415 Media Exclusive: How the Papa/49ers Deal Went Down; Inside Story; When Papa Became Available, 49ers' Sargent Began Pursuit; Tells 415 Media 'Historic Move'; Decision Needed York and Guido OK

Ted Robinson (l) and Greg Papa -NBCSBA photo

49ERS MOVED ON 'FREE AGENT PAPA'; NO REPUDIATION OF ROBINSON; ACCELURATED MOVE ON EX-RAIDERS PBP --415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE INSIDE STORY ON 'SHOCKING MOVE'

*ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO when Raiders veteran PBP broadcaster Greg Papa was summarily dumped by the Silver and Black (namely, Mark Davis) 49ers broadcasting boss, Bob Sargent, who knew Papa well and regarded him as a play-by-play, sporting icon, immediately went into high gear and on a mission: to seize the opportunity to pounce on Papa and bring him into the 49ers' broadcast booth with Tim Ryan.

Mission accomplished.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Papa would replace Robinson and become the new 49ers' radio broadcaster. Or, as one sports radio observer commented to me, "a shocking move, bold and audacious too."

Sargent, in a lengthy phone conversation with me, insisted that the move to replace Robinson was by no means a repudiation of 'Teddy Ballgame' as he is known charmingly around Bay Area broadcast circles.

"When 'Greg {Papa} became available I immediately began discussions with him because I regard him as one of the best {if not thee best] in the business. NFL people place him in the top three category} Nothing against Ted more really I just wanted to bring Greg to the 49ers," said Sargent.

How bold a move? Enough to require a boatload of hurdles to overcome in addition to the move of acquiring Papa to be OKed by not just the Niners' broadcast hierarchy but all the way up the food channel including team president, Al Guido and owner, Jed York, who has always been a loyal Robinson advocate.

Industry people I talked to concurred. They repeatedly told me that it wasn't so much a blow to Ted Robinson (although it probably is) more a determined effort on Sargent's part to get Papa and Ryan together to form one of the best NFL Radio play-by-play tandems in the business.

I'll say this about the move: while I have my issues with Papa on a personal level, I've never doubted his professional credentials as a seasoned pro-football broadcaster. His Raiders' work by and large was as close to the real deal, late Bill King demonstrated in his multi-decade work with the Raiders.

The new questions on the table: Will Papa have to leave his 95.7 FM 'The Game' radio talk show? Probably. I don't envision KNBR (which is the 49ers' flagship station) allowing Papa to stay on its rival Bay Area station, but that's just a guess. Sargent told me he doesn't care one way or the other because as far as he's concerned, he got his prized pupil and long-term broadcast duo for the future.

And that's the genesis of this story laid out to me. Sargent regards Papa as the gold standard. His (Sargent) close relationship with Robinson on both a personal and professional level is a lengthy bond and might be compromised. Sargent told me in spite of that, "I wanted to make this move."

And so he did.

Tony Bruno: 'Game Changer'

TONY BRUNO


*95.7 FM 'The Game' continues to struggle ...especially in the key morning drive (5-9 AM) ; despite repeated new morning shows and experiments, Entercom's FM All-Sports outlet is lagging behind its own projections.


*Enter popular and talented Tony Bruno--I've learned through the grapevine that Bruno was contacted by a key Entercom (which owns The Game) exec out of its corporate SF office making initial contact. It's not known what was discussed but put two and two together.


*Bruno already does a weekly half-hour spot with Damon Bruce. It's funny, smart, edgy, and often controversial --in a good way. It's one of the most compelling thirty minutes of content in local radio.


*Bruno, out of Philadelphia, is a very special, ultra-talented personality but who is deemed difficult to work for. Often times, good people fit that description --Bruno is not alone. But he would need to change his professional MO otherwise he'll forever be stuck here.


*The Game has a new PD--his first project is well-known in local broadcast circles: Get rid of these guys. Because they're a disaster. Enter Bruno. Maybe.


*Game Changer: Again, Bruno comes with baggage but a "Bruno In The Morning" would rearrange the ratings deck for 95.7 FM. Bruno is expensive too (try about $300K a year and 3 years guaranteed --just for an example) but good people are expensive.


