I just listened for about 20 minutes during the last hour of the Really Big Show.  It definitely seems like he is claiming total innocence but didn't want to talk about it.  Didn't he just recently marry that lady?

Regarding sports on a talk show that isn't exactly a sports talk show, guess what well known Stoolers fans just  flat out said "The Browns got ripped off, NFL officiating is a real mess.

 

(No, it wasn't Kenny Roda).

Wow.  Ms. Katherine?  I'm shocked.  Never took Rizzo to be that guy.  He was on the f'in air this morning!  Take a leave of absence, Bro.  If this holds up, I would suspect that he will be off KNR and lose his show on Fox 8.

You might be amazed at what alcohol can do to people, especially when a couple has problems and they are both drunk.

 

I wouldn't be amazed at all.  I've seen the worst of it and, in a past life, it was my job to deal with it.  But I do know that it depends on the person.  I'd like to think that the vast majority of guys in society have enough morality in them to never beat on a woman, no matter how many drinks have been consumed and how hot tempers have flared.  I know I have never laid my hands on a woman before.  I just never took Rizzo for that type of guy..... and I still hope that he isn't.  I wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if this was certain other local radio personalities.

Wow.  Ms. Katherine?  I'm shocked.  Never took Rizzo to be that guy.  He was on the f'in air this morning!  Take a leave of absence, Bro.  If this holds up, I would suspect that he will be off KNR and lose his show on Fox 8.

You might be amazed at what alcohol can do to people, especially when a couple has problems and they are both drunk.

 

I wouldn't be amazed at all.  I've seen the worst of it and, in a past life, it was my job to deal with it.  But I do know that it depends on the person.  I'd like to think that the vast majority of guys in society have enough morality in them to never beat on a woman, no matter how many drinks have been consumed and how hot tempers have flared.  I know I have never laid my hands on a woman before.  I just never took Rizzo for that type of guy..... and I still hope that he isn't.  I wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if this was certain other local radio personalities.

 

That's why I said "might be", because certainly many have.  I've also found that some people in the treatment end of things don't see these people at their best, until they've been through the program. 

 

I've seen the folks who can drink beer until the sun rises and just be a happy silly drunk but let them drink shots (or even one particular kind of liquor) and they turn just plain mean. 

 

Also, guys who would never hit a woman normally will often say "unless she hits me first".  They may or not mean that sober but do drunk, then the drunk woman decides to hit them thinking he'd never hit her back.  These things can spin out of control quickly. 

Rizzo is not in the studio this morning.  I wonder if he disclosed this to GKB before going on the air yesterday.  It seems like it all came out in the middle of his show.

According to Ohio Media Watch, they're sticking by him. Probably because they have to. Who else do they have over there? Vic Carucci?

 

http://ohiomediawatch.com/2013/12/10/rizzo-on-the-hot-seat/

^I was thinking about who would take over the 9-12 slot if Rizzo doesn't return.  They aren't going to let Hammer go solo.  Munch Bishop is the only one I could think of.  Maybe Reghi (does he still work there?)  If it was Brinda, I would delete KNR from my pre-programmed stations.

I think you have to bring in someone new. All those guys are retreads who have had their own shows and had varying degrees of success (in fact I think every one of them bombed during drive time).

 

GKB management has to be kicking themselves right now, because the one show I could see seamlessly moving into that spot was 3 Deep, which is no more.

Rizzo is on the air today

Well, considering the reverence all these sports shows and personalities have for Jim Brown, you can tell that domestic violence is not really a deal-breaker when it comes to who they support and defend.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy jack-ass. Gee, maybe it had more to do with his idiotic ripping into minorities speaking languages other than English in Coke's Super Bowl commercial?....

 

Chuck Booms gets suspended for being in Laugh Track, so be warned as you prepare to perform this week in Cleveland, Dan Cummins and Guy Torry

By Michael K. McIntyre

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on February 05, 2014 at 12:00 PM, updated February 05, 2014 at 2:45 PM

 

Is it something he said?: Chuck Booms, the morning sports ranter on 92.3 The Fan, headlined last week at the Improv doing tons of crowd work with folks who obviously enjoy his radio persona and his more profane stand-up routine. He spoke with Laugh Track last week ahead of his gig and took some digs at Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. It was no different that what he says every day on the air and way tamer than the material he brought on stage.

