Post by ignoredone on Aug 5, 2008 11:37:46 GMT -6
Sorry I know I'm late to this, but I'm just now reading the article and listening to the Hardline's reply. I started listening the second day (I forgot to listen the first day as I was a loyal KLIF listener back then). I used to work nights back then and my 2 year old used to walk around singing the Hardline theme.
Anyway if you read the article, and listen to the Hardline's reply on their show, I think you get a more rounded idea of what happened.
The show struggled the year before Greggo was fired. You could tell Mike and Corby were frustrated. I remember them calling Greggo out several times on the air ("Any thoughts Greggo"? Huh?). And then there was the sound all last summer into October of Greggo's "allergies" and stuffy nose. It was obvious there was a problem, but I just couldn't believe, at the time, he was into coke. Shows what I know.
1. The Corby Conundrum. Cocaine seems to make a lot of users, especially long term users, paranoid. That's what Greg's accusation sounds like. To anyone listening to the last couple of years of the show (2006 & 2007), Greg was indeed taking a back seat. But it sounded to me, as a listener, like Greg was doing it to himself. It sounded to me like Corby was stepping up just to fill the vaccuum. I remember thinking it was kinda weird and I thought that there was some sort of feud between Rhyner and Greg. I agree with Mike & Corby, that it was Greggo's doing, not theirs. At least that's what it sounded like at the time. And I think as Greg's depression and drug use worsened, so did his paranoia increase which only fed his being so quiet on the air.
2. Turning their backs on Greggo. Sorry I don't see it. If this really has been going on as long as everyone says it has, then good God at some point you say enough is enough. I had to do that with a friend I'd known since she was 4. She was into coke (and a lot of other things). It wasn't easy, and you feel horrible either way. But at some point, you just get tired of the lies, and the BS and the drama and the games and the phone calls in the middle of the night but most especially the denial. I and a few others tried to help her but she refused. At some point you have to let go or get sucked downward too.
When I listened to the Hardline, this is what came through loud and clear to me. They were just sick and tired of it and just wanted to move on. I'm sorry but I don't think they should be demonized for it.
If Greg's friends turned their back on him, he must take responsibility for his part. That is part of recovery. Own it. Don't whine about it. No one forced him to use cocaine. And part of recovery is taking responsibility for the repercussions of the addiction. I didn't see a lot of that from him in the article. He sounded like he was searching for pity, not help or even understanding. Not a good sign.
3. Greggo lying. Well yeah. If you listen long enough it's kind of obvious. Anyone remember him turning his hair orange on that trip to Mexico? He always denied it but geez. I never believed his stories about meeting Meg Ryan or Waylon Jennings or that sex club story. I don't know maybe they're true, but he always struck me as one of this guys who tells bullshit stories. I always took it as part of his radio persona. Guess it was more than that.
I've always liked Greggo on the air. In fact I think he and Fisher would make a great show. Hope it happens. If it does, I'll listen. It'll make a real alternative to BaD radio which gets old in a hurry. Dan has a huge bag of nothing. That show can use more words and say less than anything I've heard in radio since Ron Chapman.
But his problems are his own making, no one else's. Frankly reading the article I'm a little worried about his future. It doesn't read as though he's addressed the personality flaws that led to his addictions. It doesn't read as though he's addressed the depression/low self-esteem issues that leads to his lying. If so, then he might very well end up making the same mistakes again. I hope not.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Be well,
Chris
Anyway if you read the article, and listen to the Hardline's reply on their show, I think you get a more rounded idea of what happened.
The show struggled the year before Greggo was fired. You could tell Mike and Corby were frustrated. I remember them calling Greggo out several times on the air ("Any thoughts Greggo"? Huh?). And then there was the sound all last summer into October of Greggo's "allergies" and stuffy nose. It was obvious there was a problem, but I just couldn't believe, at the time, he was into coke. Shows what I know.
1. The Corby Conundrum. Cocaine seems to make a lot of users, especially long term users, paranoid. That's what Greg's accusation sounds like. To anyone listening to the last couple of years of the show (2006 & 2007), Greg was indeed taking a back seat. But it sounded to me, as a listener, like Greg was doing it to himself. It sounded to me like Corby was stepping up just to fill the vaccuum. I remember thinking it was kinda weird and I thought that there was some sort of feud between Rhyner and Greg. I agree with Mike & Corby, that it was Greggo's doing, not theirs. At least that's what it sounded like at the time. And I think as Greg's depression and drug use worsened, so did his paranoia increase which only fed his being so quiet on the air.
2. Turning their backs on Greggo. Sorry I don't see it. If this really has been going on as long as everyone says it has, then good God at some point you say enough is enough. I had to do that with a friend I'd known since she was 4. She was into coke (and a lot of other things). It wasn't easy, and you feel horrible either way. But at some point, you just get tired of the lies, and the BS and the drama and the games and the phone calls in the middle of the night but most especially the denial. I and a few others tried to help her but she refused. At some point you have to let go or get sucked downward too.
When I listened to the Hardline, this is what came through loud and clear to me. They were just sick and tired of it and just wanted to move on. I'm sorry but I don't think they should be demonized for it.
If Greg's friends turned their back on him, he must take responsibility for his part. That is part of recovery. Own it. Don't whine about it. No one forced him to use cocaine. And part of recovery is taking responsibility for the repercussions of the addiction. I didn't see a lot of that from him in the article. He sounded like he was searching for pity, not help or even understanding. Not a good sign.
3. Greggo lying. Well yeah. If you listen long enough it's kind of obvious. Anyone remember him turning his hair orange on that trip to Mexico? He always denied it but geez. I never believed his stories about meeting Meg Ryan or Waylon Jennings or that sex club story. I don't know maybe they're true, but he always struck me as one of this guys who tells bullshit stories. I always took it as part of his radio persona. Guess it was more than that.
I've always liked Greggo on the air. In fact I think he and Fisher would make a great show. Hope it happens. If it does, I'll listen. It'll make a real alternative to BaD radio which gets old in a hurry. Dan has a huge bag of nothing. That show can use more words and say less than anything I've heard in radio since Ron Chapman.
But his problems are his own making, no one else's. Frankly reading the article I'm a little worried about his future. It doesn't read as though he's addressed the personality flaws that led to his addictions. It doesn't read as though he's addressed the depression/low self-esteem issues that leads to his lying. If so, then he might very well end up making the same mistakes again. I hope not.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Be well,
Chris
