Franchise Tag Removed

This just in off the sportswire ... dateline SAN DIEGO [cue cheesy canned sound effect] ... 

San Diego radio legend Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton has parted ways with XTRA Sports 1360.

We're having trouble grasping this unsettling news, so you'll have to excuse us if we're a little disoriented. We've made our feelings known on "The Franchise," so this is a sad day in San Diego sports.

It was never easy to get 1360's weak radio signal, but when we did, it was always reassuring to stumble onto Hacksaw's booming voice mispronouncing a name or three.

In allowing The Franchise to walk away, what is station management thinking here? Did they not get the memo? He is bleeping brilliant.

The opening segment of Hamilton's show -- "Hacksaw's Headlines" -- was referred to by the host as "The best 15 minutes in radio." Listeners now will have to find a substitute somewhere. They won't find it here.

Hacksaw is known for numerous cliches, but it's the little moments we'll miss the most. We always got a kick out of his "Pick 'Em, Pal" routine on Fridays, when he would force callers to make predictions on weekend games they clearly had no interest in. If a caller phoned in to talk about the Padres bullpen, Hacksaw didn't care; he still demanded the guy give him the winner of the Akron-Kent State game. That awkward silence that ensued was just priceless, as the caller tried to think of something to say about a game he otherwise would have given no thought.

Some unanswered questions remain. Is this the end of the road for the 60-year-old Hacksaw? What happens to all those pre-taped, yet-to-be aired newsmaker hotline interviews that were no doubt already in the can before Wednesday's announcement? Will Hacksaw just save those for his potential next gig, and air those newsmaker hotline interviews in a year or so?

And if you happen to be hitting the garage sales around Rancho Bernardo, be on the lookout for some old furniture: One sturdy, well-built table. Old-fashioned craftsmanship. Capable of holding dozens of topics at one time. Make offer.