Ken Korach, Veteran A's PBP Broadcaster, Is The Best Bay Area Baseball Announcer And Its Not Even Close

Ken Korach

We take Ken Korach for granted; we shouldn't.


He's the BEST baseball announcer in the Bay Area and in my Top 10 in the majors.


The Oakland A's veteran PBP broadcaster (on KTRB 860 AM)is a special mixture of concise play-calling; seriously deadly humor; a crisp delivery and isn't afraid to rip the home team when it merits. Korach has a special skill too that I love; the innate ability to give the score of the game multiple times; in fact, sometimes, too many--but I LOVE it.


Korach is in his 23rd year --seems like he's getting better every year.

Billy Beane Shocks The Baseball World; Thursday First Take

 Not to mention the Bay Area Sports Media --should be quite a day on the sports-talk radio shows.


Beane trades Cespedes to Boston for ace pitcher, Lester.












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Billy Beane Is Toast Of The Town In Bay Area/National Sporting Media; Moneyball Oakland GM Pulls Off Blockbuster Trade for Oakland A's

 Billy Beane didn't have to do a Billy Beane for fame and adulation in the Bay Area and national sporting media--he already has a movie among his credentials.


But a movie and Brad Pitt is one thing and a World Series is another.


With the A's picking up two prized starting pitchers to an already heady pitching staff, the move by Beane is not only the talk of the local sporting scene but indeed the entire nation.


Except on KNBR. I forgot.


So, I'm just thinking: say the A's go nuts--kick it up a notch and go to the post-season and win a World Series?

Moneyball 2 anyone?

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Talking Shop with A's Ace Play-By-Play Broadcaster Ken Korach; Writes The Definitive Book on Bill King; Saturday Schmooze

 Friday night I went over the Coliseum and met with the great Oakland A's play-by-play broadcaster, Ken Korach.

We talked shop, we schmoozed --those of you that come here know of my fond appreciation of Korach and his partner, Vince Cotroneo, --probably one of the most talented and underrated broadcast crews in Major League Baseball.


The A's are my hometown team. Love the Green and Gold. I go back to the days of Reggie Jackson, Gene Tenace, Campy Campaneris, Captain Sal Bando and Joe Rudi. Rickey Henderson too. A's and Raiders. Warriors too. It's a Tower of Power of Back to Oakland Superstars, some Hall-of-Famers.


Let's not forget the greatest broadcaster ever; the guy that described the action from the Coliseum; the place that Curt Gowdy referred to as "The House of Thrills"; Bill King, Holy Toledo!


Korach has been with the A's for almost 20 years and recently wrote a book about Bill King. Finally got it and couldn't put it down. Riveting stuff. Poignant, happy, what a ton of memories and then some.


I knew Korach could do great play-by-play. I didn't know he was a great writer. This is a terrific book, a must read not only for those of you that appreciated Bill King, but also like good stories.
There's a ton of stories in "Holy Toledo--Lessions from Bill King: Renaissance Man of The Mic"


Read the book.


The Foreword was written by Jon Miller.


It's one of those books that brings back great memories from the beginning of King's career; I began listening to Bill in the early 70's when he was doing the Raiders. Of course he would soon broadcast the A's, Raiders and Warriors. A three-sport broadcast superstar.


In the book, Korach describes his first introduction to Bill King--as a kid growing up in West LA:


 It was a magical experience, having a game four hundred miles away come out of the little box next to my bed, and Bill King made me feel like I was sitting courtside with him.




The book is entertaining and perfect reading if you appreciate great broadcasters. Korach worked with King for 10 years and took over for Bill when he died in 2005. There's stories about that and more. Like I said it's nostalgic, it's funny and there's quite a bit of interesting things to read, some good inside dope too, hilarious and things even I didn't know about Bill King.


It's Summer. Reading time.


This is worth it. 
































































































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Bill King Doesn't Need The Hall of Fame For Affirmation

 Does Bill King belong in the HOF? Of course. But the thing is, were Bill alive today, he'd be laughing and saying, "enough, please, just enough," along with a few other coarse things not appropriate but we won't go there.

 

The thing is ...BILL KING doesn't need the baseball HOF, or any hall for that matter. And Bill, again, would be the first to say that. Those of us who had the pleasure and honor of listening to the master for many of those years knew Bill was Bill and Bill doesn't need any damn affirmation to be the legend that he is and was. Damn the awards, the accolades, the fake, pimped-up, vote-stuffing, contests to get Bill in some kind of artificial contest.

