I Have GOT To Get Out Of This Business, Part XIII

Hearst Threatens to End San Francisco Paper

By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA

Hearst Corporation said Tuesday that it would close or sell The San Francisco Chronicle unless it could wring concessions from its unions, raising the prospect of San Francisco becoming the largest city in the country to lose its dominant newspaper.

Hearst said The Chronicle, which has daily circulation of 339,000, lost more than $50 million in 2008 and will lose more this year. It has had significant losses every year since 2001.

“Without the specific changes we are seeking across the entire Chronicle organization, we will have no choice but to quickly seek a buyer for The Chronicle or, should a buyer not be found, to shut the newspaper down,” said a statement by Frank A. Bennack Jr., Hearst’s vice chairman and chief executive, and Steven R. Swartz, president of its newspaper division. The company did not specify those changes, other than “a significant reduction in the number of its unionized and nonunion employees.”

The California Media Guild, which represents many Chronicle employees, had no immediate response to the ultimatum, which union officials said surprised them.

A Hearst executive called the statement “a warning” to the unions, and said that the company did not want to close the paper. He was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the company.

Hearst owned The San Francisco Examiner for more than a century, but the rival Chronicle became the city’s dominant paper. In 2000, Hearst bought The Chronicle for $660 million, and sold The Examiner. But it kept many Examiner workers, significantly increasing the size and cost of The Chronicle’s staff.

Since 2006, newspaper advertising revenue has plunged nationwide, and more so in California. The Chronicle has made deep cuts, signed a contract to outsource printing and explored selling its building. The Examiner, which has a much smaller staff, is now a free paper.

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Wow. If the primary paper in a city of 750,000 isn't safe...

By The Pigskin Of Our Teeth: Wings of Steel II

- Whoa, that's Brenda Warner? I haven't seen her since the last time Kurt was good. She grew her hair out and dyed it blonde and looks about 12 years younger.

- Heh. Did you see Kurt get startled and turn his head real quick when the military detail was announced?

- No way this thing starts before 6:35.

- A "Sell Avon" spot? Really? Really?

- Twelve straight coin flip wins for the NFC? Rigged.

- 6:33. Well, lost that one.

- Ward's knee looks fine to me. Hey, nice pass coverage!

- Ben's rolling out really far back. Is he gonna take it himself? DING. Hmmm. Looking at the replays I don't think he made it. And it gets overturned. Now what? Yeah, kick it.

- The "Jr." is a nice touch for this game.

- Washington catches one of those seemingly every game. Nice job by Rodgers-Cromartie to run that down.

- Doritos II: At least he survived the bus crash. The first one was better though.

- Russell's definitely in.

- Well, you knew you weren't going to hold this offense down forever.

- That's actually an interesting video package on Warner's feet getting stepped on all the time in those situations.

- You gotta be kidding me. Wait there's a flag? It's AGAINST THE CARDINALS? That's unbelievable. Harrison was down in exhaustion for about two minutes.

- They're looking at this. I don't think he steps out. You watch that, and you see he almost gets knocked down by his own guy at about the 30, then he breaks two diving tackles, almost steps out of bounds, then lands on Fitzgerald - who was about two steps behind him for half the run - in the end zone.

- WTF at Bruce's intro. "Put the chicken fingers DOWN!" Careful down there! Watch the edge of that stage! Wow, I figured they'd close with "Born to Run". This is the new one right here. And I figured they'd open with "Glory Days". I should've booked this set. Seriously. I do dig the swinging guitars at the end. This was good. Lots of energy.

- That wasn't Scorsese in a Denny's commercial, was it? Man, times are tough.

- Yeah, that's the right call. So the Cardinals get a third challenge, I believe, since they won their first two.

- I'm watching Holmes count his players on the field, and I'm wondering what happens if there are too many guys. I assume he calls a time out, but how long does it take for him to tell them why?

- And here are the Cardinals we know and love. That's two awful penalties. And there's a third? What? He ran over the holder? You gotta be kidding me! How does that even happen? Oh. The Cards are lucky the Steelers didn't get a touchdown there 'cause this game's over if they had.

- Careerbuilder.com has taken a commanding lead. That one was in danger of going on too long before they hit you with "and you sit next to this guy."

- Warner only weighs 203? That'd make him the smallest QB in the league, right?

- I'm not sure about the PI on Hood. I think the ball's there; I don't think he got there early.

- Lots of passing on this drive (because the Cardinals ran the ball in about four games this season, and they damn sure weren't doing it against this defense.) Heck of a time for a Jerheme Urban sighting. Or J.J. Arrington. Fitz has hops.

- You know who's been big in this game is Breaston. (And you know who's done almost nothing is Boldin.) And that's a bad holding penalty.

- Punting's the best move. That's too far for Rackers and the odds are against you on 4th and 20.

- The hell is Harrison doing?

- That's an odd play call, going play action there. That second burst, that forward fall, may have gotten Parker out of the end zone but I'm not sure. That's a sick catch by Holmes. Wait, what? HOLDING IN THE END ZONE! That's two points, people. Yeah, you can't take the guy down like that.

- YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! There was a massive gap in that zone and Warner threw it right to that gap. Also, who knew Fitzgerald was that fast? Where are my canned goods?

- Why is the Steelers' fullback returning kickoffs? It wasn't a squib.

- All right, Ben. Here it is. Santonio! SANTONIOOOOOOOO. How does he get so open there? Oh, his man fell down. You know who we haven't heard much from tonight is Hines Ward. That one was too high. Holy crap. They'll be looking at this one. Oh, he's got it. He's got that.

- They at least gave that a passing glance, right? I mean, I doubt it would have mattered in the end but it'd be nice to know.

- Holmes is the MVP? I'm fine with that. I think he's scored a touchdown in every playoff game he's played in. Let me check. Yep, he sure has.

- Three of the Steelers' six Super Bowl MVPs have been wide receivers, which seems strange considering their reputation for defense and running, but those offenses, especially during the late 70's, could be explosive at times.

- I'll say mostly the same thing I said after 38: I will not call this the best Super Bowl I've ever seen - the last one Warner was in was a better overall game. And 23 (Niners-Bengals II) remains second - that last drive was art, a master at work. I'll put this in the second tier, with Elway's first win and Rams-Titans. Had it gone to overtime, maybe it's a different story.

FINAL RANKINGS:
1. Pittsburgh - Survived the crucible
2. Baltimore - Probably would've gotten the same result
3. Arizona - Can they avoid the letdown fall?

30. Kansas City - Todd Haley, come on down?
31. Cleveland - Jumping on Mangini immediately was... odd
32. Detroit - I say this every year. This time I absolutely mean it. TRADE. THE. PICK.