Ralph Barbieri, whose sandpaper voice and verbal dexterity were a fixture on San Francisco sports radio since 1984, has been fired.
KNBR terminated its enthusiastically abrasive host, marking the end of one of the most divisive shows in Bay Area broadcasting.
"One of his endearing qualities -- frustrating and endearing at the same time -- is that he was a bulldog," said Tom Tolbert, Barbieri's broadcast partner, during an emotional on-air tribute Wednesday. "When he had his teeth into something, and he felt like he was in the right, he wasn't going to let it go."
KNBR did not explain the move. Lee Hammer, the station's operations manager and program director, wrote via email that "it was a management decision" and declined to comment further.
Tolbert, however, was outspoken about the departure during the opening of his show. He choked up several times -- pausing for several seconds to collect himself -- as he tried to convey the sense of chemistry during the 15-year run of the "Razor & Mr. T" show.
"We always had fun. When we disagreed, it was never contrived," said Tolbert, the Mr. T in the equation. "There were times when we would get angry together, but it never lasted more than a segment."
Barbieri, 66, revealed to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler last October that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2005.
In that same piece, Barbieri said that during contract negotiations last year he disclosed his medical situation to Lew Dickey, the CEO of Cumulus Media, the parent company of KNBR. "He let me know that KNBR wants me back," Barbieri told Ostler.
Barbieri wrote for Sport magazine before starting at KNBR in 1984. He got his own show in 1989 and it became a hit in the 25-54 male demographic in the Bay Area. He could combative -- with high-profile guests or with first-time callers -- a reputation he embraced.
Ted Robinson, the 49ers play-by-play announcer, credited Barbieri and Gary Radnich for taking the sports-talk format and "driving it to heights never seen in this market."
An occasional guest host with Barbieri, Robinson said the Razor "had the innate ability to capture what the fans wanted to know. The questions he asked were exactly what the fans would ask if they had an open microphone. That's part of what makes Ralph an enduring figure in Bay Area radio."
Barbieri showed his softer side when talking about his son, Tayte, sharing with his listeners the saga of finding an egg donor and a surrogate mother to carry the fertilized egg.
Tolbert said the silver lining of Barbieri's end at the station is that his friend could now spend the 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. time slot at Little League games rather than in a booth. "I know he's going to have a lot of time with Tayte, and I think that's awesome," Tolbert said.
I stopped listening to KNBR when 95.7 The Game started up, but I always liked Barbieri, and they mentioned his firing in a spot today, it would be cool if he came over. I wonder what he said or did to get let go so abruptly. I think he's better off not being on KNBR to be honest, lol, that station is absolutely horrible. Maybe Im the only one that listens to sports radio still, lol, but Im in a truck all day at work. At any rate I hope he lands on his feet after this.
KNBR terminated its enthusiastically abrasive host, marking the end of one of the most divisive shows in Bay Area broadcasting.
"One of his endearing qualities -- frustrating and endearing at the same time -- is that he was a bulldog," said Tom Tolbert, Barbieri's broadcast partner, during an emotional on-air tribute Wednesday. "When he had his teeth into something, and he felt like he was in the right, he wasn't going to let it go."
KNBR did not explain the move. Lee Hammer, the station's operations manager and program director, wrote via email that "it was a management decision" and declined to comment further.
Tolbert, however, was outspoken about the departure during the opening of his show. He choked up several times -- pausing for several seconds to collect himself -- as he tried to convey the sense of chemistry during the 15-year run of the "Razor & Mr. T" show.
"We always had fun. When we disagreed, it was never contrived," said Tolbert, the Mr. T in the equation. "There were times when we would get angry together, but it never lasted more than a segment."
Barbieri, 66, revealed to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler last October that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2005.
In that same piece, Barbieri said that during contract negotiations last year he disclosed his medical situation to Lew Dickey, the CEO of Cumulus Media, the parent company of KNBR. "He let me know that KNBR wants me back," Barbieri told Ostler.
Barbieri wrote for Sport magazine before starting at KNBR in 1984. He got his own show in 1989 and it became a hit in the 25-54 male demographic in the Bay Area. He could combative -- with high-profile guests or with first-time callers -- a reputation he embraced.
Ted Robinson, the 49ers play-by-play announcer, credited Barbieri and Gary Radnich for taking the sports-talk format and "driving it to heights never seen in this market."
An occasional guest host with Barbieri, Robinson said the Razor "had the innate ability to capture what the fans wanted to know. The questions he asked were exactly what the fans would ask if they had an open microphone. That's part of what makes Ralph an enduring figure in Bay Area radio."
Barbieri showed his softer side when talking about his son, Tayte, sharing with his listeners the saga of finding an egg donor and a surrogate mother to carry the fertilized egg.
Tolbert said the silver lining of Barbieri's end at the station is that his friend could now spend the 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. time slot at Little League games rather than in a booth. "I know he's going to have a lot of time with Tayte, and I think that's awesome," Tolbert said.
I stopped listening to KNBR when 95.7 The Game started up, but I always liked Barbieri, and they mentioned his firing in a spot today, it would be cool if he came over. I wonder what he said or did to get let go so abruptly. I think he's better off not being on KNBR to be honest, lol, that station is absolutely horrible. Maybe Im the only one that listens to sports radio still, lol, but Im in a truck all day at work. At any rate I hope he lands on his feet after this.