 

I was fortunate to get to know Bill and beyond being just a great broadcaster, a real announcer, Bill King was one of nicest people in the business. He was gracious, kind, had an incredibly terrific sense of humor and was the consummate professional in and out of the booth. A gentleman.

 

Awards are great. But Bill King not being elected to be in the HOF doesn't mask the affinity nor diminish Bill's legacy in the history of the play-by-play business. All of us who listened to him courtside doing the Warriors; the Raiders, the A's, Bill being Bill was good enough for us. We don't need, nor did Bill, any superficial award--his work transcended any sort of award. Bill is up there in heaven looking down and laughing. I'm pretty damn sure.

 

The HOF needs Bill King more than Bill King needed the HOF.

 

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Tribute: Bill King Passing Eight Years Ago Today; The Greatest Ever; Holy Toledo

 I'm reminded it was eight years ago Friday of the passing of longtime Bay Area broadcaster, Bill King.

More than just the greatest broadcaster in Bay Area history, King was classy; the consummate professional; a master wordsmith who transcended sports and was a part of the Bay Area cultural landscape--oh, and a very nice gentleman too.

Miss you Bill King.

Holy Toledo!




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CSNBA's Papa and Reiss; Northern Cal Emmys; KTVU; KPIX; Kawakami/Purdy Wolff Lovefest; Monday Media Blotter

MONDAY MEDIA BLOTTER ....

If you notice a bit of tension between Comcast SportsNet's Greg Papa and Scott Reiss, you're quite shrewd. It's not that noticeable but both are not exactly chummy these days and it's not merely money matters, although the financial chasm is quite extraordinary, (guess who makes about $150G more), and the fact that Papa is the primary pre and post-game host for the Giants is also quite annoying to Reiss, who Papa replaced.

There's a bit of irony here: Reiss is doing the A's pre and post shows, (along with the vastly-improved, if still occasionally bland, Bip Roberts); while the Giants are numero uno, ratings wise the king of the hill, the A's are in first place and actually playing better than the Larry Baer machine.

**They had the Northern California Emmys the other night at the Hilton. I had an invitation to go but I was already tied up in my previous engagement to see a cryonics documentary on the local access channel.

**That new morning guy on KTVU seems to have a lot of face time over the suddenly enhanced-vacation status of one Dave Clark.

**Tim Kawakami, the SJ Merc blogger/writer and fellow scribbler, Mark Purdy: unabashed Lew Wolff aide and abettors for Wolff's kissy-kisses with San Jose. Two things, well three: 1. At least Purdy has the guile to debate the topic and go at it; Kawakami, on the other hand, is a coward and hides. 3. This is not media-related but the A's and their plumbing problem will be in Oakland for at least 5-6 more years no matter what happens; San Jose is a pipe-dream at best and that's thanks to the Giants and Mr. Baer who still have a house to pay for and is not about ready to relinquish their territorial rights to the A's...Want a basic clue? If San Jose and the A's were even close to  deal they'd have had it now. There is NO deal and that's why MLB, Bud Selig, and Wolff are stuck in neutral. It's Oakland or bust.

**My KPIX item generated a lot of discussion about the safety of the bridge, (which if you re-read the post), had the least to do with the item...as for Caltrans and PIX' cushy promotional tour, I'll leave for you all to decide.

**Quite a scene over at Cumulus' key station where some intern/producer  ran up quite a lunch tab for a quick bite at Grumpy's. I'm not kidding. Anything over $30 gets looked at. Here's hoping some manager bring in extra tuna sandwiches for the assorted crumbs running around the 11th floor.

**KTVU would like to thank the corner of 6th and Market for trusting them.


**Christina Loren: You're  good but your not that good.

**Wayne Freedman: There comes a time when you get sort of stuffy. Maybe the 7800 Emmys need to be fumigated.

**Farce: Tom Sinkovitz can't get a gig in local TV because some of the consultants thinks he's old. Another reason to kick the shit out of all consultants.

**I'm repeating myself, again, but KCBS' shameful repeat after repeat after repeat after repeat story during the weekends, (most notably), and less often, (but still way too much), during weekdays has begun to taint the brand. And I've been, (and continue to be), pretty much supportive of the KCBS operation so don't beat me up, Doug Harvill.


**The local, popular female anchor reporter who likes to mix and match with the boys at Kokkari might be inclined to know that her recent tip on a $150 tab wasn't entirely appreciated by the bartenders. Maybe next time at least 10% would be doable.

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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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