Clarity and Transparency: Shedding Light on the Dennis O' Donnell Story--415 Media Exclusive

The latest Dennis O'Donnell posting has caused quite a stir, both pro and con. Many of you have taken issue with me on whether I should have made public a situation that should be private.

So I want to address with you my feelings and try to explain both the O'Donnell situation specifically and other aspects with regard to my reporting in general.

It's important.

The O'Donnell matter is particularly sensitive and deserves furhter explanation and clarity.

I had no intention, now or in the future, of trying to either hurt or exploit Mr. O'Donnell and his very private (in theory) situation. That's not my MO. In fact, I had no knowledge of what was going on. I only became aware of something unusual when I got emails and tips from readers asking me "where was Dennis?" He'd been absent for a few weeks in August from KPIX and I assumed he was on vacation and I told people as much. I myself, reached out to a friend of his (O'Donnell) and the friend told me, yes, Dennis was on vacation (in early August).

Turns out that was either simply incorrect, deliberately misleading, or out and out a lie.

I became alarmed when I noted Dennis's absence from the first 49ers' pre-season game, at home in August. A game that is broadcast by KPIX. Its coverage includes O'Donnell on the sidelines and for which KPIX pays a lot of money to carry exclusively in Bay Area homes. The fact O'Donnell was not present sent out alarms and I immediately began to make calls and wonder aloud. Even at that, I figured, maybe he decided to take an extended vacation before the beginning of football. It made sense. Covering sports in the fall can be demanding. No big deal, I thought.

Then O'Donnell was MIA on the sports anchor desk at PIX. For a week and then, more weeks. And not a word from the station and not even any mention of his name. Weird, I thought.

So I reached out to some of my KPIX sources, some of whom work at the station, some, who are usually privy to what's going on and such. They knew nothing. Swore they had no idea, which triggered immediate red flags. Because some of these people always know, they'd have a direct line to the boss's office. They were always dependable in most prior circumstances, they HAD to know, at least that was what I was thinking.

I became frustrated because clearly, something was going on. I remember receiving emails earlier in the year ('21) from people saying O'Donnell was slurring his words; was he "drunk?"--was he OK? I didn't think anything of it at the time and passed it off as some over-reaction. Then I began to watch O'Donnell and he didn't look right but I put it aside.

Until KPIX hired another sports anchor. And O'Donnell's whereabouts were still unclear and not explained. By both PIX (sources) and my contacts. O'Donnell's invisibility stretched into the holidays and the new year with continued silence and mystery. There is something going on. Something amiss.

CLARITY and backgound.

I began to get info from various sources, mostly sketchy and nothing concrete. I put two and two together and began to realize, indeed, that O'Donnell had some sort of "medical issue"--he'd been gone now several months and he was nowhere to be seen, outside a dinner event in February and at a SF restaurant a few weeks prior. He hadn't said a word to friends at both locations but a source told me that he didn't sound so good and that "he was done at KPIX".

The source even told me that PIX continued to pay O'Donnell's health coverage so he could continue to receive a doctor's care. The source added that CBS (PIX) paid off O'Donnell indicating he would not be back at the station. There was no way of corroborating that part of my info but the source was dependable.

Even with all this information, plus, a detailed account, unsolicited, from a source with knowledge of O'Donnell's current and prior (health) status; an account that said he had some sort of neurological malady; I was hesitant to write anything. Even if I had total confirmation, I passed. I didn't want to write anything because I myself was sensitive to the matter, O'Donnell's and in general.

I understand both sides here. KPIX's responsibility to its employee and Mr. O'Donnell's right to privacy. But I also understand the very legitimate concerns of the Bay Area public who were mystified over Mr. O' Donnell's continued absence; where is he? what is going on? Is he OK? Where's Dennis? It's not something anyone was losing sleep over but there was a want to know what was happening--why are we not being informed? I know firsthand because of the lengthy emails I had received and continue to receive.

Of course, Mr. O'Donnell has a right to privacy. But there's no such thing as "absolute right." Maybe legally, but not in the everyday public domain.

