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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The Barbieri-KNBR/Cumulus Settlement; Response from Angela Alioto

The Ralph Barbieri- Cumulus/KNBR settlement--reported here first--has generated a ton of e-mail. We'll address that in a future posting.

Just got a text from Barbieri attorney, Angela Alioto, who gave me this statement:

"The matter has been resolved. The terms and conditions are confidential."

Under terms of the settlement (normal legal confidentiality), Alioto would not disclose the amount of the award although a source familiar with the details of the agreement told me that the figure was $4 million. The source spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the case.

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Barbieri Settlement Bullet Points; The Alioto Factor; Prospect Of Facing Sympathetic SF Jury Weighed Heavily on Cumulus; Thursday Starter

  BARBIERI SETTLEMENT BULLET POINTS

1. The prospect, however unlikely the plaintiff, Ralph Barbieri, had any case, of a sympathetic liberal SF jury hearing how a big greedy corporate company from Atlanta fired a man in the early stages of Parkinson's disease was reason enough for Cumulus to settle.

2. Forget how you feel about Barbieri--good or bad--the mere legal facts of the case, however nebulous, were enough to cause the powers that be to get this behind them.

3. In spite of the "blown-away" amount of settlement money offered by Cumulus, Angela Alioto, the attorney for Barbieri, wanted to go to trial, according to my source. It was Ralph Barbieri who was happy about the offer and told Alioto the figure was good for him. (No shit, Sherlock.) The $4M settlement is more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of one's life.

4. Barbieri has a special needs son; the settlement money will go a long way to helping his son navigate through life. It was that major element that gave emphasis to this complaint.

5. A biggie: This settlement is also about pragmatism. Barbieri isn't the only older Cumulus employee in SF that has a debilitating disease. This settlement might have staved off another possible future legal showdown.

6. Alioto comes from a family with deep Italian legal roots in SF and likes a good fight. Don't think the Dickey bunch did a lot of "Joe Alioto" googling. And Angela ain't so bad herself.

7. Yes, it was a settlement and not a victory. But even the most ardent optimists in this town gave Barbieri no shot at this case even smelling a courtroom. The settlement award was astounding. Wonder what those who said he had no chance are thinking today.

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Breaking: Exclusive! Barbieri Settles Wrongful Termination Suit With Cumulus For $4 Million; Former KNBR Sports Host Was At Station Nearly 3 Decades

Ralph Barbieri

EXCLUSIVE TO RICH LIEBERMAN 415 MEDIA--

BARBIERI SETTLES CUMULUS WRONGFUL TERMINATION SUIT FOR $4M!

A source close to Angelia Alioto, the lawyer representing former KNBR Sports host, Ralph Barbieri, told me directly the suit was effectively settled Wednesday afternoon in SF Superior Court.

Barbieri, according to the source, will receive $4 Million, pending normal signing of legal documents and papers pertinent to the case.

The source told me that "Barbieri and his son 'Tate will live comfortably the rest of their life."

Barbieri was fired from KNBRCumulus in April, 2012 after nearly three decades on the air with the all-sports SF Radio outlet. In 2011, months before his firing, he disclosed he was battling early-stages Parkinson's disease.

The source also indicated that Alioto was prepared to continue to pursue the case but was "blown away" by the offer from Cumulus. Ultimately, it was Barbieri who told Alioto that the amount offered was good enough for him to settle.

*Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive

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Flash: Alioto To 415 Media Exclusively: 'We Go To Trial September 9th'; Barbieri Lawsuit Against KNBR/Cumulus Proceeds

Just got this e-mail from Ralph Barbieri's attorney, Angela Alioto:

We have won the Summary Judgement and we are going to trial in San Francisco on September 9th...on the following causes of action: Discrimination based on Age, Discrimination based on Disability, Wrongful Termination, Failure to Prevent Discrimination, Breach of contract.....AND Fraud by Lew Dickey. We will pick a jury on Monday September 9th.

Barbieri was fired from KNBR--Cumulus in April of 2012. There are many people who thought it wouldn't make it this far. They still may be right. The prospect of a settlement is always pertinent and still likely, but this is not your normal case.

A. As one of Ralph's friends pointed out to me recently, "Two things: Ralph is a Scorpio and he's Italian."

B. Deep-pocketed Cumulus can let this play out, right? Maybe, maybe not. Almost every lawyer says Barbieri has no chance to win. They're probably right. On the other hand those same lawyers said it would never get to this point. It has.

C. If the case proceeds, does Cumulus want its dirty laundry aired in public? I doubt it. Does it dare risk further info exposed into the public domain about its secret business model. Would Cumulus itself want to go forward with a potentially sympathetic San Francisco jury judging the merits of a guy who has early-stages Parkinson's disease that was shown the door by a greedy corporate glob like Cumulus?

**Developing...

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Barbieri lawsuit against Cumulus/KNBR proceeds; Dickey deposed; Trial begins Sept. 9; Yahoo replaces Chronicle on CSNBA Talk Show; Saturday Media Notes

Ralph Barbieri's lawsuit against Cumulus is proceeding; both he and his lawyer, Angela Alioto, returned to the Bay Area Friday night after a day in Atlanta where Cumulus CEO, Lew Dickey, was deposed.

Barbieri was fired from KNBR in April of 2012 and months later, filed an unlawful termination suit against Cumulus media. The odds of the suit making it all the way through the legal web and to actual court is long and arduous, let alone Barbieri winning, but the Dickey deposition means the ex-KNBR talk vet is serious about pursuing his day in court.

The trial begins Sept. 9th. No talk of settlement on either side.

**Comcast SportsNet's, "Chronicle Live" is no more: come Monday, the sports cable show becomes "Yahoo Sports Live." My gut tells me Yahoo offered a sizable chunk of cash to sponsor the local sports chat show and the Chronicle balked. Just a hunch.

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