SPORTS LOVER HARTMAN GETS TO COME HOME.

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH

SAN DIEGO - As much as the ongoing story of sports-talk radio in Los Angeles is about revolving doors and roller-coaster ratings, there's also a circle of life that has just been completed.

A 70,000-square-foot glass palace in an industrial park just off Interstate 15 and up the road from Qualcomm Stadium houses Clear Channel Inc. and its collection of about a dozen local radio stations. One of them, XTRA-AM (690), launched the all-sports format in Southern California more than a decade ago.

With the recent creation of the so-called ``superstation'' - the merger of 690's lineup with struggling L.A. Clear Channel affiliate KXTA-AM (1150) into a 127,000-watt simulcast - it's immediately clear the San Diego connection is not just in the loop but back as the driving force.

Likewise, Steve Hartman's career is coming full circle, and he's looking forward to making the U-turn back home.

The San Fernando Valley native and UCLA grad embraced the move to San Diego to launch his radio career in the early 1990s. He got married, started a family and established himself in the mid-day slot at XTRA to a point where his 12-plus years at the station are second only to the 17-year stay by the self-proclaimed franchise, Lee ``Hacksaw'' Hamilton.

But now the 44-year-old Hartman seems just as relieved and excited to continue both a radio and TV sportscasting career where it really all started.

``I've committed to moving back to L.A.; the timing is perfect for me to get back up there and test the waters,'' Hartman said the other day before his noon-to-3 p.m. ``Loose Cannons'' shift with his partner for the past six years, Bill Werndl.

As a new Clear Channel office building that will house the all-sports combined lineup is under construction in Burbank, the company is redoing Hartman's contract. It wasn't a slam- dunk decision that the new combined staffs would include either Hartman or Werndl in the consolidated lineup; many of the L.A.-based decision makers weren't aware of the show's loyal following and were prepared to fill the afternoon slot with syndicated programming.

For Hartman, a Taft High of Woodland Hills graduate who has worked weekends on KCBS Channel 2's ``Sports Central'' the past few years, this opportunity to return to his roots ends weeks of speculation and insecurity.

``We were worried; it was tough for six weeks waiting to see what would happen,'' he said, noting that while he expects Werndl also to come north, there's no guarantee of that. ``A lot of hard-working, talented people (in San Diego) lost their jobs because of this.''

It would have been a shame if Hartman had met that fate as well.

Starting a career at XTRA in October 1990 with Brad Cessmat as his morning partner and taking off when Chet Forte joined him in April 1991, Hartman's staying power goes beyond his amazing ability to remember names, dates and statistics.

He thought he'd be more interested in public relations when he left UCLA, and four years with the L.A. Raiders in that capacity were fulfilling. But entering the real world in 1989, Hartman realized his need to be involved in sports.

Bud Furillo, the former L.A. Herald Examiner sports editor and well-known sports talk host, got Hartman started in the business when they worked for a small Redondo Beach-based radio station, buying the time on the air by selling sponsors.

In the summer of 1990, San Diego radio tycoon John Lynch gave them a tryout for his new all-sports station. Hartman made the cut. Two years later, Hartman was asked about joining the new all-sports station at KMPC-AM (710), but he declined. Just as well, that head-to-head competition only strengthened XTRA's hold on the Southern California audience, and KMPC's attempt ended after about a year and a half.

All the while, Hartman was based in L.A., doing the show from a remote location, living what he called a ``helter-skelter bachelor life.'' He met his eventual wife, Denise, and moved to San Diego in 1992. Four years later, when Forte died, Hartman's career was up in the air again. Werndl was chosen a few months later to become Hartman's foil, and the show has continued to ride a wave of popularity.

``I love doing this now more than ever,'' said Hartman, who adds he's never been contacted to stay in San Diego and join Lynch's latest new all-sports station at 1090-AM despite some reports. ``I've always remained passionate about sports, and that's what listeners say they can relate best to. Some guys on the air sound like they're just doing a job. I get a huge high out of this. It's never been a job.