 

The column posted on Cleveland.Com Wednesday. On Thursday, he was suspended for a day without pay and not on the air. He talked about it at the Improv.

 

We called the local brass at CBS radio, which owns The Fan, to ask what gives. No call back. Apparently, they didn't want to have to suspend themselves for talking to the media.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/02/chuck_booms_gets_suspended_for.html

As if I needed any more reason to dislike Bruce Hooley, he made a real a## out of himself one day last week.  In the morning, Rizzo and Goldhammer had discussed the answer given by potential Browns draftee QB Derek Carr to the question of why he wants to play professional football.  His answer was "to spread the gospel."  Rizzo and 'Hammer thought that was a really odd response, inferred that Carr might be a religious freak, and said they didn't want necessarily want a guy on their team who had that as his mission in playing the game of football.  Well Hooley was just up in arms about that reaction and stated that if they had said they didn't want Michael Sam on their team that the media would be going bonkers over it.

 

First of all, Bruce, there have been plenty of people who have said they didn't want Michael Sam due to the distraction it would cause.  But, regardless, that is an embarrisingly ignorant false equivolency.  Michael Sam never said that his mission in playing football is to "spread gayness" to the world.  He is simply a gay man who wants to play football, just like countless christian men who play football without controversy.  Sam simply announced that he is gay..... no different than if Carr had simply said that he was a Christian.  If Rizzo and 'Hammer had said they didn't want him on the team because he was a Christian, then Hooley might have a point.  I was about to make my first ever call to an AM station to tell him what an idiot he sounds like when 'Hammer called in and took Hooley to task over the BS he was spewing.

 

Stay in your lane, Bruce

^ I was listening to that too and thought the comparison was stupid. Jerrod and Hooley feel like they need to defend their conservative religious viewpoint even if their feigned insult is unfounded and idiotic.

 

I was disappointed with Hammer's rebuttle. Too much tip-toeing around his original opinion. Did Riz and Hammer ever bring it up again?

 

And I agree with you. Anything other than "I want to bring a championship to your team" is the wrong answer and reason to reconsider their dedication. This kid needs to get out of the shadow of his older brother.

WKNR has very little talent.  Im shocked that they bumped Rome to smaller frequency.  92.3, like the personalities or not, have talent and smooth running shows (save Baskin and Phelps).  THey actually minimize dead air.  Some of the things i hear on WKNR is just about the worst radio you can draw up.

The only good shows on either station is their respective morning hosts. The rest are amateur at best.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy jack-ass. Gee, maybe it had more to do with his idiotic ripping into minorities speaking languages other than English in Coke's Super Bowl commercial?....

 

Chuck Booms gets suspended for being in Laugh Track, so be warned as you prepare to perform this week in Cleveland, Dan Cummins and Guy Torry

By Michael K. McIntyre

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on February 05, 2014 at 12:00 PM, updated February 05, 2014 at 2:45 PM

 

Is it something he said?: Chuck Booms, the morning sports ranter on 92.3 The Fan, headlined last week at the Improv doing tons of crowd work with folks who obviously enjoy his radio persona and his more profane stand-up routine. He spoke with Laugh Track last week ahead of his gig and took some digs at Browns owner Jimmy Haslam. It was no different that what he says every day on the air and way tamer than the material he brought on stage.

 

The column posted on Cleveland.Com Wednesday. On Thursday, he was suspended for a day without pay and not on the air. He talked about it at the Improv.

 

We called the local brass at CBS radio, which owns The Fan, to ask what gives. No call back. Apparently, they didn't want to have to suspend themselves for talking to the media.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/02/chuck_booms_gets_suspended_for.html

 

Can't stand A-hole Booms, either. 

As if I needed any more reason to dislike Bruce Hooley, he made a real a## out of himself one day last week.  In the morning, Rizzo and Goldhammer had discussed the answer given by potential Browns draftee QB Derek Carr to the question of why he wants to play professional football.  His answer was "to spread the gospel."  Rizzo and 'Hammer thought that was a really odd response, inferred that Carr might be a religious freak, and said they didn't want necessarily want a guy on their team who had that as his mission in playing the game of football.  Well Hooley was just up in arms about that reaction and stated that if they had said they didn't want Michael Sam on their team that the media would be going bonkers over it.

