Dave Morey Bidding KFOG Adieu

So I'm off listening to KNBR's Gary Radnich this morning (still smarting from a sassy email gone wrong yesterday) when The Great Radu mentions in passing that the great Dave Morey is retiring from Cumulus sister-station KFOG (104.5 FM).

Hustling over to KFOG, we learn that Morey's retirement isn't immediate -- he'll hold down the morning shift until December 19, then head off to Michigan. (Strange ... most Michiganders do just the opposite, it seems, as you'll witness at any Sharks, Warriors or A's game.)

On KFOG's website, the terribly underrated Morey blogged:

To: All
From: Me
Re: The Master Plan.

It is time to announce my retirement … EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT THAT OLD.

My decision.

Last show for KFOG will be Friday, December 19th.

Here’s the deal:I’ve been thinking about this for a couple years. Thanks to excellent planning and despite global collapse of the financial industry, I will be able to realize a dream I’ve had for a long time.

I’m leaving the Bay Area – returning to Michigan. It’s hard to explain to someone who’s not from there so I won’t even try. I think y’all know how I feel about the Midwest.

Dave Morey has spent 26 years on the air in the Bay Area, beginning at KSFX before crossing over to KFOG. He will continue to host the popular "10 at 10" daily feature by long distance following his retirement.

More details in Dave's blog at http://tinyurl.com/morey-kfog

UPDATE: Ben Fong-Torres' "Radio Waves" column in Sunday's Datebook is awash in Morey minutia. Somebody got the advance scoop!

Bummer: Tony Bruno Off KNBR/1050

Sporting News Radio has parted ways with Tony Bruno (photo, right), which means that Bay Area radio has lost one of its better morning shows -- albeit one that was heard locally via syndication on a second-tier sports station.

Bruno's show was heard on KNBR/1050 (and Sirius Sports 123) and was simply a fun, entertaining, smart show, whether you're into sports or not. I'm one of many who believe that Bruno's daily 10 AM segment with Gary Radnich on mothership KNBR/680 was the best half-hour on radio, day in and day out, bar none.

Sporting News Radio and Bruno had been involved in negotiations for a contract extension, but could not reach an agreement. Bruno will remain with company -- "working with management on other initiatives," according to AllAccess.com -- while under contract for two more months.

• Read the Sporting News' press release on the Bruno situation.

Quick aside to Tony Salvadore and Lee Hammer: how tough would it be to set Bruno up with an ISDN line from his home studio in Venice Beach, and pay him (and ace sidekick Mark Willard, a Bay Area product) to do the KNBR/680 morning show by wire? Heck, you can even handle his national syndication, and it would pay for the investment. Not to mention that it would be a significant upgrade over the seat warmers you're currently paying.

Bruno was always smart enough to include enough Bay Area references to keep his show's feeling "local," and he has a sizeable, dedicated and loyal audience here.

Lee Hammer should say yes.

UPDATE (1/29): John Ryan blogs in today's Morning Buzz that KNBR is working on getting the Bruno-Radnich segment back on the air.

UPDATED UPDATE (2/4): From deep inside Tony Bruno World Headquarters comes this news via Mark Willard:

Tony Bruno returns tomorrow Tues Feb. 5 for his daily segment with Gary Radnich on KNBR, "The Sports Leader", from 10 to 10:30 PST. Catch up with Bruno and give him a call. We are all very excited to hear what's up in the near future and find out when Tony will be returning to a morning show near you. If you're calling the Radnich Show from outside the Bay Area use the following number (415) 808-KNBR and listen online at http://www.knbr.com/listenNow.html

Bernie On KNBR; Cammy On The Sidelines

KNBR's Gary Radnich mentioned this morning that the caller that identified himself as "Mr. K-Go" on yesterday's show was, in fact, Bernie Ward. Bernie must have found the bill of fare at KNBR more palatable than listening to Ronn.

Bernie had given Uncle Gary several clues as to his identity, but Gary never quite caught on.

The podcast is downloadable (at least as I write this) on the Radnich page at KNBR.com.

(It's the Wednesday March 21 offering, about nine minutes into the recording.)

Meanwhile, Leah Garchik notes in today's Chron that "Cammy Blackstone, bumped from KFRC radio when the station went to its Movin' format, has landed a job as sideline reporter for Fox Sports Net."

More about Cammy from Leah at SFgate.com.