``You've got to understand who you are, and what I do is what I do best. I'm locked in.''

Likewise, Hartman is locked in to another local media merger - the combining of the sports staffs at Channels 2 and 9. He'll be used as a weekend reporter for both channels in the coming weeks, keeping him busy every day of the week.

And, living back in L.A.

``My dad once said sports isn't a job,'' Hartman said. ``No, but it's a great living.''

THE RANKINGS: RADIO SPORTS-TALK HOSTS

THE TOP 10

--1. Dave Smith, KMPC fill-ins: Surprised? The real stunner is it's taken someone this long to give him another chance, if only on a part-time basis. He's the ticket for a station trying to establish a listening base with a juiced-up local lineup and a name change.

--2. Todd Donoho, KSPN weekday afternoons: At last, with a regular platform, we find out how dialed in he is to SoCal sports and that he can keep a show lively without being trivial. His personality, which came out when he got extended play on Fox Sports Net, plays well over these airways, much like Steve Edwards used to.

--3. Joe McDonnell, KSPN weekday drivetime: On rep alone, he deserves the penthouse room. But his insistence on having a partner who doesn't necessarily bring out the best in him - too many inside jokes, for example - put a drag on everything positive. To get a real feel of what he does best, visit his Web site: www.1bignasty.com.

--4. Steve Hartman, XTRA/KXTA weekday afternoons: Remembers the first five baseball cards he once got when he was 7 - Camilo Pasqual, Dick Stuart, Ray Sadecki, Pete Richert and Don Zimmer - not so much because of their faces but their rows of stats on the back. Ask him sometime.

--5. Fred Wallin, KPLS weekday nights: Still alive. And as paranoid as ever. And amazed the station's Orange County-based 830 signal actually reaches parts of the Valley.

--6. Fred Roggin, KMPC weekday afternoons: Hired more for name recognition, he's pulled it off with newsworthy guests and a fast-moving format. Give him - and his producers - credit.

--7. Rich Marotta, XTRA/KXTA weekly boxing: He's always packed a punch as a TV analyst for the sport on Fox's cable shows, but the chance to expand and bring on the people who matter are an extra treat. Too bad he didn't last longer as the weekday drive-time host. Sports talk could use more voices like him in key time slots.

--8. Roger Lodge, KMPC mornings: Another bold move by the station that's going to pay off. He fits perfectly into the L.A. landscape and has the sports knowledge. Plus, there's that chance a listener might get a blind date out of it.

--9. Larry Burnett, KLAC Lakertalk: You gotta enjoy the give-and-take he has with callers that otherwise would be monotonous. And he's no team apologist.

--10. Lee Klein, XTRA/KXTA fillin: Outlasted Arnie Spanier. That says something.

--Honorable mention: We miss ya, Irv Kaze.

BOTTOM FIVE

--1. Dave Snow, KSPN weekday afternoons: A typical take: ``I mean, look ... I'll tell you what ... ah ... nobody, I mean ... what I'm saying is ... he's, he's, he's ... (chuckle) ... well, I've been a Laker fan for 40 years and, and, and, I'm not defending ... but I gotta tell you this ... when I worked in that market ....'' And then something about Elgin Baylor. How 'bout you just send us all a group e-mail when you clear your head?

--2. Doug Krikorian, KSPN weekday drivetime: Sure, he's old school. But it doesn't mean he should do the show with a rusty tin can and a wire. We love the guy personally, but his shrieking laugh actually sets off car alarms in the station parking lot.

--3. Bob Golic, KMPC weekday drivetime: Think responsibly. The guys who do the fishing show on the station Tuesday nights from 8 to 10 do more homework.

--4. Lee ``Hacksaw'' Hamilton, XTRA/KXTA weekday drivetime: The choice of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters. Reaction?

--5. Bill Werndl, XTRA/KXTA weekday afternoons: Best comedy bit on radio today are his live spots for 1-800-SOULMATE.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

HARTMAN

Box:

THE RANKINGS: RADIO SPORTS-TALK HOSTS (see text)