 

First of all, Bruce, there have been plenty of people who have said they didn't want Michael Sam due to the distraction it would cause.  But, regardless, that is an embarrisingly ignorant false equivolency.  Michael Sam never said that his mission in playing football is to "spread gayness" to the world.  He is simply a gay man who wants to play football, just like countless christian men who play football without controversy.  Sam simply announced that he is gay..... no different than if Carr had simply said that he was a Christian.  If Rizzo and 'Hammer had said they didn't want him on the team because he was a Christian, then Hooley might have a point.  I was about to make my first ever call to an AM station to tell him what an idiot he sounds like when 'Hammer called in and took Hooley to task over the BS he was spewing.

 

Stay in your lane, Bruce

 

How is this even a big deal?  Tebow and McCoy were similar and A. J. McCarron likewise, enough so to get a little wierd responding to the Grammys.  It's a QB thing.

How is it a big deal?   

 

The false equivalency and outrage of the xtians and their persecution is tired and absurd.  Secondly, from a football perspective you want your player focused on the game not being a preacher.  Doubtful it would be a locker room positive either, those guys are there to ball, get paid, and party, not be preached too.

 

 

WKNR has very little talent.  Im shocked that they bumped Rome to smaller frequency.  92.3, like the personalities or not, have talent and smooth running shows (save Baskin and Phelps).  THey actually minimize dead air.  Some of the things i hear on WKNR is just about the worst radio you can draw up.

 

What's wrong with Baskin and Phelps?  I think they have one of the best shows on 92.3. 

 

What's wrong with Baskin and Phelps?  I think they have one of the best shows on 92.3. 

 

So do I. Phelps whines and says "I'm sorry" too much. But other than that, I like him. BTW, I do think Ken Carmen's show is pretty funny. Love his sound clips.

I think Baskin and Phelps are good guys, i dont despise them.  I think they are just two of the most boring, vanilla guys to ever sit behind a microphone.  And they are kind of lame too.  I dont like sports guys that dont know the ins and outs of the city of Cleveland...they cant speak to great things other than the sports teams...yes i know that is their job, but you are boradcasting to 1000's of people, if you knew the city like you knew sports you can help get out the self-image.  Instead, when topics like our culinary scene, or development or anything come up outside of sports, they play that same lame "old cleveland" take. If they had some more education about the city, they could do a better job of it.  I mean Kiley and Bull are NOT clevelanders and they do a better job of promoting the city and knowing it...they live in downtown and Lakewood, respectively.

How is this even a big deal?  Tebow and McCoy were similar and A. J. McCarron likewise, enough so to get a little wierd responding to the Grammys.  It's a QB thing.

 

It wasn't a big deal at all until Hooley and Cherry brought their false outrage (or, perhaps worse yet, idiotically misplaced outraged) onto the air.  Rizzo and Hammer sort of just mentioned it as a possible negative when talking about Carr.  Hooley then took it up and made a few hours out of Rizzo's/Hammer's response.

 

And, to be honest, I wouldn't have had much of an issue with Hooley taking issue with their response, but for the patently (at least to everyone with an IQ above 75) false equivalency he then used to make his point.  The whole meaning of the "spreading the gospel" thing is something that is not understood well by non-christians...... as it would not be understood well by christians if jews felt it was their primary mission in life to "spread the torah" and took every opportunity, whether through laws, peer pressure, public education, etc. to do that.  It is a fundamental difference between jews (and many other religions) and christians.  Jews, for instance, are much more 'do as you please' with non-jews and don't try to cram/jam/wham/bam/slam/hotdamn their religion down anyone else's throat.... maybe moreso for selfish/ethnocentric reasons than anything else.  They specifically are God's chosen.... the righteous people.... and don't have any particular interest in expanding that coverage.