I said if this matter took place in LA, NY, Philly, Chicago, or any other major market; a well-known anchor, sports or news, was GONE for many months, unexplained, no matter the circumstances and no matter what type of rights, medical privacy, etc, there'd be at least a story, some story. But no such thing in the Bay Area, not even an ounce of speculation by the papers or some local Internet news site.

Which is why you come here.

I don't normally post such lengthy articles but I wanted you to know what I did and reported on this matter. There will be those who will still castigate me because that's what they always do no matter what. It's their missive.

I want to, as I always try to, provide clarity on matters such as this, as complicated as they sometimes are.

I also want to say this too: I wish and hope for Mr. O'Donnell's speedy recovery.

*Rich Lieberman 415 Media EXCLUSIVE

415 Media Exclusive: KGO to Schedule Rothmann and Franklin on Saturday and Sunday Night as Coronavirus Pandemic Intensifies

John Rothmann

KGO Radio  has you --the listener-- in mind and is stepping up to the plate.

With the Coronavirus pandemic in full crisis-mode, a KGO source has told me the news-talk, 50K-watt, giant will have LIVE, weekend programming on its talk schedule.

Weeknight talk host,  John Rothmann, will be on the air Saturday Night (tomorrow) from 5-8 PM and Chip Franklin, Sunday, 5-7 PM.

This is both a smart move from KGO and a strategic plus as the virus is Topic A around the country, the world and its center vortex here in the Bay Area.

I know Rothmann has been talking about this for over three months when it wasn't at the top of the news domain; Franklin has been nonstop and has talked it virtually all his 3-6PM slot on KGO.

It's good too because KGO will be fulfilling its live and local audit to the community and there is no such thing as "too much virus talk" on the radio these days.

I'm glad KGO and Cumulus sees the light.

Chip Franklin

Year End Developments and Major Decisions Affecting Bay Area Media; 2019 Ripe With Intrigue; 2020 Could Spell Doom For TV/Radio Playors

*At KQED, both TV and radio, the party is over. The mass-spending free-for-all, is coming to an end largely because KQED is being forced to downsize as its revenue is sharply reduced. Member donations are down and corporate support, waning. KQED still makes tons of money and the goldmine is still there, but the oversight people in the finance offices are beginning to audit more religiously--put two and two together. Maybe they won't send anymore coffee mugs to subscribers--in which case, you could...never mind.

*Will KGO Radio be maintained as its latest iteration as news-talk beacon  by Cumulus? It's an election year which means healthy revenue by political ads and talk zeitgeist but significant revenue streams may not mean much. Cumulus, according to well-founded rumors, might be seriously inclined to sell its SF area 810 AM, 50K-watt, clear-channel behemoth --2020 could be another key time element in KGO's future.

*KRON has stagnated --its corporate owner, Nextstar, flailing away in economic turmoil, makes for more KRON mismanagement at the base of the new year. KRON doesn't believe in rearranging the furniture. It's been the same old story year in, year out. It's still very painful to watch the K-TEL-like news reports; the shuffling of anchors no matter how awful; the incompetence inside the alleged news director and his silly maneuvering; the god-awful news direction and presentation. At some point, KRON has to be sold and/or leveraged by an owner/corporation that will invest in a Top-10 market with a thirst for news and less amateur hour by the lawn-furniture style of KRON's present-day status.

*Will KGO and its Disney coffers sign Gary Radnich, late of LRON and KNBR? If the money is close, yes, they should and more importantly, could. Radnich isn't what he was twenty years ago but he's better than Circle7's talent now. Moreover, he would add immediate buzz to an operation owned by the Star Wars franchise. There's a connection. One BIG thing too on the KGO docket: signing veteran and staple anchor, Dan Ashley to a well-deserved extension --it's going to happen--just a matter of when, not if.

*The future of Ken Bastida at KPIX. Bastida has been rumored to be one of CBS' first major anchors to be told to take a hike, (with a significant salary cut) --the latest is Bastida wants to stay through 2020 but CBS might want to leave and retire right away. Ultimately, they make the call.

