I've talked to a lot of local industry people on the Mychael Urban firing.
Many told me there was probably not one single factor into why he was let go. Most were adamant that money was a factor--personality too, among the "other things." ("The 'Insiders' have egos too--maybe Mychael rubbed someone the wrong way--even someone in management," said one wag).
Other factors:
*Comcast is a very tight-knit, corporate cable power, (that's corporate with a capital "C"); and conservative too. Like most companies today, even those with a boatload of cash and plenty of pronounced assets, even they, (Comcast, based in Philly) have bottom lines.
*Although Urban was modestly compensated, (about $75K annually), even that amount comes under heady-duty scrutiny; nothing new in today's fiscally-bottom line world, but 75 grand for a rather innocuous, non, move-the-needle guy like Urban is, maybe, too much. Don't laugh, you can buy a lot of HD monitors for 75 grand.
*Urban's close relationship with Barry Zito, (recently diluted, according to Urban), was still considered a black mark to some at Comcast, (according to one source who, like all, did not want to talk on the record). And not just Zito, but other players, not just Giants' players but A's too. It's useful and quite helpful to build a professional relationship with ballplayers, but at what cost? It was, I'm sure, a tad unsettling for some of the upper brass at Comcast, (perhaps even Knibber too) that Urban was so close to Zito and other players. That dilution with Zito may have come too late.
*Follow me on Twitter
I disagree that he was a big bag of wind. After Brynes, Raddy, Kruegar, Bruce, Barbieri it was refreshing to hear someone who spoke well. He was articulate and knowledgeable. Too bad he offended those who could not keep up.
ReplyDeleteHis Unicorn Hour and Chris Lincecum Hour of Father knows Best was even by me = BAD. He pissed off Hammer but was also back on recently before the 95.7 gig.
By the way, the 95.7 anti KNBR commercials are lame and are now TIRED. Who cares? What movie are people watching. Listen to people who are articulate and know how to retain and verbalize a complete sentence and thought like:
Tolbert-Urban-Woodson-Lurie-Kate Scott-FP Santangelo-Papa-Tim Roye-Ted Robinson-Eric Davis-Kruegar-Ken Dito-Bruce McGowan-Damon Andrews-Joe Castellanos-John Lund-Kevin-the-Rat-Rich Wolcoff-Mr. Involvement-Raj Mathai-Drew Remmenda-Dave Flemming-Jon Miller-Kuiper-Krukow-Vin Scully.
The NO's: Radnich-Bruce-Barbieri-Fitzgerald-Brooks-Brynes-Benz-Reis-Wolford-Dibbley-Connors-Murphy-McCaffrey.
My yes list would include Ken Korach. My no list would include Brandon Tierney, Mike Krukow and both Kuiper brothers.
ReplyDelete3:48 Anon
ReplyDeleteLOL Bruce McGowan--listening to him was painful. Bad voice, slow to make a point, stammered, void of humor (he did that Will Clark impersonation way too much), stumbled around stating the obvious, rarely criticized a local player or management until they were long gone, got his "inside" info from that morning's paper. Personified the term 'homer'.
Brynes versus McGowan = easy winner.
ReplyDeleteMcGowan drinks zero Red Bulls, Brynes throws back about 10 per show.
Well said Frank. Bruce McGowan would put me to sleep.
ReplyDeleteIf Urban had broke the Neukom story-THAT's worth 75k.
ReplyDeleteBut "rubbed" wrong could be the Giants/KNBR. The chimp has banned some quality local writers..easy to see striking out at Urban using the Giants help.
Comcast wants it both ways..reporters to be "edgy" and yet follow rules of not EVER be controversial..can anybody name a single beef or stirred pot a Comcast person has caused in CSN's history? Any local team upset at ANYTHING said on Comcast?
I am glad Urban is gone. His name sounds too
ReplyDeletemuch like Michael Irwin of the Dallas Cowboys.
Anytime, his name came up I thought what is
the former Dallas cowboy receiver doing in
baseball.
Anyway, he Marty Lurie and other Oakland
media newcomers to KNBR over the past two
years from the Oakland media market, laugh
off Zito's contract like it was "water under
the bridge" and of absolutely no consequence.
Of course, the Giants if the Giant management had any brains or integrity would acquire competent ballplayers with Zito's (and Rowan and DeRosa, and others) salaries, ad infinitum. It is pure luck that when the Giants won the world series, 40% of the salaries paid for the year consisted of over-the-hill, injured or
non-productive players.
Urban had no objectivity and defended players
which he was "friends" with. The unicorn
hour with Zito was lame and especially stupid.
Lots to both agree and disagree with in the above posts. I didn't mind Urban on the whole but do agree that that the Unicorn hour was lame and stupid as well as the segment with Lincecum's father. I disagree with those that found McGowan dull. Just because he could talk to callers without screaming and shouting does not make him dull. I found him to be very knowledgeable on most sports subjects as well as his occasional foray into music and other subjects. I agree with all of the NO's on 3:48's list but would add Kruegar and Mathai to that list. I have not yet listened to Lund.
ReplyDeleteUrban is a pompous asshole and someone finally woke up in management
ReplyDelete75,000 a year is nothing to sneeze at, a lot more money than I make in my media job...
ReplyDeleteNow that times are tough for Urban,Zito is going to be even more diluted. Poor Barry-how does he ever relate to poor relatives and friends? The turmoil to lend money,give money, must eat at him.
ReplyDeleteThat contract has been a curse-a CURSE! DAMN the Giants for doing that too poor nice guy Barry. He didn't deserve it.
Such good news about Urban. Never liked that jock sniffer.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was his "source in Milwaukee" that got him fired... if not, it should have.
ReplyDeletemichael urban is as arrogant and pompus as he was in 2011..i will never listen to him when he is on, he is annoying, tries to take over the show and is just plain unlistenable
ReplyDelete