You didn't print it..but you haven't given me any credit either. A simple,"Stan reminds me.."
ReplyDeleteAs with Lin - Lincecum,the bay area media wont give me the credit for first. BASG was too dumb and jealous to use my espn/Lin post as a way to get national media attention for his blog. Sure,who needs national publicity of their blog?
Sort of what I did with Nancy Sneiderman here...
LOL,There's a good reason nobody gives Stan credit. There's never any record of what he supposedly thought of first.
DeleteHey Stan, if you want to get all the credit you deserve, stick to posting your brilliant thoughts on your own website EXCLUSIVELY. That mean's not here. Thanks.
"Maybe Spurrier is a better quarterback." And maybe Jim Druckenmiller was a better quarterback than Steve Young. Maybe Tim Hudson would have done better than Madison Bumgarner in the later innings of Game 7 against the Royals. Maybe Chuck Wepner was a better boxer than Muhammad Ali.
ReplyDeleteKPIX did well by hiring Wayne Walker.
Not surprised the Mattress Man would challenge a petite women to an arm wrestling match.
ReplyDeleteJust like he used to bad mouth conservatives from the comfort of his studio.
He loves to challenge those who cannot defend themselves.
Here's something that I didn't know until quite recently. Roger Grimsby was fired from WABC-TV in New York after a heated argument with a female staffer. Later on at WNBC he was asked on the air why he had gotten fired from his last station, and he replied that he had mispronounced the word "Count".
ReplyDeleteRemember Kristine Hansen....KRON weather person.....and former Playboy centerfold. Could never watch her and not think of the centerfold.
ReplyDeleteWho the hell is Larry Roberts? (810am) I'm not a sports fan, but I sometimes hear his broadcasts. He's a little too energetic if you ask me, and uses tacky language as such
ReplyDelete"This team SUCKS!!!", this, while talking to a female newsreader. I keep hoping somebody will sneak up behind him and wrap a strip of duct tape over his mouth.
I always like Monte Stickles. He had a great laugh. A classic.
ReplyDelete