The suspension of Sports/Talk host Larry Krueger from Susquehanna's KNBR-AM San Francisco (8/8/05 RBR #154) has turned into a pink slip. Not only that, but two other staffers have also been fired because of bits that aired on the station's morning show after Krueger's suspension. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, those bits incorporated Satan references from Comedy Central's "South Park" to parody comments made by San Francisco Giants manager Felipe Alou on ESPN after he had refused to accept Krueger's apology for an on-air ethnic slur against Giants players from the Caribbean. Alou himself is a native of the Dominican Republic. In addition to making Krueger's exit from the air permanent, Susquehanna Market Manager Tony Salvadore also fired KNBR Program Manager Bob Agnew and "Morning Show" producer Tony Rhein. Here is the statement that was posted on the KNBR website.

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STATEMENT BY TONY SALVADORE,
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER,
KNBR, SAN FRANCISCO

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of recent events at KNBR.

As you may know, late on August 3, Sportsphone 680 Host Larry Krueger made regrettable comments about Caribbean baseball players in lamenting the Giants' loss to the Colorado Rockies. In the heat of describing his disappointment with the Giants' season, Krueger characterized some of the players by their nationality and made a wholly inappropriate analogy. The following day, Krueger apologized on the air for his remarks, which were unacceptable under any circumstances, and requested the opportunity to apologize personally to Giants manager Felipe Alou. On August 5, KNBR suspended Krueger for one week without pay, while weighing the gravity of his offense.

On August 9, the KNBR Morning Show opened with a discussion of Felipe Alou's related comments on ESPN's Outside the Lines, which aired the previous evening. The segment, featuring inappropriate comedy sound bytes, demonstrated an utter lack of regard for the sensitivity of the issues involved and a premeditated intent to ridicule Felipe Alou's commentary.

KNBR will not tolerate such behavior and has taken decisive action against the individuals responsible for these unfortunate events. Effective August 10, Program Manager Bob Agnew, Morning Show Producer Tony Rhein and Sportsphone 680 Host Larry Krueger are no longer employed by KNBR.

KNBR deeply regrets the comments and actions of these individuals, which do not reflect our beliefs or values as an organization. We would like to express our deepest apologies to Felipe Alou, his players and the Giants organization for this offense to the Caribbean community.