Is Goldhammer a heat shield for Rizzo?

[CC4Life]

Has anybody ever stopped to think that the reason Aaron Goldhammer is kept around is because he masks just how truly awful Tony Rizzo is?

Now I want to qualify that I am not one of those "I hate The Really Big Show, I listen to it everyday so I can chronicle all of the show's outrages" type of listeners. I generally do not listen to TRBS or any WKNR programming because I think they are awful, however, I have been listening to the podcasts involving Tony Grossi as we go through the the firing of Pat Shurmur, hiring of Mike Lombardi, and hiring of Rob Chudzinski.

And the one thing I've taken from these podcasts is how insanely irritating Rizzo is when he does his "I am absolutely OUTRAGED" schtick, especially in regards to Lombardi. Everytime he goes "Tony, WHY ARE THE BROWNS DOING THIS? WHY ARE THEY HIRING LOMBARDI?!!??" you just want to reach into the radio, grap Rizzo by the throat, and start screaming "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

Not that it would ever happen, but I wish Mel would force Rizzo to hire a pragmatist as co-host, someone who, when Rizzo starts spazzing out, cuts off his mic and goes "Tony, we don't know how Mike Lombardi is going to go, we need to sit back and take it all in before making any judgements" and then cut off Rizzo again as he tries to flip out over that.

 

[vjm]

Has anybody ever stopped to think that the reason Aaron Goldhammer is kept around is because he masks just how truly awful Tony Rizzo is?

Now I want to qualify that I am not one of those "I hate The Really Big Show, I listen to it everyday so I can chronicle all of the show's outrages" type of listeners. I generally do not listen to TRBS or any WKNR programming because I think they are awful, however, I have been listening to the podcasts involving Tony Grossi as we go through the the firing of Pat Shurmur, hiring of Mike Lombardi, and hiring of Rob Chudzinski.

And the one thing I've taken from these podcasts is how insanely irritating Rizzo is when he does his "I am absolutely OUTRAGED" schtick, especially in regards to Lombardi. Everytime he goes "Tony, WHY ARE THE BROWNS DOING THIS? WHY ARE THEY HIRING LOMBARDI?!!??" you just want to reach into the radio, grap Rizzo by the throat, and start screaming "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

Not that it would ever happen, but I wish Mel would force Rizzo to hire a pragmatist as co-host, someone who, when Rizzo starts spazzing out, cuts off his mic and goes "Tony, we don't know how Mike Lombardi is going to go, we need to sit back and take it all in before making any judgements" and then cut off Rizzo again as he tries to flip out over that.

Rizz is a part owner of Good Karma, so he goes no where. Hammer is basically Craig Karmazin's brother from another mother, so he goes no where.

Rizzo is also buddies with Bernie Kosar, who was cut from the Browns when Lombardi and Bill Belichick were running the show in '93, so there's personal animosity there.

Lombardi brings back bad memories of Bernie being cut and the move to Baltimore, since he was Belichick's right hand man in the front office when all of that went down.

 

[Whkam1420]

Every host is considered "truly awful" by someone, but I think most in town (including media professionals) would consider Rizzo a very talented broadcaster. He's hosting a mancave show on WKNR (never forget that) and his job is infuse occasional sports when necessary, with promotion of partnerships. Believe it or not, the casual listener (ratings show in this market) want nothing to do with 24/7 nuts and bolts sports. That fact plus Rizzo's personality (the contrived arguments with Hammer notwithstanding) are what has made Rizzo's show as successful as it is.

We could all argue specific "takes" from broadcasters and who's right more than they are wrong. Truth be told, the average fan doesn't care. They want to be entertained and Rizzo generally has the pulse of the local Cleveland fan. Don't believe me? Go see him out in public, the guy is a celebrity in this town, and not the way that Jim Donovan is. Both are talented, but in very different ways. I don't believe most people really care to get Donovan's point of view on things (I'm talking about the casual fan). Most Clevelanders hear themselves when they hear Rizzo, which is why he's been so successful - dating back to the Lanigan days.

 

[CleveRadioInsider]

Rizzo is what he is. I preferred his WHK show from the mid 1990s to now. Sure there was some non sports stuff on there but it was kept to a minimum. I prefer sports talk stations to stick to sports. (Hopefully nobody gets offended as it is just my "opinion" ). I am noticing the Hooligans starting to go the way of Rizzo's show and incorporating a lot of non sports stuff as well. The good thing is now we have options. If you prefer the mancave stuff you go to WKNR and if you prefer nuts and bolts sportstalk you go to 92.3.