 

However, I would assume that Carr's intentions were not what Rizzo/Hammer presumed.  If asked more specifically, I would bet that he intended to say that by playing well (i.e. winning championships, MVPs, etc) he would 'spread the gospel' by showing the type of dedication, perserverance, etc., etc. being a good christian has taught him.  I don't think he has any intention of trying to convert his teammates/fans through more direct messaging. 

 

The problem is that "spread the gospel" has a very negative connotation among non-christians..... sort of like the arabic phrase for "God is great(est)"...... both have negative historical black eyes to deal with.

I think Baskin and Phelps are good guys, i dont despise them.  I think they are just two of the most boring, vanilla guys to ever sit behind a microphone.  And they are kind of lame too.  I dont like sports guys that dont know the ins and outs of the city of Cleveland...they cant speak to great things other than the sports teams...yes i know that is their job, but you are boradcasting to 1000's of people, if you knew the city like you knew sports you can help get out the self-image.  Instead, when topics like our culinary scene, or development or anything come up outside of sports, they play that same lame "old cleveland" take. If they had some more education about the city, they could do a better job of it.  I mean Kiley and Bull are NOT clevelanders and they do a better job of promoting the city and knowing it...they live in downtown and Lakewood, respectively.

 

But Believeland, I like Baskin & Phelps because they tend to focus on ... sports, while so many hosts focus on themselves and become the show.  If I want stand up, I'll tune into Fallon, Ferguson, Letterman or Maher.  NOTE: Baskin and Phelps are a couple local guys who, if I'm not mistaken, met at Kent State (or if not, at least they both attended college there), so we can relate to them as fans who grew up here also…  I've come to like the Bull & the Fox to a degree, at least when they can keep Adam "the Bull" under control; sometimes I think he's a frustrated Chris Berman.  Sometimes the out-of-town thing is a little awkward, but if these guys embrace Cleveland (unlike Aaron Goldhammer on WKNR, who looks down his nose at Cleveland), then it does get irritating.  But again, sports, esp. a local sports angle, is what I want.

 

Ken Carmen is one of 92.3's best imho and, indeed, is very entertaining -- he mixes in both comedy and sports very well ... at least for the 1st hour or so.  It seems like inevitably, however, he devolves it to the goofy stuff: women ("hot chicks" as they like to say), drinking, clubs and the like, and there's constant banter with his off-air personnel such as his engineer.  That's when he loses me and when I switch.  A number of 92.3 hosts do that, except B & P... Occasionally guys like Carmen will drift into an off-sports subject that interests me, like movies and some music; but usually I'm outta there when it goes too far afield of sports.

 

I don't think Hammer looks down his nose at Cleveland. In fact, I'd say the opposite, he's adopted Cleveland as his hometown (well, to the extent that he better deals KNR to go to a new opportunity). He's no fan of OSU, but then, who in their right mind is (I kid!)

 

I've lost interest in RBS primarily because they spend more time shilling products than actually entertaining, and as a whole, the show has taken the 'righteous indignation of the fans' shtick a little too far. Way too much effort spent on complaining about how we dont' have any winners. I get it. Move on.

^ Agree I've met Aaron and he loves Tremont.

 

My biggest problem with Cle sports radio is the never-ending Browns discussion. WKNR defends this because they often poll their current listeners and that's what they want: Browns 24-7. Yet the powers that be should really be polling sports fans who don't listen. Otherwise they will never ever expand their listener base.

I don't think Hammer looks down his nose at Cleveland. In fact, I'd say the opposite, he's adopted Cleveland as his hometown (well, to the extent that he better deals KNR to go to a new opportunity). He's no fan of OSU, but then, who in their right mind is (I kid!)

 

I've lost interest in RBS primarily because they spend more time shilling products than actually entertaining, and as a whole, the show has taken the 'righteous indignation of the fans' shtick a little too far. Way too much effort spent on complaining about how we dont' have any winners. I get it. Move on.