*Enjoy your core-4 KTVU "10 O'clock News" vets, Frank Somerville, Julie Haener, Bill Martin, Mark Ibanez--all 4 have existing contracts for 2020 but 2021 spells the end for the group as FOX begins its major decision to trim, severely, high-cost anchor talent. Quite simply, FOX thinks it can spend a lot less on local talent even if it involves some of its most successful O and O's and that includes the Bay Area.


*The Chronicle has Hearst money which means it ain't going anywhere anytime soon but its print edition, (like other print newspapers) is bleeding red ink. And the Chron isn't in NY Times status meaning it can't forever lose money and just continue to publish. Its digital operation is making dough but not enough to pay for paper. Paging a local Amazon guy like Jeff Bezos (who owns the Washington Post) but those are hard to find

*A significant moneyed player, (like a tech giant) is thought to want to buy the local Spanish TV players, (like a SF Telemundo) --the Bay Area's Hispanic language audience is large and very prosperous --but it's only a rumor.

*KNBR has its cash cow, the Giants in a lean, lean, lean, mode. Last year, the radio content (and TV/Cable too) lost significant advertising money because the home team sucked--like its sucked for the past three-plus years. Which means KNBR has been reducing its Giants' mega-bullhorn of pre, post, and actual games. Baseball used to be their bread and butter --now it's become its home for the halfway hose. KNBR is lucky to have the 49ers which essentially pays the continuing banality called the KNBR Morning Show.

Sondland Testimony to House Impeachment Inquiry that there was 'Quid Pro Quo' Portends to Lively Rothmann Show on KGO Tonight

IT'S NO LONGER JUST A BOMBSHELL --IT'S FACT.

Ambassador Gordon Sondland 

Ambassador Gordon Sondland-- testified under oath before the Congressional Impeachment Inquiry; a quid pro quo was administered and that "everyone was in the loop." Including the President, Donald Trump, said Sondland.

The various media outlets have begun to spin Sondland's testimony but his words to Congress' House Intelligence Committee were clear.

I've watched Fox News Channel and both CNN and MSNBC and will be eager to listen tonight on KGO Radio here (locally) when political historian,  John Rothmann, is sure to talk about today's (Wednesday) testimony. Rothmann will broadcast a three-hour special from 6-9 PM; should be appointment listening.

John Rothmann

This has suddenly exploded.

Could be the smoking gun that Trump loyalists have been waiting for and undoubtedly a signature moment that may be their move to distance from POTUS.

*Developing...
415 Media

Is Jon Miller Going 'On Assignment' for Life Next Year?; The BS Continues; Speaking of BS, Dan Rosenheim KPIX 'Retirement' Tales; Duane Kuiper Loves His Peanuts; Simmons and Greenwald Were Better Giants' Tonsils; Somerville MIA at KTVU; A True, Scary Pete Wilson Story; Yours Truly and a Jimmy Kimmel Moment at NBA Finals Media Party; Blocking Tim Kawakami Update; Ken Wayne Short-Term Bounce at KRON; Back To Patio Commercials; Allen Martin Caught Smiling; Get the CC Out for 415 Media Thursday Extravaganza

Jon Miller

SO, LET'S SEE...Jon Miller has taken three series off and it's only a third of the season gone by adding fuel to the fire that Miller might be "on assignment" for life beginning next year; if you think that sounds far-fetched you don't know Larry Baer.

*I know, I've drudged this up before but can we 86 this "on assignment" bullshit and call it for what it is or are Giants' fans so booster clubbed zombies that they don't mind being kidnapped by a gimmick that lost its cute factor long ago. Dave Flemming was doing the ESPN broadcast of the Giants-Colorado Monday night; everyone with analog formats even could watch him yet the broadcast mafia known as "Kruk, Kuip, and Miller" dared mention ESPN and went with the on assignment dreck. How sad, a major-market, storied franchise with Albany technique.

Yeah, I'm pissing off a lot of you 415 fans but I'm betting the majority of you quietly agree otherwise you might as well go on assignment yourself.

