Sports620 KTAR Memo: Don't criticize Cards draft

[KMGX]

Credibility is an important aspect of talk radio—even sports-talk radio. It is widely known in the business that Sports 620 KTAR (and even before the two frequencies split) tells their hosts to temper their criticism of the local sports teams that are under the Bonneville broadcasting umbrella—the Diamondbacks, Suns, Cardinals and ASU. This has again been brought to the forefront with a recent interoffice memo sent to the staff of Sports 620 KTAR regarding this weekend’s NFL draft coverage as it pertains to the Arizona Cardinals.

“To talk show hosts, producers and reporters: Under NO circumstances are you to criticize any of the Cardinals’ draft picks. If you don’t have anything good to say, say nothing, but do not be critical of the Cardinals’ draft selections.”

Surely this can come as no surprise to anyone that knows the inter-workings of Sports 620 KTAR. Criticizing the Cardinals’ is allowed to some extent, especially when it comes to the past, i.e. Dennis Green, Buddy Ryan, losing seasons of the many decades before, but with regard to current players, the draft or upper management, KTAR hosts are told to keep their mouths shut.

Hmm… whatever shall the KT’R kool-aid drinkers on this board—and you know who you are—say to refute this?

 

[KeithE4]

Credibility is an important aspect of talk radio—even sports-talk radio. It is widely known in the business that Sports 620 KTAR (and even before the two frequencies split) tells their hosts to temper their criticism of the local sports teams that are under the Bonneville broadcasting umbrella—the Diamondbacks, Suns, Cardinals and ASU.

The "favorable" treatment of teams carried on KTAR and its sister-stations goes back years before TMISU took over. Sometimes I thought Jerry Colangelo was the stations' General Manager.

This has again been brought to the forefront with a recent interoffice memo sent to the staff of Sports 620 KTAR regarding this weekend’s NFL draft coverage as it pertains to the Arizona Cardinals

“To talk show hosts, producers and reporters: Under NO circumstances are you to criticize any of the Cardinals’ draft picks. If you don’t have anything good to say, say nothing, but do not be critical of the Cardinals’ draft selections.”

That would be interesting to read, for sure.

Surely this can come as no surprise to anyone that knows the inter-workings of Sports 620 KTAR. Criticizing the Cardinals’ is allowed to some extent, especially when it comes to the past, i.e. Dennis Green, Buddy Ryan, losing seasons of the many decades before, but with regard to current players, the draft or upper management, KTAR hosts are told to keep their mouths shut.

But not the Bidwills. Allegedly, too much Bidwill-trashing is why they dumped KDUS.

Hmm… whatever shall the KT’R kool-aid drinkers on this board—and you know who you are—say to refute this?

I expect some independence from Gambo & Ash, who have already noted Rod Graves' failures in previous drafts, but Ron Wolfley will have a problem with objectivity. He's a part-time Cards employee (some kind of quasi-assistant coach, IIRC, but he's not officially on-staff) and as such, won't be able to call it as he sees it.

We'll see how Doug Franz calls it come Monday morning.

 

[KOHS]

I'll have to make it a point to call in and criticize the Cardinal draft picks, ownership, management, present players and Sports Parking Lot 620 KTAR AM when they discuss the Cardinals! Won't that be fun!!! ;D

 

[Legend City]

Wow, Shill Radio, under the pudgy thumb of Bill Bidwell.

You shall only say nice things about the least successful franchise in NFL history!

The team that has only won one playoff game in the last 55+ years!

The team responsible for trading away great picks, losing quality players, and drafting the wonderful Kelly Stauffer.

A team that is a complete and total laughing stock, run by a pathetically incapable man who earned his money the old fashioned way (his father died).

We cannot practice free speech, and offer our listeners unbiased, intelligent comment, instead, we need to lie to them and not have any opinion.


To repeat a phrase:


WHAT A JOKE!

 

[porfavor]

Must be why Charles Barkley goes on TV & says that Phoenix will never be a big city, or considered a big city...because it's nuthin' but a TOWN.

 

[obihave]

ok,

so you can't say anything bad about Cards' Draft Picks, the Bidwell's, Sheriff Joe, Phil Gordon, ASU, the Suns' playoff futility, the Arena League... and Mormons.

No wonder their programming sucks!

Hey Russ (we know your reading this)
You should have snatched up J.D. when you had the chance...then you could put him on Sports 620 and let him get all lovey with the worst owners in professional sports... the Bidwell's.

"I've just received a memo from headquarters... No one on this board is allowed to say anything nice about radio programming in this town!"

;D

 

[Legend City]

We need someone in this town to lay it out on the line regarding the Cards.

Until every single bit of Bidwell DNA is completely gone from the team, they will always be a third rate joke.

What a weenie town this.

 

[KeithE4]

We need someone in this town to lay it out on the line regarding the Cards.