*Bruno loves the Bay Area and would probably JUMP at a chance to host his very own show but there is one significant problem (among a few others): Bruno's mother is 91 and lives in Philly. Bruno is thought to be against moving to another city while his mother lives out her sunset years.  Then again, that's why you talk and negotiate--anything is possible.


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Damon Bruce Called Dwight Howard A Little Bitch On SF Sports-Talk Radio Thursday (Audio)

 Ya'll know Damon Bruce, right?


Bruce likes to stir a lot of shit up on SF FM Sports-Talk and does a good job, at least most of the time. It's invigorating radio and it works.


Well, not always. But we digress.


Bruce was at it again on Thursday afternoon and he didn't mince words, calling Houston Rockets center, Dwight Howard, a bitch. Not once, but multiple times. (AUDIO here at 1: 28)


Bruce was out castigating Howard because Howard said after Wednesday night's game "I'm still a 'champion." Huh?

I agree with Bruce --I just might have used a better adjective. Putz? Uh, supreme schmuck come to mind, but that's just my opinion.


 




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Jason Barrett Leaving 95.7 The Game As PD; Pens Cute Letter That Doesn't Provide (Real) Details; The Real Reason(s)

 Jason Barrett, the embattled PD of all-sports 95.7 FM The Game is leaving the station in June.

Here, he spells out in roughly a few couple thousand or so words why he's leaving...it reads lovely and cutesy and cuddly and all that but other than mentioning family, Barrett conveniently leaves out the specific reason(s) why.

Funny, I'm not surprised. I've been wondering for some time how Barrett has been able to hold down his Entercom gig despite the station's relative irrelevance and truth be told, The Game, while holding down marginal demos like adult males who covet beer, boobs and sports, has never reached a ratings crescendo --hell, hasn't even come close.

 You're probably going to read the press-release version of this and take it as the positive gospel but it's mostly bull. It's anecdotal verbal messing that's designed to imply that the honest PD misses him and wants to explore his next life. Which would be nothing out of the ordinary and make perfect sense only Barrett doesn't mention some of the things that more than likely accelerated his departure.

As I said, The Game has never registered any real traction in the Bay Area. Never. Its attempt to be an alternative to KNBR, which would have been nice, hasn't materialized. Part of that is sports-radio on FM doesn't work, especially when it's hard to actually listen to that station. The Game's signal is barely audible in most parts of the Bay Area. I can pick it up fine and even better on my car stereo but I'm in the minority. That's not Barrett's fault but it's on his ledger that other variables are and were--

*It was Barrett who hired contest winners--listeners--who became immediate air talent on the radio station. That would work well in, say, Tulsa--not so much in the Bay Area. Furthermore the idea of placing contest winners on the radio station speaks volumes about Mr. Barrett's style of management.

*Both the A's and Raiders want out on The Game. The Raiders have been looking for an alternative for months now because they're unhappy with their Bay Area flagship--so too the A's who have complained about promotion and are also unhappy with the signal. Again, that's hardly Barrett's fault but there's ways to schmooze the suits and get around this--Barrett didn't get the memo.

*The constant reshuffling of the air-talent. There's been a significant fallout on Barrett's every-other-day rearranging the furniture on The Game--his mishandling of the morning show features has been woeful and disruptive --the very best morning show, "The Rise Guys", were held out to pasture and replaced by a startling bad current program whose hosts like to talk about their penises --how thought-provoking and creative.

Simply stated The Game went kaput before our very eyes and ears. There's nothing wrong with that --hell, lots of radio stations are like restaurants --most fail even under the best of intentions. And while everybody would relish an alternative to wildly less-than-mediocre KNBR, The Game struck out. For now and more than likely, the future too.

Lee Hammer Temporarily Running KGO Radio; Damon Bruce and Gianna Suter-Franco Super 1-2 Punch At The Game; KQED Radio Power Trip; Thursday Breakfast Liners

 THURSDAY BREAKFAST LINERS

*KGO Radio is being temporarily run by KNBR top suit, Lee Hammer.