Frank Somerville and Gasia Mikaelian

*I made a big deal about the bs that some of you bought regarding the decision to tell Dan Rosenheim he's being retired. Why? Because everyone in the know, including even his most ardent defenders, understands the consequences of lousy sweeps and last place in ALL newscasts, morning, noon and night. It is not my pleasure to rejoice of a person's dismissal but I'm not going to report out and out bull crap either, which again, is why you come here and not take the gospel of press release meccas and industry tout sheets.

*Have you heard Duane Kuiper on the air when he's doing radio? You can tell if the Giants are winning or losing just by the tone of Kuip's voice and mouth which lately is the sound of a hundred peanuts being consumed; Kuiper's mouth is also "on assignment." It sounds like I'm picking on the Giants' broadcasters which is not the case because I loved Lon Simmons and Hank Greenwald and Miller, Kruk and Kuip ain't no Simmons or Greenwald, sorry to report.

*Frank Somerville conspicuously absent this week on KTVU late end of Sweeps while the two blond yentas held court; yeah, real riveting at 10 PM I just hope Frank is OK and not freelancing if you know what I mean.

*Let's see: a real lousy morning show where the EP just split leaving the show in complete tatters; a noon newscast that about 16 people watch; a barrage of newbie reporters that have ZERO Bay Area connection; evening news slots that routinely get killed by KRON; an 11 PM show with more trouble than a Roseanne Ambien slumber party; still also, NO face of the station. Oh, and an impending veteran anchor who is about to leave come the fall. Yeah, KPIX, just swimming in luxury, I'm absolutely SHOCKED they canned the conductor! This can't be.

*Echoes in the hallway at 855 Battery around 10: 20 from some chick anchor reacting to DR's "retirement": GAME OFFFF!

*Last night I was at the Jukebox Marriott for the NBA Finals Media party (yeah, I was invited and decided to go because freebies are just wonderful) and ran into two guys and woman from The Jimmy Kimmel Show --a couple of writers and a producer who were LOLing over my fedora gestalt and NY humor. Of course they asked "who are you?" To which I responded: "Well, who the hell are you?!" The woman laughed and the two guys gave me a look. So, yes, women are smarter then men. (God, what a pussy I am)

Heather Holmes

*Heather Holmes: slightly less intelligent than Melissa Caen.

*Remember the days when people actually watched local TV News and didn't have a smart phone and a backpack and chain-smoked American Spirit cigarettes and couldn't wait for Ronn Owens KGO Radio monologue and considered Mark Ibanez and Sal Castaneda the gospel? Remember?

Pete Wilson

*This is a very sad and very true story: eleven years ago, July 20, 2007, to be exact, KGO-TV news anchor, Pete Wilson, was about to undergo hip surgery --a relatively safe procedure but Wilson was nervous and went over to a reporter in the newsroom (I can't name him because he begged anonymity) and told the reporter, "I'm scared to death I'm going to die."

Wilson died due to a complication in surgery later that day --A few veteran KGO staffers know the story. I just got wind of it recently.

*The end of the month, or what's known as frigid time at Cumulus SF at Broadway and Battery. The natives always freak out and that's those that still have a job.

Might be busy at Grumpys around 6.

*The NBA has instructed media people not to show their Finals credential on social media threatening to confiscate those who do so which is great for me because my picture makes a DMV photo look like a Picasso.

*Oh, like everyone else, Warriors in 5.

*The most media savvy coach in Bay Area: Steve Kerr and I'm not necessarily saying that because of his politics it's just that he speaks in real terms and doesn't spew bullshit which is kind of refreshing.

*Today's BLOCK Update on Twitter: the always reliable Tim Kawakami, Ray Ratto, Henry Schulman, Ann Killion, --I'm upset because I thought y'all there was love in the air.

Kawakami is really, really pissed at Greg Papa who electronically bitch-slapped him by tweeting, "TOUCHDOWN RAIDERZ!"

*Wondering aloud if his employer sends a bad check, will Kawakami block them?

*That Ken Wayne bounce that KRON got a few weeks ago has disappeared so back to normal and more outdoor patio ads and hair-replacement commercials; paging Henry Tannenbaum.

*MY appreciation and admiration of the Black female Bay Area TV News anchors would be far more enjoyable if their were a few more Black woman TV anchors --see I complained and my fourth wife, Wendy Williams, agreed with me.