 

[vjm]

Rizzo is what he is. I preferred his WHK show from the mid 1990s to now. Sure there was some non sports stuff on there but it was kept to a minimum. I prefer sports talk stations to stick to sports. (Hopefully nobody gets offended as it is just my "opinion" ). I am noticing the Hooligans starting to go the way of Rizzo's show and incorporating a lot of non sports stuff as well. The good thing is now we have options. If you prefer the mancave stuff you go to WKNR and if you prefer nuts and bolts sportstalk you go to 92.3.

You're right about the Hooligans...they are starting to go more mancave (especially with Fedor gone). No doubt this is to counter balance the more Xs and Os oriented Bull and Fox over on the Fan.

Keep in mind also we're in a dead zone sports wise...The Cavs stink and are twisting in the wind, the Indians are just starting Spring training, it's still 2 1/2 months away from Cleveland's Super Bowl (known to the rest of the world as the NFL Draft) and college hoops doesn't really enter people's conciousness until March.

With nothing earth shattering going on in sports right now, the Hooligans are taking a page from the RBS and going mancave...nothing really wrong with that on principle.

 

[fingers]

Rizzo seems to scream more-I think because his Browns tirades from last year gained attention-actually, Hammer toned down-is a much better interviewer than Rizzo, and jumps in and asks better questions-I really like Hooligans, and love the more man cave talk-I mostly listen to the podcasts-just a great feature-there is only so much "Can the Browns get Joe Flacco?" talk I can take.

 

[fingers]

I also do think Rizzo likes Hammer on the show to keep a younger "vibe" on the show-still surprises me for that reason that Fedor was dumped on Hooligans.

 

[CleveRadioInsider]

With the Indians doing a lot during this offseason you would think they would be a bigger topic of discussion.

 

[vjm]

With the Indians doing a lot during this offseason you would think they would be a bigger topic of discussion.

Once we get into March, when Spring training heats up and the opener in sight, the Tribe talk will heat up.

 

[Tim]

It's just me...but: I find most WKNR programming that's "entertainment"/sports man cave style boring. Boring. Boring! Childish.

Still enjoy Brinda, Roda, and Michael R. when they do straight-ahead sportstalk. A little "what's your favorite beer" (etc., etc.) is OK weaved in...but, for me...I'm interested pretty much in mainly, well: talk about sports.

Not IMHO: silly, junior-high level "lifestyle" content. Ridiculous. A waste of time to listen to (so, I don't...LOL).

Again...that's just my taste.

 

[CC4Life]

Every host is considered "truly awful" by someone, but I think most in town (including media professionals) would consider Rizzo a very talented broadcaster. He's hosting a mancave show on WKNR (never forget that) and his job is infuse occasional sports when necessary, with promotion of partnerships. Believe it or not, the casual listener (ratings show in this market) want nothing to do with 24/7 nuts and bolts sports. That fact plus Rizzo's personality (the contrived arguments with Hammer notwithstanding) are what has made Rizzo's show as successful as it is.

We could all argue specific "takes" from broadcasters and who's right more than they are wrong. Truth be told, the average fan doesn't care. They want to be entertained and Rizzo generally has the pulse of the local Cleveland fan. Don't believe me? Go see him out in public, the guy is a celebrity in this town, and not the way that Jim Donovan is. Both are talented, but in very different ways. I don't believe most people really care to get Donovan's point of view on things (I'm talking about the casual fan). Most Clevelanders hear themselves when they hear Rizzo, which is why he's been so successful - dating back to the Lanigan days.

LOL. You've obviously never lived or worked outside of the Cleveland market like I have. You've obviously, like WKNR's listeners, never listened to WEEI in Boston, WFAN in New York, the 2 Live Stews in Atlanta, or Steve "The Big Dog" Duemig in Tampa.

All you know is WKNR and thus you have no idea of how far advanced/superior the sports radio hosts in other markets are.

That's why we're seeing the slow and steady decline in ratings now that The Fan is on the air. The listeners of Cleveland are finally being exposed to an alternative, and they're learning that Rizzo's "I AM OUTRAGED!! YELL! YELL! YELL!" style of radio is passe and outdated.

 

[Rockcitysfinest]

To CC,

bro, I think you have things flipped...I have lived across the country in various top ten radio markets
And I think the radio in other cities is very boring and lack the flavor of the community. Very fox sports radio-ish and formulaic. Even the Stews is a very formula show, with an urban edge...no different than a Steve Harvey or Rickey Smiley radio show, but with sports. Listened to that show for years, but once is got syndicated, it became boring as the show became a caricature of itself. Alot of people in the ATL stopped listening to that show too. Don't be fooled...the ratings show that.

