Willie Brown, Will Durst, San Francisco, Barry Bonds

BACKING BARRY

After Crazy Bonds Defense, SF Columnist Rips Hosts




Since debuting as local co-hosts on Air America's San Francisco outlet, former California Emperor-For-Life Willie Brown and comedian Will Durst have created very little media buzz.

For this fledgling KQKE morning team, just how bad is the situation? Since their January start, the Radio Equalizer has probably paid more attention than the Bay Area media.

In New York, Air America execs seem barely aware the show exists.

Considering that for decades, the San Francisco press hung on his every word, that's quite a change in personal fortunes. In their eyes, Willie could do no wrong, no matter how corrupt his notorious politics became.

In this regard, legendary San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen was a particular offender. Caen's fierce loyalty never wavered, from Willie's tyrannical reign as all-powerful California State Assembly Speaker, to his election as San Francisco mayor.

Things sure have changed. With asinine on-air comments, the Will and Willie show finally got some ink today, in the form of a scolding from Chronicle columnist Joan Ryan.

Why? For a shameless defense of Barry Bonds, one of the most morally bankrupt pro athletes in recent history:

Facts aren't what they used to be. In the old days, they were the meat and potatoes of an informed opinion. Today they're like toppings on a sundae. You sprinkle on the ones you like and leave the rest off. That way, you get something sweet and tasty, exactly to your personal preference.

I was reminded of this Wednesday as people responded on talk radio and online to the comprehensive evidence of Barry Bonds' repeated, knowing use of illict performance-enhancing drugs since 1998. Much of the evidence is laid out in a published excerpt from the upcoming book, "Game of Shadows,'' written by two Chronicle investigative reporters, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams.

But it wasn't just fans who dismissed the evidence. Two San Francisco talk-show hosts -- former Mayor Willie Brown and comedian Will Durst -- attacked the "so-called journalists'' who are trying to disrupt the Giants' spring training (why else release the book NOW?) and who just want to ruin Bonds and are relying on the words of Bonds' former mistress, a woman scorned and all that.

When the Sports Illustrated writer they were interviewing on air Wednesday morning asked if either host had read the excerpt, which is published in Sports Illustrated this week, or looked at the authors' detailed account of their exhaustive sourcing.

Well, no, they had not actually read the story. Just bits and pieces. Why use facts to determine the truth? They already had the truth: Bonds is a great but misunderstood player, and the writers are unscrupulous, lying jackals out to make a buck.

Yes, right there with raiding inner city Boys & Girls Clubs for cash, liberal radio also apparently stands for drug-addicted, overpaid, pampered pro ball players.

Way to go, Willie, you fit right in at Air America Radio.

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