 

OK, maybe it's more like he likes to needle Clevelanders ... "So what do you think, Browns fan, Buckeye fan" ... etc.  Hammer's not a bad guy, but I do think he likes to have fun at the expense of the more die hard Cleveland fan who, I'll admit, can be very parochial at times.  I only listen to him on Saturday (I can only take so much of Tony Rizzo, so I don’t listen to Hammer during the week), but he likes to spend entire Saturday mornings taking heat from locals for goring their home sports ox.  All in fun, I guess… btw, I thought Hammer had moved from Tremont and that he and his new bride were living in Shaker.  He once quipped about taking the Rapid to work… Somehow, I can hardly see that but, then again…

 

 

My biggest problem with Cle sports radio is the never-ending Browns discussion. WKNR defends this because they often poll their current listeners and that's what they want: Browns 24-7. Yet the powers that be should really be polling sports fans who don't listen. Otherwise they will never ever expand their listener base.

 

I'm with you on that.  I can't stand 24/7 Browns talk, esp when the NFL season just recently ended.  The NFL is a giant hype machine.  They first pumped up the draft decades ago and, more recently, they pump up the combines which, of course, lead up to the draft.  And of course, we're in the midst of free agency now.  The NFL, and it's media tools like the 4-letter network, Fox and others, pump the NFL hype machine constantly... It's just too bad local markets, like Cleveland, just lap it up... I mean, how pathetic is it that 92.3 and KNR have spent over a solid month merely assessing Johnny Manzeil and whether the Browns should take him ... booooooorrring!  Esp. when our most promising pro team right now, the Indians, are in Spring training and the Cavs, frustrating as they've been, are making a long shot playoff chase... ... I've heard these local talkers talk Browns draft on opening day of the Indians' season just this last year; ditto, the night the Cavs opened their season.

 

... so when I hear this Browns b.s., my radio goes "click".

 

Well, it doesn't help that the Browns have bought both sports stations by this "split" they concocted, where both are now home of the Browns. Both stations are obligated to spend inordinate amounts of time discussing minutia that really the common sports fan doesn't really care about (or at least wouldn't if it wasn't hyped so much)

Well, it doesn't help that the Browns have bought both sports stations by this "split" they concocted, where both are now home of the Browns. Both stations are obligated to spend inordinate amounts of time discussing minutia that really the common sports fan doesn't really care about (or at least wouldn't if it wasn't hyped so much)

 

Same deal with ESPN which was paid by the NFL $1 billion to cover them, including Monday Night Football plus special shows throughout the week.

Is anybody else having difficulty getting good reception on WKNR these past two days?  I'm not sure if it is my car's antenna or the station has just had a crappy signal.  A ton of static is coming through.  I seem to be getting all the other stations just fine..... but WKNR probably has the weakest signal to begin with between it, AM1100, and anything on the FM dial.

They're having issues. I was listening (Ironically to Rizzo) yesterday for a bit and they were complaining that one of their transmitters is down or something.

This morning Kiley & Booms were actually bringing pastors on the show to get listeners to come to their church. WTF?? Sorry, but I consider religion to be a deeply personal and private matter, so I was very uncomfortable when they did this. In general, it's not topical to the radio station's format which is sports talk. If I wanted to listen to a religious radio station, which I don't as it goes against my strong beliefs about keeping your religion to yourself, then I would have listened to a religious radio station.

^ Kiley and Booms like to push the envelope.  I dont think they brought these guys on to get people to become religious, i sensed their tone as kind of mocking these pastors for handing out things like steaks, guns, tattoos in order to attract people to their church.  Without getting too confrontational, Kiley seemed put off by the fact that what they were offering people was seemingly against religious principles.  I agree with you, i was surprised because i did not know where that conversation was going...but sometimes they go off the chart a bit to stir the pot.

This wasn't just advertising? I could see a group of churches banding together to make a large enough buy to pay for a talent led infomercial/native ad.

^KNR did the same thing a few years ago. They had some people come in from, I believe, The Word Church for about a half hour on Rizzo's show. That's right around the time when I started to notice the ad sales going over the top. I remember thinking at the time it was odd for a sports show to have so much time dedicated to promoting a church.  I imagine the church paid for the right to come in, and the show dedicates a segment to them to promote.

They're having issues. I was listening (Ironically to Rizzo) yesterday for a bit and they were complaining that one of their transmitters is down or something.

 

Were the listeners blaming Aaron for this?