The only station that's done that in the past was KGME/XTRA, especially Bruce Jacobs, who still calls them "the Birdwells." Some of the KDUS hosts, notably Russ Bliss & Bob Kemp, were more critical of the Cards, and especially the Bidwills, toward the end of the team's tenure on 1060 - which is probably why TMISU got a second chance at getting their broadcast rights.

Gambo & Ash have maintained their integrity so far, and Franz trashed them so bad during his "audition" that I'm surprised to this day that TMISU even hired him.

Until every single bit of Bidwell DNA is completely gone from the team, they will always be a third rate joke.

Fat chace of that ever happening unless a family squabble between Michael and Bill Jr. (aka "Dumb and Dumber") happens or there are inheritance tax issues when the old man finally goes to the Great Bowtie Emporium in the Sky - similar to what happened to the Wrigleys in Chicago, forcing them to sell the Cubs.

What a weenie town this.

A little more objectivity is in order, both from our broadcast and print media. Phoenix media will never be similar to New York's, but our sports hacks are lapdogs of the first order, with only a few exceptions.

 

[oncentral]

I have a copy of the memo. If you want the real scoop you have to read it yourself.

It says no one on KT'R can say anything negative about the Suns, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, or ASU. Russ, we know you read this and that you take notes about what Happy and his coworkers at KFYI say to you. We know you think they're brilliant and that your jealous about all the talent at KFYI.

What none of them knows because they haven't seen the second page of your memo is that all hosts must kiss the picture of the Mercury as they enter the studio every day. And if that weren't enough, the pictures of the Bidwells that you framed and put on the door of your office is a little over the top. We also can't believe that the memo says you have changed your middle name to Graves in preparation for the draft.

I bet you never thought this memo would get out.

 

[Legend City]

Let the talented do the comedy from now on.

 

[tfg46]

I guess Gambo didn't get the memo. I was busy away from my radio Saturday, but for the ten-or-so minutes I listened (right after the Cards picked at #5), all Gambo did was shred the Cardinals for 'reaching' on Levi Brown. They had Whisenhunt on during the last couple of minutes I was in my truck, and Asher asked all the questions. IIRC, Gambo didn't say a word during the Whisenhunt interview.

--CG

 

[oncentral]

You believed the story about the KTAR memo?

Fool.

 

[KMGX]

You believed the story about the KTAR memo?

Fool.

He should believe it, as it is true. I may bag on KTAR, but when it comes to revealing interoffice memos, I have no reason to lie about it--much like if I received a ClearChannel memo of note I would post it here.

I listened extensively to the draft coverage on KTAR Saturday and again yesterday, and all I heard was praise. Granted, I don't think the Cards crapped the bed on their selections, but who can tell until the players get on the field.

KTAR's objectivity when it comes to 'their teams' is certainly one that should always be questioned.

 

[tfg46]

oncentral,

Actually, I was pointing out why I DIDN'T think there was such a memo, but you apparently missed that.

Take a deep breath and take it easy, man. It's an Internet message board, for Pete's sake.

--CG

 

[micman]

You believed the story about the KTAR memo?

Fool.

He should believe it, as it is true. I may bag on KTAR, but when it comes to revealing interoffice memos, I have no reason to lie about it--much like if I received a ClearChannel memo of note I would post it here.

I listened extensively to the draft coverage on KTAR Saturday and again yesterday, and all I heard was praise. Granted, I don't think the Cards crapped the bed on their selections, but who can tell until the players get on the field.

KTAR's objectivity when it comes to 'their teams' is certainly one that should always be questioned.

I have talked to three people who work for that station. They say this is something Jacobs made up on the air trying to get a listener. There was no memo.

 

[KMGX]

You believed the story about the KTAR memo?

Fool.

He should believe it, as it is true. I may bag on KTAR, but when it comes to revealing interoffice memos, I have no reason to lie about it--much like if I received a ClearChannel memo of note I would post it here.

I listened extensively to the draft coverage on KTAR Saturday and again yesterday, and all I heard was praise. Granted, I don't think the Cards crapped the bed on their selections, but who can tell until the players get on the field.

KTAR's objectivity when it comes to 'their teams' is certainly one that should always be questioned.

I have talked to three people who work for that station. They say this is something Jacobs made up on the air trying to get a listener. There was no memo.

Haha! Oh wow, so people that work at Bonneville told you that such a memo didn't exist? You're going to have to forgive my laughter, but that's like a three year old telling you he didn't steal cookies from the cookie jar as he has crums all over his face and then you actually believing him.

You must understand that these kind of shenanigans have been going on at KTAR for years. There's a level of tolerable criticism, a line if you will--however hosts that cross the line are warned and eventually terminated if they don't keep quiet. I know some of you find this incredibly hard to believe as you may think the radio business is pure and honest, but just like any other business--money talks; those who have the money tell you how to talk.

 

[ITSB]

Does there really have to be a memo? Everyone knows that philosophy has been present at KTAR for years. It's kind of an "unwritten law".