*The Game's, (All-Sports-95.7 FM ) PM talker, Damon Bruce and his news update woman and occasional sidekick, Gianna Suter-Franco, were a phenomenal 1-2 punch on the sports-talk radio scene on Wednesday. Topic one, of course, was the Raiders/49ers announcement of new coaches and if you listened, it was the very best and smartest act from the duo, including some of the funniest and more pointed phone calls from the lunatic fringe, the callers. Hail to the "Butcher Boy". (More on all of this in a later column).

*NBC Bay Area, (KNTV) Will Adams--a good guy in a tough business that doesn't get enough credit and should be acknowledged here--thus, he has.

*Mounting siege mentality at KQED Radio --between one of the hosts and a few people behind the glass. Sounds to me like a power trip run amok.

*If that local station that might be pursuing the local TV sports anchor really wants him, add a few zeros to the contract and you'll get him. Make that more than the usual.

*Speaking of KNTV, a big congrats to Laura Garcia-Cannon, morning news, for her 15th anniversary. Another classy dame is getting even better at NBC San Jose.

*Jason Barrett, PD at 'The Game': When the content and show is good, like Bruce's, then I'll say it so. You did good in PM Drive. So there.

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OK, 95.7 The Game If You Really Want To Move The Needle: A Gary Radnich-Tony Bruno Dream Team In The Morning; Play Ball

 It would require a HEFTY BAG full of money.


It would have to involve the buyout of Gary Radnich's contract which is doubtful but not impossible. He's got a lot of overhead, after all.


It would pair Bruno and Radnich from 6-10 AM and IN AN INSTANT blow KNBR off the map, but if you're talkin' move-the-needle material, it would work.


The money involved: probably a million or so, (Radnich: $500K, Bruno, $300K and the rest for staff.
Just estimates.


Most of all, it would IMMEDIATELY catapult 95.7 The Game into a real threat, at least in the AM drive time, and blow off KNBR.


Sure, Knibber still has the Giants, 49ers, and Warriors but The Game would have, arguably, the BIGGEST Morning Show in the Bay Area. Maybe the nation.


*Can it be done?

Sure.


The biggest obstacle would be getting Radnich, who has labored on the Leader for 23 years and is loyal to the core. But Gary likes money and security. Not to mention the fact he's nearing his mid-60's and his next big contract is probably is last big contract.


Tony Bruno loves San Francisco and is looking for a job. He has a history of short stays at radio stations and is known to be a pain in the ass to GMs but this alliance with Radnich, probably his last rodeo, could mellow him.


Entercom has the financial wherewithal to pull this off and The Game's PD, Jason Barrett, would have to woo like hell to bring Bruno and Radnich together, it starts with money and money is the greatest equalizer.


For three+ years The Game has tried everything under the sun to dent KNBR, to make themselves worthy, anything and everything to become a genuine player in the sports-radio war. Only KNBR hasn't lost an inch and although its pesky FM counterpart tries and tries, KNBR is King.


A Radnich-Bruno morning pairing would SIGNIFICANTLY stack the deck against the KNBR dynamic.


Furthermore it would allow two of the more engaging, funny, energetic and enlightening personalities in radio work TOGETHER, a DREAM TEAM of a radio show. Would it work? Yes. Could it really happen? Sure. Like I said, there's nothing more basic than money. That wouldn't necessarily alone work because there needs to be negotiating and non-compete clauses and some details ironed out but it's infinitely doable.







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Wednesday PM Dish: De La Cruz Debut at PIX MIA; The Game Scoops KNBR in Jackson Interview; Papa/Lund Semi-Believer; Barbara Simpson is Still Nowhere To Be Found Amid KSFO Listener Backlash; The Wash

Wednesday PM Wash


Either an extraordinary case of bad luck or something going on dept: The much-hyped debut of PIX's 6 and 10 anchor, Veronica De La Cruz, who was to begin reading the teleprompter on Monday, hasn't happened.


Maybe she and the hubby got their first mortgage notice early and collapsed.


*Yes, kudos to "The Game", (95.7 FM) for getting Mark Jackson and cleaning KNBR's clock on the Warriors flagship. More telling: why Jackson didn't do Knibber? Here's a clue: think Noon-3 PM.


*OK, I'm slowly becoming a believer: Papa and Lund could be something as long as the fart noises and comedy routine get liquidated. The show doesn't need shtick--the information and back and forth is good enough, and yes, if it's a decent show, people, sports radio aficionados will listen especially when compared to the tripe at the same time at Knibber.