Wendy Williams

"HOW YOU DOIN?"!

*THIS JUST IN: Allan Martin was seen smiling at the Peets coffee on Battery.

*BREAKING NEWS: 415 Media is not a non-profit business and would dearly love the elite class of Bay Area media and PR officials to subscribe by lifting their wallet out and getting the credit card so Rich can eat and make go-go eyes to Cheryl Hurd.

Can you hear me know?

Thanks.

Fifty Shades Of Live Shots

 We'll, here she comes! The day of cinematic reckoning has arrived and every sensory woman on the planet is just plain thrilled but probably won't admit it.

Anyway, that's another story altogether, this is about the movie, Fifty Shades of Grey, which I hear is sort of crappy, but I digress.

An American phenomena born not long ago is hype and La Fifty is full of hype, excess baggage, or whips and chains in this case.

You've already seen it on Twitter and Facebook, the usual suspects. YouTube didn't want to be left out either and you're going to get a healthy dose of Fifty hype-manifesto on Friday and Saturday, (which appropriately enough is Valentine's Day--hey kids, stay away from the multiplexes!)

A lull in the otherwise dull 11 PM News: TV crews outside the theatre, reporter with microphone to 30-something Daphne in Walnut Creek: Reporter: "Tell me, you saw the film, what did you think of it?" --Daphne: "Amazing, totally amazing, frankly, I'm a bit surprised, --I mean, the whole whips thing was kind of weird, but really, it was amazing!"

I think good microwave pizza is amazing. I wish I could swing a date with her--that would be really amazing! This other stuff? Not so much. But hey, it's Friday night. And we all know about slow news days and nights and so even if a lot of us don't really give a shit about the movie, we will no matter what because, after all, that's life.


Whip it! Whip it good!


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Too Damn Cruel; David Carr: 1956--2015

 Too damn cruel.

I was just reading the print edition of the Times and his article on Stewart and Williams fate and up pops the bulletin

Bob Simon and now David Carr.

Insane.

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Yes, KGO Radio Thinks You're All Dumb; Paris Terrorist Story Is Not As Compelling As Brian Copeland's Minutiae; Thank God For KCBS And CNN

IT SUDDENLY DAWNED on me.

The Paris terrorist attacks and subsequent aftermath --a massive story, not just an international story but a story that hits close to home, here, still living in post-9/11 America.

We viewed it on our smartphones and laptop--watched it live on CNN and Fox News. It was in our conversation and made for perfect fodder at the office and near the water-cooler and why wouldn't it? After all, it was at the top of the masthead and only brought back those disturbing images of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. We never forget.

Only here in the Bay Area the only talk show on the radio, hosted by some silly fill-in named Brian Copeland, they were talking about the Olympics and SF's failed bid. And twenty minutes later, something equally doofus and out of place, out of mind. This time I won't fault Copeland because he was only following orders from the infamous handbook --KGO's manifesto--that you people are really dumb and that it's good and vital, hosts, to keep it dumb, dumb-it-down.

Yes, they think you all are dumb. Dumb and dumber. Imagine that. Those 12 of you left that actually give KGO any of your time, well that's some serious stuff. That's some serious business. It doesn't shock me anymore because nothing shocks me anymore.

The events in France --three days of hell in the heart of Paris and beyond --with over 12 people being murdered and ambushed; with images of the Jewish grocery store and its "Kosher" customers running out of the market as machine-gun fire rang forth--well, we know what happened.

This sort of incident made for red meat discussion and reaction on radio stations like KGO. Nowadays they tell their hosts to talk about American Idol. "Lifestyle issues" --Paris is too complicated and fraught with that nasty undertone, so frightening, so not worthy of the discussion.

Keep it dumb. That's what KGO and Cumulus thinks of you.

I'm supposed to not talk about this. It's old hat. If it were KGO's way, I wouldn't be surprised had they not called in Chef Ryan Scott during Ronn Owens time slot to talk about arugula cheese omelets as the bodies were being counted in Paris. After all, you listeners are incapable of dealing with such trivial matters as the Paris massacres and international reaction and consequences. As a reader of this site mentioned, 9/11 would have been relegated to a news update on KGO/Cumulus--after all, you people are just plain dumb. Got it?

