just got this email from the VP of KFMB, oddly she/he didn't even answer my question, and assumed I was asking about the biking incident, very intersting. So Gary, did you write another letter:
Thank you for taking the time to write and express your concerns and opinions about the Rick Roberts Show on March 20, and the topic of cycling.
I heard much of the show to which you refer, and today have listened to the entire broadcast from Monday morning, March 20 and Tuesday morning, March 21.
First of all, Rick’s comments are very clearly directed toward bicyclists who do not follow the laws, just as he is outspoken against bad drivers. Several times in the discussion, Rick expressed that not all bike riders are bad, but a lot of them are.
More importantly, at no time did he encourage anyone to “make cyclists a hood ornament” or cause any damage to anyone. KFMB, and Rick Roberts, would never advocate causing physical damage to anyone. Rick did make a reference to bicyclists “becoming hood ornaments”, in a satirical reference regarding the danger cyclists create when they fail to stay in the bicycle lanes, ride dangerously or ignore traffic laws. In no manner did Rick endorse malicious or dangerous behavior. His comments were satirical, and if you honestly and objectively listen to the full context of the show, it is obvious that he was not encouraging anyone to harm a cyclist. At no time did Rick incite, encourage or even suggest the idea of running into a cyclist.
In fact, on Monday’s show (8am hour), Rick said:
“Nobody wants to see anyone hit, or injured or, God forbid, killed.”
At another point in the show, he said:
“You don’t ever want to hit a bicyclist”
He also clearly made the point that when he encounters a group of bicyclists, he is careful to slow down and actually tries to avoid passing them, in order to avoid making contact with them.
On Tuesday morning’s show, Rick clarified his position and opinion clearly and emphatically. He revisited the topic and addressed the complaints, when he responded to complaints.
One of the loudest and earliest objectors to the show is Gary Tingley, a member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Cyclo-Vets Cycling Club. Gary sent a mass email to groups that misrepresented was invited to appear on the Rick Roberts Show yesterday but after hearing Rick’s explanation on Tuesday morning, sent the following comments via email:
“Now that Rick has clarified his comments were satire, I have changed my opinion. Originally, there was no mention of satire - I actually thought he advocated running down cyclists and make them hood ornaments for his truck - and that is some scary stuff - too many of us have died or been hit this year.”
Gary was invited to appear on the show, but declined.
KFMB welcomes your comments, thoughts and opinions and we invite you to share your thoughts on Rick’s show. He is on weekday mornings from 5-10am. If you, or someone you know, represents bicycling organizations, we would love to offer the opportunity to be a guest on the show for dialogue on the topic.
If you actually listen to the shows (all of the shows are available in podcast form at our website (www.760kfmb.com), you will realize that the claims of Rick Roberts and KFMB encouraging violence or doing harm to cyclists is simply not true.
You may disagree with Rick’s opinion of cyclists. That’s up to you, but the emails that are being spread and claims made about this show encouraging damage or harm to cyclists are simply not accurate representations of the truth.
Again, thank you for your concern and calling our attention to the topic.
Respectfully,
Tracy Johnson
VP/GM
KFMB
From: Bill Creager [mailto:Bcreager@xxxxxx.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 10:50 AM
To: Tracy Johnson; Dave Sniff
Subject: Are program transcripts available?
Hello,
I was wondering if there are transcripts available of your programs. If they are available, what would I need to do to get them?
Thanks,
Bill Creager
Thank you for taking the time to write and express your concerns and opinions about the Rick Roberts Show on March 20, and the topic of cycling.
I heard much of the show to which you refer, and today have listened to the entire broadcast from Monday morning, March 20 and Tuesday morning, March 21.
First of all, Rick’s comments are very clearly directed toward bicyclists who do not follow the laws, just as he is outspoken against bad drivers. Several times in the discussion, Rick expressed that not all bike riders are bad, but a lot of them are.
More importantly, at no time did he encourage anyone to “make cyclists a hood ornament” or cause any damage to anyone. KFMB, and Rick Roberts, would never advocate causing physical damage to anyone. Rick did make a reference to bicyclists “becoming hood ornaments”, in a satirical reference regarding the danger cyclists create when they fail to stay in the bicycle lanes, ride dangerously or ignore traffic laws. In no manner did Rick endorse malicious or dangerous behavior. His comments were satirical, and if you honestly and objectively listen to the full context of the show, it is obvious that he was not encouraging anyone to harm a cyclist. At no time did Rick incite, encourage or even suggest the idea of running into a cyclist.
In fact, on Monday’s show (8am hour), Rick said:
“Nobody wants to see anyone hit, or injured or, God forbid, killed.”
At another point in the show, he said:
“You don’t ever want to hit a bicyclist”
He also clearly made the point that when he encounters a group of bicyclists, he is careful to slow down and actually tries to avoid passing them, in order to avoid making contact with them.
On Tuesday morning’s show, Rick clarified his position and opinion clearly and emphatically. He revisited the topic and addressed the complaints, when he responded to complaints.
One of the loudest and earliest objectors to the show is Gary Tingley, a member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Cyclo-Vets Cycling Club. Gary sent a mass email to groups that misrepresented was invited to appear on the Rick Roberts Show yesterday but after hearing Rick’s explanation on Tuesday morning, sent the following comments via email:
“Now that Rick has clarified his comments were satire, I have changed my opinion. Originally, there was no mention of satire - I actually thought he advocated running down cyclists and make them hood ornaments for his truck - and that is some scary stuff - too many of us have died or been hit this year.”
Gary was invited to appear on the show, but declined.
KFMB welcomes your comments, thoughts and opinions and we invite you to share your thoughts on Rick’s show. He is on weekday mornings from 5-10am. If you, or someone you know, represents bicycling organizations, we would love to offer the opportunity to be a guest on the show for dialogue on the topic.
If you actually listen to the shows (all of the shows are available in podcast form at our website (www.760kfmb.com), you will realize that the claims of Rick Roberts and KFMB encouraging violence or doing harm to cyclists is simply not true.
You may disagree with Rick’s opinion of cyclists. That’s up to you, but the emails that are being spread and claims made about this show encouraging damage or harm to cyclists are simply not accurate representations of the truth.
Again, thank you for your concern and calling our attention to the topic.
Respectfully,
Tracy Johnson
VP/GM
KFMB
From: Bill Creager [mailto:Bcreager@xxxxxx.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 10:50 AM
To: Tracy Johnson; Dave Sniff
Subject: Are program transcripts available?
Hello,
I was wondering if there are transcripts available of your programs. If they are available, what would I need to do to get them?
Thanks,
Bill Creager