*Barbara Simpson backlash: they, (KSFO/Cumulus), didn't figure there would be that many people pissed off over a weekend host although she's been there 19 years and has a loyal following of conservative Johns and Joans in suburban abodes like Pleasanton ---a more ominous note: Simpson still MIA and hasn't said a thing, hope she's OK.

Damon Bruce/Gary Radnich Secret War at KNBR; 'They Both Couldn't Stand Each Other'; Nearly Came to Blows inside Cumulus Building

 Gary Radnich is a quietly giddy man this Wednesday as the leading protagonist with Damon Bruce, his now ex-adversary at KNBR, where Bruce has now left and about to work the afternoon drive at 95.7 FM The Game.


Both Radnich and Bruce couldn't stand one another and at one point nearly came to blows in the Cumulus elevator one day after Radnich ripped into the younger Indiana Hoosier in a newspaper article.


Bruce's departure to rival The Game was not centrally directly to his wrath with Radnich but set in motion and may have accelerated his move out of the KNBR 1050 Siberia into The Game.


Bruce openly ripped Radnich on the air on several occasions and mocked his frequent non-sports interest. In short, the two couldn't stand each other. The war was most evident during and immediately after both men were paired into a team in August of 2011 on 680. The show suffered from the start with no chemistry whatsoever and turned into a disaster when it was abruptly cancelled. Radnich took an immediate two-week "vacation" and according to several station sources, offered a mild ultimatum to management: It's either me or Bruce.


At that point, Larry Krueger was reunited with KNBR; re-hired to work with Radnich from 9-Noon and Bruce was given his own show to KNBR's secondary outlet, "KNBR 1050 AM", in the middle of the dial with a considerably weaker signal and virtually no promotion from the station. In other words, radio Death Valley. Although Bruce's show picked up a loyal listener base and delivered respectable ratings he was never able to gain any traction into the 680 fortress and Radnich's presence played a part in that dynamic and was chief among Bruce's desire to seek work elsewhere.


Radnich was not the only individual figure Bruce didn't get along with; in fact, I was told by a current KNBR staffer who once worked with Bruce that he had virtually no friends at KNBR. "Nobody liked working with him; producers, interns, staff people, salespeople--he was very difficult. Everybody hated him." This matter probably probably was in the forefront.


When news of the Bruce move to The Game broke late Tuesday morning both Radnich and Krueger didn't mention the transaction, (naturally), but I'm told, privately, Radnich was elated. And to be fair, I'm guessing Bruce was feeling much the same.


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Damon Bruce First Guest on 95.7 The Game: Gloria Steinem

 The symmetry.


Women and sports. The highs and lows. Thought-provoking and worthy of a Nooner.


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95.7 The Game Drops Sean O'Connell And Matt Steinmetz Show

The Game, (95.7 FM All_Sports),  just bounced Sean O'Connell and Matt Steinmetz. A producer too. What a coincidence! It would appear ratings are the reason. They usually are.


A replacement is to be announced on Friday.


We'll follow this but it isn't at the top of our priority list.




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Hey, 'The Game?' 95.7 FM All-Sports Should Hire Ralph Barbieri Because Then You'd Have Actual Ratings

 So, you're an all-sports radio station that in three years and counting can't break a 1 share. You've flatlined really. FM, you thought, was the key area to utilize your platform, whatever that is.

You are 'The Game', (95.7 FM). I'm going to give you a real simple one here, you don't even need the PD for this but if you really want a shot at relevance, you should hire that guy let go by the other guys you used to make fun of, remember them?

Ralph Barbieri, I'm told, is available. He's a bit older, wiser, maybe, but he's not barely breathing and decrepit. More guarded perhaps and maybe one step slower but can still articulate and, in your case, move the fucking needle and boy could you guys need someone like that --seriously.

You've tried everything. Ain't working. You still run contests where the winner gets to be a host which is only funny because the listener might get better numbers than some of your, you know, actual talents who have failed you miserably but we digress.

Barbieri could do two hours a week and get you some traction. Remember that age-old concept? This is probably not going to happen because it makes too much sense. And whenever was sense a virtue inside the office of the current PD?