Cleveland fans 'inexplicable' in indifference toward Indians, embracing of Browns

By Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

March 26, 2014 10:19 am ET

 

A recent phone conversation between a Cleveland sportswriter and sports talk show host went something like this:

 

Sportswriter: "I can't listen to sports talk in this city anymore. It's driving me nuts."

 

Host: "Why?"

 

Sportwriter: "All they talk about at both sports talk stations is the Browns. Day after day. Hour after hour. The draft. The quarterback situation. It's like the Indians and Cavaliers don't exist."

 

READ MORE:

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/fantasy-baseball-today/24501250/cleveland-fans-inexplicable-in-indifference-toward-indians-embracing-of-browns

I did not grow up in the Cleveland area but I was raised a Browns fan.  Prior to moving to Cleveland ~6 years ago I had no affiliation with the Indians or Cavs.  I have since become a casual fan of both.  I would consider myself a pretty die-hard Browns fan and even with all of that being said I find the sports talk radio pathetic.  Only hearing about the Browns in Jan-April is overkill and annoying.  I don't listen to sports talk in Cleveland anymore unless it is within a couple weeks before/after the draft and once preseason starts. 

 

I hope the Cavs or Indians never leave for the city's sake but I don't think there will be a lot of people that feel bad for the fans outside of Cleveland if that happens (if things keep going in this direction).

 

***I should add that I think the attendance for the Cavs has remained fairly impressive considering the product.  Hopefully the Indians attendance issues improve with a consistent contender.  I think the blaming the owner stuff has become an excuse for recent attendance issues.

maybe sports talk hosts should stop leaning on callers as a crutch and talk about more interesting sports topics that don't include breaking down the team, the draft, the schedule, etc.

 

For instance, the Bess situation could have been interesting radio.  They could have gone down the avenue of mental illness, treatment, the role of an employer in a situation like this, how society treats people who break down in this manner.  Instead, we hear draft talk all day.

The lineup at WKNR seems to just keep going downhill.  I wish I could get into Browns Daily, but Vic is just so bland and obviously a cheerleader.....not a very entertaining combo.  I think they need a local guy in that chair in Berea.  They have Brinda doing Cavs post games and even he hates the show.  RBS is drifting farther away from sports talk.  Give it another 5 years and it'll be the down the dial version of what the Triv show has become.  I honestly don't enjoy any of the current shows

^agree 100%. I think the wknr talent is minimal. I like the fan more. Speaking of knr what ever happened to reghi n Rhoda?

After hearing the tail end of Chuck Booms' interviewing/attacking Chris Rose on 92.3 for questioning the wisdom of taking Manziel at #4, I took the graphic from the Cleveland Browns discussion and "tweaked" it a bit......

 

A major reshuffling on the horizon for WKNR.  Jerrod Cherry will be joining Rizzo on RBS in the mornings.  Goldhammer will join up with Emmit Golden for a new show from 3pm-5pm.  Hooley will be all alone from 5-7 and then Munch will go from 7-9.

 

Looks like I will be spending my drive (home) time listening to 92.3 for the foreseeable future.

I actually don't mind Hammer much...and Bull and Fox talk way too much Browns for my taste.

That being said, I've been listening to Sirius XM a bit more lately.

I don't mind Hammer either.  But I am rarely driving home before 5, so I wasn't referring to him.  It's Hooley who hurts my ears and makes me depressed.

I still can't stand Goldhammer. He seems way too into himself and from the few times I've listened to him recently, he's taken on some of Rizzo's idiosyncrasies, which is not a good thing in my opinion.

Did anybody else catch Baskin and Les Levine making fun of the Cleveland whoa-is-me'ers at about 12:30 today? I was dying.

Did anybody else catch Baskin and Les Levine making fun of the Cleveland whoa-is-me'ers at about 12:30 today? I was dying.

 

Yes I did. I'm so glad he dug up the old Schleprock stuff from the Flintstones. A perfect analogy for the woe-is-me Clevelanders and a perfect way to make fun of them. Some of these people have been so miserable for so long they do know how to let themselves enjoy good news and have some fun.

Ah.... I read CBC's post last night and didn't understand. You mean WOE is me.  The homonym would mean something different, no?

My bad.