There’s not a moment in history that’s more associated with the state of California than the Gold Rush of 1849. It’s such a well-known moment, that local sports teams within the state have adopted names that honor the event, such as the Golden State Warriors and San Franciso 49’ers.
But what you didn’t know is there was recently a second gold rush in California. No, this one had nothing to do with a pick-axe or mining pans, instead, it was all about the Warriors going to five-straight NBA Finals and re-inventing the game of basketball, the 49ers playing in two Super Bowls and the Giants winning three World Series in a five-year span. All of it created a sports radio gold rush the Bay Area had never seen before.
At the center of all of it, has been Damon Bruce of 95.7 The Game, who just celebrated his 15-year anniversary of being host in The Bay. Even though he grew up in upstate New York and spent his college years in the Midwest, he’s engrained himself into the San Francisco community and has become one of the best sports talk hosts the market has ever seen.
“Being here for 15 years has been an absolute honor,” said Bruce. “I don’t work for a living, which makes me one of the wealthiest men in the world. I want to continue to avoid ever having to go to work.”
Bruce’s legacy in The Bay all begins with a man named Lee Hammer, who was the first program director to bring him to the West Coast. At the time, Hammer was the PD at KNBR and saw something in a young Bruce that he thought would translate well in the market.
“The one thing I remember about Damon was his passion and his desire to succeed,” said Hammer. “There was no doubt in my mind about his work ethic and his commitment to being a great sports talk show host. I had the opening at 1050 and he was the right guy at the right time. And looking back, I think things have worked out pretty well.”
Bruce is eternally grateful for Hammer bringing him to a place he’s called home for the past 15 years. In that time frame, he worked at KNBR for nine and one-half years, before moving to 95.7 The Game for the next six years. It was Jason Barrett that eventually convinced him to move across the street to The Game and host afternoon drive, where Bruce is still hosting today. Barrett truly changed the arc of Bruce’s career and brought him into a situation where he flourished.
“Damon used to say ‘I do the show, you guys do the business’, said Barrett. “I liked that because it told me he knew what he was good at and where he needed help. I also saw how he had improved as a professional. More importantly, he was an excellent talk show host with something to prove, and he offered a strong contrast to what was available in the market in afternoon drive. I thought he fit the identity of what The Game was striving to be, and the station had a platform and economic package that he valued too. That made it the right fit at the right time for both sides.”
15 years in the same market is truly an incredible accomplishment. Especially in a top market, where you’ve been one of the best local hosts for the entirety of that span. More than anything, what appeals to Bruce is the realization he’s what so many people listen to on their commute home. For him it’s flattering that so many people have made him a part of their daily lives.
“I’ve developed a wonderful relationship with an audience that’s really invested back in me,” said Bruce. “That means so much, for people to think I’m a big part of their sports life. Things like getting an email from a guy that listened to me in high school, and he says he’s now out of college by 10 years, married with kids, and he’s still listening to me on the radio, it’s just amazing to be a part of these lives. I guess I’ll call it ‘market equity’. I have a lot of market equity here and for many reasons; I’m not going anywhere. I love it here. I’m the Golden Gate Bridge, I’m not leaving.”
At just 45 years old, Bruce still has a lot of takes left on the air at 95.7 The Game. In fact, his best work as a host may still be ahead of him. One, because his fastball is still very much there. Two, because he has great talent surrounding him like Ray Ratto and Matt Kolsky. Bruce can hoist up strong takes like Steph Curry shoots 3’s, but he also has a Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to help carry the daily load.
A 15-year celebration is humbling, but in a lot of ways, this is only the start to a career that will span many more years in The Bay.
“The reason Damon has lasted for 15 years in the San Francisco market is because he lives and breathes being a talk show host and his style stands out,” said Barrett. “His voice and command are instantly noticeable, he’s unwavering with his opinions, and he’s always prepared. Whether you like him or not, he makes you think.
“Behind the scenes, he was also appreciative of his supporting staff. One of the first people who’d bust my chops for a producer or board op to earn a raise or praise was Damon. I remember when I added Gianna Franco as the afternoon update anchor and an on-air contributor, each of them were initially concerned. Would Damon be easy to work with, did he value a female point of view, would the move be seen as a station PR stunt, etc.? It was the first time I had a chance to evaluate if Damon would be open minded and trust me to help him make the show better. I told both of them I thought they’d hit it off and be great together and I believed that but where they took that relationship was far beyond even what I had envisioned. Damon would call Gianna his work wife, Gianna was a huge advocate of Damon’s too, and I saw a similar connection form between Damon and his producers Kyle Englehart, and Jon Goulet. To sum it up, Damon’s lasted because he’s fully invested in sports radio, he’s made adjustments, and he’s very good at his craft.”
As great as Bruce has been, a host is sometimes only as good as the PD he works with. For Bruce, the most envious part of his carrer is the programmers he’s had above him. From Hammer, to Barrett to Matt Nahigian, currently the PD at 95.7 The Game, he’s had the opportunity to be coached by the best.
“Matt Nahigian is the best program director I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with, in terms of building a brand, setting a time for the station, I think he’s done a remarkable job establishing 95.7 The Game,” said Damon. “Jason Barrett gave birth to this station, but Matt raised it and put it into college. Barrett and Nahigian are the two-best program directors of my career,”
“His credibility and success in the marketplace have been incredible,” said Nahigian. “You have to have anchors of radio stations. You have to have signature names that people talk about in the market to be successful. That’s what Damon is. When you talk to people about 95.7 The Game, they talk about the local teams, but they also talk about Damon Bruce.”
Hopefully, Bruce has taken a moment to sit back and reflect on the great career he’s put together. He’s at least earned that. His sports radio experiences the past 15 years are more than most hosts could hope to have in five life times.
“The high point has been getting a ringside seat to one of the greatest NBA thoughts ever expressed,” Bruce. “Watching the Golden State Warriors go from not mattering to mattering more than everything assembled in this league, was just an amazing experience. I’ve been out here for the Bay Area gold rush. I’ve been to a whole bunch of NFC title games, A couple of Super Bowls, the Stanley Cup Finals, five straight NBA Finals, three World Series by the Giants, a whole bunch of come up short playoff games by the A’s. It’s just been great. I’ve been out here for a sports gold rush. I really can’t think of one moment that just stands out and I think I’m happy to say that.”
Tyler McComas is a columnist for BSM and a sports radio talk show host in Norman, OK where he hosts afternoon drive for SportsTalk 1400. You can find him on Twitter @Tyler_McComas or you can email him at TylerMcComas08@yahoo.com.