Hence, I find that listening to Cleveland sports radio is interesting because we have rare combo if sports misery, a chip on our shoulder, schizophrenia and local pride that comes out in the radio shows...plus, the guys here are very hard scrabble and loyal to the area. Who they are onnair are very much who they are on the street....no big star personas, for the most part, that are on par with NY and LA pompishness. Another thing, if you listen to the Tony Kornheiser show out of 980 in DC, that show is barely about sports, very man cave and one of the top rated sports show in the country. No different than how scatterbrained Rizzo's show is. And KNR's ratings are lowering a bit because there is a second option in town with hosts that are well known in the city as well...i don't truly see it as a verdict on one show or personality from KNR'S per se, because if it was, it would be how the sports hub in Boston is whooping the pants off WEEI....but it's not....many folks here flip back and forth between stations. Ad if you listen to both long enough, you hear many of em call both stations....

 

[Whkam1420]

Every host is considered "truly awful" by someone, but I think most in town (including media professionals) would consider Rizzo a very talented broadcaster. He's hosting a mancave show on WKNR (never forget that) and his job is infuse occasional sports when necessary, with promotion of partnerships. Believe it or not, the casual listener (ratings show in this market) want nothing to do with 24/7 nuts and bolts sports. That fact plus Rizzo's personality (the contrived arguments with Hammer notwithstanding) are what has made Rizzo's show as successful as it is.

We could all argue specific "takes" from broadcasters and who's right more than they are wrong. Truth be told, the average fan doesn't care. They want to be entertained and Rizzo generally has the pulse of the local Cleveland fan. Don't believe me? Go see him out in public, the guy is a celebrity in this town, and not the way that Jim Donovan is. Both are talented, but in very different ways. I don't believe most people really care to get Donovan's point of view on things (I'm talking about the casual fan). Most Clevelanders hear themselves when they hear Rizzo, which is why he's been so successful - dating back to the Lanigan days.

LOL. You've obviously never lived or worked outside of the Cleveland market like I have. You've obviously, like WKNR's listeners, never listened to WEEI in Boston, WFAN in New York, the 2 Live Stews in Atlanta, or Steve "The Big Dog" Duemig in Tampa.

All you know is WKNR and thus you have no idea of how far advanced/superior the sports radio hosts in other markets are.

That's why we're seeing the slow and steady decline in ratings now that The Fan is on the air. The listeners of Cleveland are finally being exposed to an alternative, and they're learning that Rizzo's "I AM OUTRAGED!! YELL! YELL! YELL!" style of radio is passe and outdated.

I haven't lived in Boston but I've been there for work and have absolutely listened to their radio. And yes, friends i know there can't stand Dennis and Callahan, and think Michael Holley is awful (Northeast Ohio native). By the way, I've heard plenty of the 2 Live Stews. They are seriously caricatures of themselves. The fake laughing thing has to end. The Fan in New york is not exactly "entertainment" although they can get away with it there. It's just hosts who crush everyone while taking way too many calls. Mike Francesca is unlistenable since Mad Dog left...Russo brought entertainment to the show now it's just 5.5 hours of taking calls and talking straight sports. Remember the old WKNR with Brinda/Needle/Sindelar? That's all they did and it was horrible. But they can get away with it in NY because it's a constant bank of phone calls and whatever they want in terms of guests.

 

[74WIXYGrad]

Remember the old WKNR with Brinda/Needle/Sindelar? That's all they did and it was horrible. But they can get away with it in NY because it's a constant bank of phone calls and whatever they want in terms of guests.

That worked back in the day when Pete Franklin was the only sports talk host in town and all you got was 5 hours a night.

 

[former interm]

I don't care if its mancave or all sports talk. I want to be entertained. A great host can entertain talking all sports.

I don't live in CLE anymore, but I tune in every day in the office to Rizzo's show and then to the FAn (depending on what is more entertaining). I dont find Baskin and Phelphs to be entertaining, so I stick with Rizzo for the most part. (god i wish Kornheiser would do a national show again).

 

[Capulet]

It's just me...but: I find most WKNR programming that's "entertainment"/sports man cave style boring. Boring. Boring! Childish.

Still enjoy Brinda, Roda, and Michael R. when they do straight-ahead sportstalk. A little "what's your favorite beer" (etc., etc.) is OK weaved in...but, for me...I'm interested pretty much in mainly, well: talk about sports.

Not IMHO: silly, junior-high level "lifestyle" content. Ridiculous. A waste of time to listen to (so, I don't...LOL).

Again...that's just my taste.

My thoughts too. The " man cave " schtick can work in moderate doses by someone with talent.
KNR has so little on staff, ( Hooley and Grossi ) that the man cave act fails.
Rizzo's act is 1990s. He has a nice homer sense to him that makes him likeable. But he should stick to what they are and thats Sports Talk. Goldhammer is still one step next to intern.

Whats funny about this whole " man cave " lean is that they call themselves ESPN. When does ESPN do " man cave " radio? Never. 92.3's arrival should have made KNR beter. Instead KNR got worse. Fedor being axed was a good move, but it falls woefully short of what needs to be done to make that station sound good again.