Xtra Radio Station

Here is the general rule of thumb regarding radio talk-show wars: When everybody concerned says they couldn't care less about the other station--Bingo!--you have a genuine airwave brouhaha on your hands. Which brings us to San Diego-based XTRA (690 AM) and Los Angeles-based KMPC (710 AM), stations undergoing serious denial. "We don't need to look to anybody else to show us what to do," said Howard Freedman, vice president of programming for Noble Broadcasting Group, XTRA's parent company.

Ken in Calabasas complains that the Clippers still need a point guard. Willie in Westwood wails on the reputed failings of UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick. Bill in Burbank wants to know who's better: Canseco, Fielder or Bonds. Tom from Tustin wants to know why the Rams didn't get more out of Plan B. And Eddie in Escondido waits on hold for 90 minutes just to moan that Gretzky isn't the player he once was.

Chet Forte, former director of ABC's "Monday Night Football" who last year pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion, has been hired as a sports talk-show host for radio station XTRA (690) in San Diego. An announcement will be made today. Forte, who blames a gambling habit for his legal problems, is still awaiting sentencing. A prison term is likely, but Forte is hoping for probation. At XTRA, Forte will serve as co-host of a 1-to-4 p.m. talk show with Steve Hartman.

XTRA-690 AM, a San Diego-based radio station, has become the flagship radio station for the Kings. As part of the Kings-XTRA agreement, all games will be aired live, except those originating from the Central or Eastern time zones, which will start at 6 p.m. on a delayed basis.

Steve Garvey, the former baseball star, is becoming a radio talk-show host. Garvey, 41, said Wednesday that he has signed a multi-year contract as host of a morning program for XTRA radio, owned by Noble Broadcast Group here. The "XTRA Morning Update with Garvey and Co." will start June 26, running from 5:30 to 9 a.m. It will include interviews with celebrities, calls from listeners, news and sports. Garvey, a 10-time All-Star first baseman who played for the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, also has a marketing and investment company and has expressed interest in pursuing a political career.