Yeah, I know, The Razor has his detractors, people that can't stand him and people that loved him, but see, that's the kind of dynamic you need to attract people to your radio station. More listeners, more advertisers, more fun for everyone, god, I'm a damn genius!

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Rating the 49ers and Raiders Radio Broadcasting Team; It's Time for Football; Ted Robinson and Eric Davis; Greg Papa and Tom Flores

    SF 49ers Radio: KNBR, KGO, The Bone
    Ted Robinson: Play-by-Play
    Eric Davis: commentary

    This is a very good team. Robinson's pin-point play-by-play is excellent and well-coordinated. Ted gets some heat from critics who say his style is stale and understated. That's his best asset. He is crisp and concise. He excites when he has to and doesn't go crazy and homer up if the situation isn't warranted. I appreciate Robinson's willingness to criticize the 49ers if they play crummy. The Bay Area has never warmed to homers.

Davis has become a lot more of an accomplished broadcaster. His ex-jock status gives listeners an inside look at particular plays, always welcome. On the other hand, ex-players tend to resist hardened criticism. Not so with Davis who has elevated his off-field game in the booth. Plus, as evident on 49ers broadcasts, he's developed a chemistry with Robinson that makes the two as good and fluid as ever.

RATING: A




Oakland Raiders Radio: 95.7 FM--The Game
Greg Papa: Play-by-Play
Tom Flores: Commentary

Greg Papa is the consummate professional. His broadcast style is neatly-paced and loaded with a lot of information, particularly when it comes to the players and plays themselves. I like Papa a lot. He has a tendency to get overly excited even if the Raiders are hopelessly behind, (that might be especially evident this year) and his signature "Touchdownnnnnnnnnn Raiders!" call is his staple. But when the home team is down, 23-0 in the 4th quarter, there's something wrong. On the other hand, Papa knows his game, has a steady, comfortable delivery and gives a quality broadcast.

Tom Flores, the former coach, is a puzzle. He obviously knows what he's talking about, but his constant "we" references are irritating and lend credence to his homer critics. In addition, Flores has a nasty habit of openly cheering on various plays. It's great for the booster club people but on a broadcast, it's deadly. I hope Flores tones that down and sticks to the basics. He can be happy and excited as long as it's measured and expected.

GRADE: B-

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Oakland Raiders have New Radio Partner; 95.7 FM 'The Game' new Flagship Station for Silver and Black

The Raiders have left the Death Valley of Radio and signed on with 'The Game', (95.7 FM), Entercom's All-Sports FM outlet. That's good news, although ironically the station, (which is also the flagship outlet of the A's), also has a poor signal that is hard to hear in many parts of the Bay Area.

Nevertheless, it's good that the Raiders have at least signed onto a station that has a sports brand; more importantly, local talk shows that can be utilized to talk pro football and the Raiders, in particular.

Greg Papa and Tom Flores will continue on as the broadcast team--Papa returning to do the play-by-play and Flores providing analysis.


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'The Game' has to Get in the Game; 95.7 FM All-Sports Needs Identity More than Gimmicks

"The Game", (95.7 FM), Entercom's answer to FM sports in the Bay Area needs to redefine its theme.

It also has to quit pretending that it's going to beat KNBR. It isn't.

It also has to stop shouting at us. As an alternative to the Knibber foibles, The Game is decidedly more creative and entertaining.

But it has to stop gimmicks. One thing, for starters, is to concentrate on its core asset: flagship station for the Oakland A's. The problem with The Game is instead of going wall-to-wall with A's programming built around its talk shows, the station routinely dominates programming with Giants talk. KNBR is the Giant's flagship and most Giants fans don't listen to the Game. That sort of programming strategy probably helps KNBR more than 95.7. Sure, the A's don't have the largess nor cachet of the Giants followers, but their fan base is loyal.

And another thing: When you shout and scream, as the Game does a lot, all you're doing is essentially copying KNBR. The Game is far more edgier and more intelligent than Knibber. But they need to form their own identity and quit trying to compete with the other guys. When you consistently can't break a 1 share you have to re-think the business model. Try to be what you are as opposed to what you clearly aren't.

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