Lurie and KTRB; KTVU- No one's talkin'; Thursday AM media pulse

Marty Lurie's departure from XTRA Sports to KNBR was not a big surprise, but KTRB PD Kevin Barrett said the station made a pitch to retain Lurie.

"We wish Marty well. The real story is we offered him the ability to broadcast "Off the Bat" on XTRA Sports each weekend to coincide with A's Baseball. He
was not interested in doing that. Ironically, it is essentially the same arrangement that he accepted at the other sports station."

Bottom line: Lurie's show, however quaint and interesting, (and it is,) interfered with the recent Michael Savage addition to XTRA 860. Savage' early buzz is generating a huge audience for the sports outlet. It's beyond "move-the-meter" buzz. Simple biz decision, plain and simple.

**No one's talking on the record at KTVU; hell, no one's talking period about the newsroom personnel shake-up. Lots of whispering and angst at 2 Jack London Square.

**Mike Malloy of Green 960 on The Who halftime Super Bowl show: ..."Talk about a Superbowl Wardrobe malfunction...I'd rather see Janet Jackson's nipple any day over Pete Townshend's belly!!!" referring to Pete lifting his arm and exposing his big belly.

**Speaking of the Super Bowl, the official MASH question: Who would you rather see throwing a football? Drew Brees, or Alan Alda?

**Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Examiner.com

The A's, KTRB, Ken Korach, and Marty Lurie

More pleasing to fans of the Oakland A's upcoming 2009 season is not only the splashy additions of Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi, but more importantly, the Athletics switching to 50,000-watt KTRB, AM 860, (KTRB860.COM)

As great a run as the A's have had in recent years, it's been rather difficult to actually hear their games on the radio, as they perched at the worst part of the dial at 1550 AM, KYCY. No more.

KTRB, owned by Pappas Broadcasting, (I'm a contributor) is heard clearly all over the entire Bay Area and most clearly in Alameda, SF, and Contra Costa county, the heart of the A's fan base.

Returning for his 14th season is lead play-by-play broadcaster Ken Korach, one of the very best, under-rated baseball announcers not only in the Bay Area, but nationally too. Korach delivers a smart, snappy, informative and superbly-articulated broadcast, and best of all, is not afraid to criticize the home team, if the situation calls for it. He's also to be commended for giving constant, and I do mean, constant score updates. As the late great Red Barber said, "you can never give the score "too often". Korach's practice is well-received and appreciated by every baseball fan in the Bay Area.

He will be teamed once again with partner Vince Controneo and color analyst, Ray Fosse.
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MARTY LURIE RETURNS TO A'S PREGAME SHOW: "RIGHT OFF THE BAT"

Marty Lurie returns to the A's pregame show with his popular "Right off the Bat" show, preceding every Athletic's broadcast, with interviews, commentary, and all the great baseball knowledge by Lurie, who is a practicing attorney, and whose baseball acumen and intelligence is unmatched by almost everyone.

Lurie's program will also be heard on KTRB, and his weekly "Baseball Saturday Night" will once again compliment the entire new production. "Baseball Saturday Night", an expanded 90-minute, interview/caller program on Saturday evening, will follow most A's games immediately after the conclusion of "Extra Innings", hosted by Robert Buan.

Lurie's "Right off the Bat" and "Baseball Saturday Night" are a part of his "Love of the Game" productions.

Rich Lieberman
The Rich Lieberman Report
1-29-'09 8: 47: 32 AM PST