Fortunately, we had alternatives. We had the cable channels to turn to--something that CNN, even in its Don Lemon-era ways, can do right by providing a first-hand look at what's taking place. It's not perfect by any means but at least it's there and live for all of us to decipher.

We have other radio. Thank God for KCBS too which provided up-to-the-minute reports and whose anchors interviewed experts about the goings-on and how and what France faced; how the US and the West would react to what transpired. Fortunately, KCBS and others have respect for their audience and don't think they're dumb.

It would be easy and convenient to dismiss the dumb-it-down dictum at KGO because it's so farcical to even contemplate as semi-serious only it's true. The 20 topics-an-hour, the PPM-era is KGO being kgo--that's how much they take you all seriously.

If it weren't all so serious it would be laughable.

Now, here's Chef Ryan Scott with a great muffin recipe.

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Friday Before Christmas In The City By The Bay; The Calm Before the Storm; Bars Are Packed; The Pulse; Happy Holidays

 The freeways are barren--it's Friday and anyone worth anything already split and has headed for home or Tahoe or better yet, Tommy's Joynt, for a couple of shots and some brisket before the storm begins, the figurative one.

I don't know about you, but I'm sick of the rain already, sorry Paul and Roberta, Bill Martin, and Mike Pechner.

You can tell it's a holiday and Friday--Downtown on a Friday before Christmas and every office is pretty much deserted --poor KRON building on Van Ness. Vacant, gray, and perfectly sullen on the Van Ness strip. So sad, so compelling ...ventured over nearby North Beach early on to catch a quickie at Geno & Carlo--two SFPD cops on bikes sped by and I quickly glanced to see if any of the Northern Station vets were ready to hit the after-work scene--Geno & Carlo: old school SF, pretty good spaghetti and meatballs and later Friday, a great place to get smashed before heading to that last holiday party.

Used to run into Fat Tony a lot at Geno's--he always bought the bar a round until Jimmy Dennon got pissed and jealous and marched out in fury over to the Iron Horse. Jimmy didn't like attention and if he perceived he was getting the business, he took it personally. Poor guy. He was usually hammered which sort of pissed off Fat Tony--the upside? Free drinks for everybody. Miss the crowd. Where's Stevie McPartlin? remember him, late of KTVU "Mornings on Two" and celebrated NY Yankees fan and loyal buddy of Kevin O'Brien --speaking of KOB, now you want to know how to party? Wow. I can only imagine Kevin holding court at Perry's on the Friday PM before Christmas --hell, the broads alone would be worth the price of admission. KOB is a fine saloon man--maybe he goes a tad crazy but who cares? I'm waxing poetic and nostalgic which is worth nothing today other than describing the good old days, how dare I!...

FRIDAY PM--Union Square, in spite of the weather, is packed galore--cars honking, taxis barking--more than the usual--Screw you Uber, I never did trust you but that's another story...The Salvation Army bell ringers are everywhere --what a nice scene --and always my favorite part of the holiday scene. I try to pick the Friday before Christmas to venture out in the city all about and see what's going on--BART is packed too, which is good because if you dare get in your car today and navigate the streets, you're more nuttier than I am and that's saying a lot ....Walking along the Embarcadero--bars are packed and people are on the go, even in this stinking weather...A few of the KGO-TV trucks are double parked on Front--whoa?!, I thought you guys weren't as bad as the PIX guys but I guessed wrong....Battery Street looks empty except the Old Ship --not surprised --they make the best martini in town and a little whiskey in the eggnog isn't so bad either--especially on the Friday before Christmas --hunker down, stay dry and warm and enjoy the weekend.

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2014 Golden Turkey Awards; Happy Thanksgiving

 2014 Thanksgiving Bay Area Media Turkey Awards --ready to commence the holiday spirit you've come here to appreciate.

*Ronn Owens: the gift that always keeps on giving. Mr. Softie, how's that great new format you predicted three years ago been? Maybe your gadgets need to be re-stocked.

