Monterey Peninsula - 65° Magazine

Off-the-Cuff and
In the Rough
BY Andrea Stuart
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN THOMAS
Writhing to free itself from his lips is the sonic boom known
as Gary Radnich’s voice. For years, Bay Area radio listeners
have become familiarized with the vocal force that has taken
over the airwaves of KNBR 680 weekday mornings. Some
have developed a fondness for the anecdotes and offensive
pleasantries that Gary pulls from his archive of relatable life
stories. Others maintain a love-hate relationship with his
foursquare broadcasts. One thing is undeniable, whether
you’re a fan or a critic; he’s ubiquitous within the sports
community, especially on the streets of San Francisco where
passersby shout spot remarks to him. Nevertheless, Gary is
simply the product of a prosaic upbringing, living off of his
parents’ aphorisms and daily examples.
He and Bugs Bunny are analogous: both are armed with
quips and personalities deep in complexion. Gary can
either send you to the moon on laughter, or leave you
contemplating the arteries between his words. He’ll tackle
any subject, confront nearly any situation, and he’ll do so
with a sense of humor and trenchant levity that loosens
your equilibrium.
PERSONA
“Chris, listen to me,” Gary provokes a caller during a
discussion about hate between Dodgers and Giants fans.
“Once the game is over, what good does it do to hold
onto that negativity or hate? Do you teach your kids to
hate, Chris?” Punctuating the statement with a humorous