John Granato leaving?

a little too nasaly for my tastes.

seriously, what's the deal with northeast transplants occupying so much of houston sports radio??

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4754063.html

Soap opera elements surround suit against KILT

By DAVID BARRON


Sports fans love to poke fun at soap operas. But, seriously, can you come up with anything more sudsy than this week's KILT (610 AM) melodrama?

Since it became public knowledge Tuesday that KILT talk show host John Granato had filed a lawsuit against the station, I've received dozens of anguished messages from listeners concerned about Granato's future (and, truth be told, quite a few from listeners who aren't so fond of his work) and from listeners concerned about KILT's future.

If you missed the story, Granato claims KILT violated his contract by failing to pay him money for appearances and new advertising clients he acquired for the station. He has asked a state district judge to void the deal and the non-compete clause that would keep him from working on air for a Houston station for six months after leaving KILT.

Plaintiffs usually disappear from the airwaves when their suits become public knowledge, so several of Granato's co-workers made it a point to bid goodbye Tuesday. But he was on the air Wednesday and Thursday, and who's to say he won't continue until the suit is settled or his contract expires Nov. 30?

Another operatic issue this week was the whereabouts of Granato's on-air partner, Lance Zierlein. KILT program director Bill Van Rysdam says Zierlein was taking a scheduled week off to prepare for KILT's NFL draft coverage.

As for what happens now, it's anyone's guess. Granato remains under contract.

If he leaves KILT, he could opt for an established station or for a startup like KILE (1560 AM), which was sold recently to a group of Houston businessmen and will be managed by Richard Topper, who resigned last week as KILT's general sales manager.

KILT, in turn, could either remain with the status quo while the lawsuit is adjudicated, or it could shuffle its lineup by moving current hosts or shuffling part-timers to full-time roles.

 

Wow topper quit?

 

A week off to prepare...to talk.

LOL

 

Hey some people go to the beach and some people um, go use google and newspapers and stuff and get they draft on.

Ain't nobody on the draft like LZ. And that ain't no lie.

 

I just tried to tune in 1560. Could hear some sort of music in Spanish just barely...very, very weak signal.

Have they begun broadcasting at all?

 

i've thought the same thing.

It would be nice to get someone thats relatively local and may actually be a fan of the teams. Or at the very least someone without the NE attitudes. Although mark has done a good job of 'adapting', others not so much

 

yea...i'm bored.

 

http://www.kile1560.com/aboutus.htm

KILE AM 1560 Radio is licensed to the City of Bellaire
Texas by the Federal Communications Commission.
Our transmitter is located just south of the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, and our signal covers most of the greater Houston-Galveston metropolitan area.

KILE is a brokered time (sometimes referred to as a
block time) commercial AM radio station. This means
that we provide a broadcast platform for a fee to
independent programmers who plan and produce their
own programs. Our family of independent programmers are very dedicated and talented individuals and organizations that provide excellent multi-cultural programming for our community.

KILE is one of the few 'big city' radio stations that is
independently owned, operated, and totally committed to community service.

Our programmers are 100% supported by their advertisers and sponsors. Your support is always appreciated. Join us on AM 1560 in the Houston, Texas area, or listen to us on the internet anywhere.

 

"I ain't no morning show listener. They suck."

 

Lance is from here. Aren't both Matt and Adam, if not born here, LONG-time residents? Lopez on 790 has been here 18 years, but is from Texas. I think Carl Dukes is from here.

 

Admit it...you left it on because you just love Spanish music with a snowy mix of static.

You music maven you.

 

yeah..it's sort of a static-Tejano fusion. very hip.

 

That was awesome. I was almost crying at my desk during his call.

 

Charlie is not from here, and he's pretty much the peak of "knowledgable sports information in houston."

I prefer a good journalist/knowledgable to simply being a homer. I like people who have the ability to separate themselves from the public opinion (player x sucks, player y is amazing), and formulate unbiased/rational thoughts on their own.

Hell, sometimes being a homer means you're going to hate on your team even more... because you're so attached to them, and can't stand to see them lose. That's not good journalism.

 

im not talking about being a homer, you can still cheer for a team and be objective. I guess i am just referring to a lack of passion that a lot of them have for home teams. afterall, its 'local' radio.

 

I think I heard Rich Lord say he's been here 20 plus years.

 

I don't like it when "passion" interferes with their ability to see a team's strengths/faults objectively. Sure, I don't want some transplant who talks more about the Yankees being great than about how the Astros are doing... they have to be committed to talk local sports at the highest possible level.

And still, I don't see a lack of passion from Charlie, Vandy, or any other transplant... they're here, they work here, they know they're not going anywhere any time soon... they take an interest.

 

I think Carl Dukes is from San Antonio but he's been here long enough to seem like a native.

 

right, but who says passion does have to interfere?

i dont listen to charlie much so i cant comment. And i did comment that mark has done a good job. Maybe i'm overstating it...its just rich.

i also wouldnt mind to have a little redneck added. we are texans afterall.