*Jon Bristow and Jennifer Jones-Lee: Mr. Pipes and Ms. Giggler "It's Friiiiday!" The gruesome twosome. About as wholesome and sincere as a Lodi Walmart.

*Chef Ryan Scott: If you were more phony, giddy, impish and foolish-sounding, I'd put you on the weekend schedule at KGO. Wait a minute...

*Gary Radnich: One of the most pompous, hideous, predictable, moronic, out-of-touch moron in Bay Area media. Take your used Bentley and shove it up where the sun don't shine. I've been wise to you for years while your sheep stay quiet. I'm not afraid of calling you out. By the way, Liebengood was right.

*Larry Krueger: Larry, I like you personally and know you're just trying to earn a living and have to work with the non-sports potato head, but when you're trying on the air to be someone other than you, it sounds contrived and forced. Be yourself, Larry. You're better than that. Bet on it. (He will).

*Kate Scott: I'll give you this, you pulled a good story over Lee Hammer --congratulations, you make Amy G look like Christianne Amanpour. And I don't give a shit about your wife, really. In seven years you'll be schlepping oranges at the Daly City Flea Market.

*Brian Sussman: What the hell happened to you? It's not your politics. We get that. It's the show, Brian. It sounds worse than shit on toast. And the corny sound gimmicks, the fake fart noises, the bizarre rock music under your fake stupid takes? The dumb train sounders every two minutes? And you really think the traffic chick has young demos listening? Do this: keep repeating Drudge Report items that make up 99% of your show and consider that impending pay cut coming as a signal.

KNBR Morning Show: Dude, Brian, Dude, Powlie, dude, you guys are completely worthless; you've always been worthless. You guys are like a rotting fish that keeps floating up on the seashore and won't go away. Cockroaches don't go away either. They end up at UCLA and write fake books about fake people and fake people can't even stand 'em. Murph, remember that night at Crogans when you were incredulous that I hated your show? I still hate your show. Go take your fake New Jersey friend and the chain-smoking, southern redneck Irishman to an English Beat concert and disappear. You'd do us all a favor.

*Jason Barrett: Hey, genius, have you changed your morning show yet? It's about time. I have an idea: Do one of those contests; get some asshole from Brentwood and put him on the air, that way you save money and get a 1 rating out of sheer luck. Thank God you have Damon. And another thing, you hired Troy Clardy? LMFAO! And now you fired him. Damn, what cohesion. Again, you MUST have pictures of animals and Entercom suits.

*John Lund: Hope you're renting. And is it true the only reason you made it on YSTL was because Papa made some calls? Uh, I should have known. Keep up the classy jokes too. You're a regular Jon Stewart.

*Joe Fonzi: Fonz, the last time you were something Jimmy Carter was president and Radnich was married to a white woman.

*Aaron Pero: Just shut up and quit screaming. Pick on someone your own size. Wait a minute...

*Doug Harville: Doug, I thought you were sincere. We don't always have to agree, just don't fly away because I thought your company screwed Dean Danos and that Bunger is a phony. It's nothing personal.

*Veronica De La Cruz: Dear, I'm sorry about your personal shit. I'm sensitive to all of that because I've been there/done that. But if you're going to reach out to me on arrival and confide then don't start running away into the forest because Rosenheim pulled you aside. It's not good business. It leads to eventually anchoring a shitty late-night newscast that has less shelf life than a Utah bordello. GAME ON!

*Rich Walcoff: 30+ years on radio and you need an extra 50 bucks to do some forcacta 'man cave report on KSFO? Rich, you're bigger than that. I know you have college tuition to pay for but really? I'll sell my Sweetjack coupons and give you the fifty bucks, stop Richie, stop!

*Jan Wahl: Shit, you're so bad you deserve to go back to KGO and this time you don't even have to hoover the PD 165,000 times. One hat.

*Tom Vacar: where's my cigar? Better yet, the next time you do Ronnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn's KGO show, tell Ronnnnnnnnnnn that the North Beach Restaurant lunch with Gene Burns was legit. I was there and heard everything.

*Dennis O'Donnell: Google Alexander O' Neil's song from 1987. You fit the title.

*Ann Killion: Ann, you're a conniving, insincere, phony, would-be-career-killing, sanctimonious twit; I'm wise to your ass, lady, you don't fool me. Nor the other people in this town. Now go tweet that.

*Wayne Freedman: Wayne, chill. Really. You have 17,400 Emmys and plenty of job stability. Quit kissing so much management ass. Get out there. Go to the wharf and have some crab. Get a scotch and relax, you're safe, Wayne. Don't be such a lecturing prick otherwise you'll end up being like David Louie doing a live shot from Redwood City.

*Heather Holmes: You still have the snot tape? Keep it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I Believe Downtown San Francisco Will Be Pre-Occupied Tonight With A Baseball Game

 UH, there's nothing to talk about because the entire city is shut down, checked out, mentally and physically, and that's ok, sports--in this case, the baseball team can be incredibly uplifting. Takes one's minds off the cranes, mid-Market traffic bedlam, Embarcadero madness, the techies, the "hipsters" with the 18,987 tattoos, our local media mavens suddenly wearing Hunter Pence jerseys.

From about 4 to about 9 PM tonight, the city will be essentially shut down. The Royal Exchange will be filled with lots of white people, guys in suits sporting orange ties, and women named Courtney giggling endlessly screaming, "Giants!" and sipping glasses of red. The word, "dude!" will ring from the Financial district to the Marina. God Bless the SFPD. I don't want to even contemplate what might take place come about 8ish. Crowds, especially drunken, unfiltered, men with loads of enough testosterone to fill the Panda's stomach can be irksome especially when the residue smells of extreme Budweiser.

Newscasters, especially some out-of-towners: "Go Giants!" to fellow anchor. Has all the authenticity of a pastrami laced with mayo on wonder bread. By the way, does anyone eat white bread anymore? And if so, what does one put on white bread? Peanut butter and jelly comes to mind but who would readily admit they eat peanut butter and jelly? (I do). It's an acquired taste.

This all, tonight, could be repeated on Wednesday if the Gints were to lose and thus, a Game 7 looms. Secretly, every bartender and restaurant owner downtown won't admit this publically, but another ball game would do wonders for the cash registers. I know Larry Baer was giddy that they played three games at ATM Park because you can never have too much money and by the time the Brinks trucks left 3rd and King, they had just enough currency to cover Panda's salary for 2015 and Larry's slush fund.

Assignment desk meetings this morning: Giants nonstop --every live shot destination: The ballpark first and then Momo's come 5, 6, and 11. Nothing else matters. God forbid there is actual NEWS, remember that, but I know I'm being cynical. The Giants are the NEWS, GAME ONNNNNN! (Oh shit, not her again). There's nothing wrong with the Giants owning the evening and the Bay Area TV and Radio airwaves on KNBGiants--after all, it's good for the city and local economy. It's especially fine that people have a mechanism for taking a momentary break from their bosses assholeness, tech gadgets, bottom lines, spread sheets and the like; screaming, ranting, yelling GO PEAVY! is a welcome break from Ebola panic, Obama, Obamacare, Google, Facebook, Tweeting, it's good to have a break. Personally, I will be holed up in a distant remote location away from the Pandamonium having a daydream about myself and Monica Bellucci alone at Tommy's Joynt, that's how I roll.

 

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The Empty Roger Goodell Press Conference; NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai Joins Me on KSCO For Reaction

 Many of you watched the Roger Goodell presser and were overwhelmingly underwhelmed like myself.

Whether or not you're a sports fan the NFL has become ingrained in most of our life, pro football, in spite of all the unsavory incidents that's taken place, still is popular.

On Friday, the commissioner took questions from the media and swung and miss. My opinion --and I'm certainly not alone.

This afternoon, on my KSCO Radio program, we will tackle all this, (and other issues of the day). Joining me at 4: 20 PM, from NBC Bay Area, lead-anchor, Raj Mathai, who got to know Goodell when he, (Mathai), worked for the San Diego Chargers.


*To listen, simply click on the link above and then click on live link on the website--those who can't listen live, a podcast will be available later in the day.