As part of nationwide cuts by Clear Channel Communications ---- XTRA Sports 1360's parent company ---- as many as 1,800 employes at 1,200 stations nationwide were let go Tuesday.

That includes nearly all the staff at XTRA Sports.

"We didn't see this coming at all," said Craig Elsten, a San Diego veteran news and sports man, who worked the mid-morning shift at XTRA Sports. "We all knew Clear Channel was going to make some announcements Tuesday, and some people were going to be let go, but we never saw them blowing up the whole station."

Calls to Bill Pugh, Clear Channel's director of operations in San Diego, were not returned.

It's believed 1360 will survive as a down-sized sports station, taking syndicated shows from Fox Sports Radio, including Dan Patrick in the 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. morning drive.

XTRA Sports' lineup included Patrick, Elsten, Chris Ello, Jeff Dotseth, Mike Costa and Josh Rosenberg.

Doseth, Costa and Rosenberg did the afternoon drive show.

Insiders believe Rosenberg survived the purge, and will team with program director Brian Wilson in a daily drive-time show.

Calls to Wilson were not returned.

KOGO (600), another Clear Channel station, carries San Diego State football and basketball. When there were conflicts, games bounced to 1360.

Elsten was the host of the Aztecs pregame shows.

KOGO was the top-rated station in San Diego County in the last Arbitron ratings book. XTRA Sports failed to register a 0.4 and make the list of 34 San Diego stations on Arbitron's rating list.

"This is like a slow-motion car crash where you just keep flipping and flipping," Elsten said. "And we haven't stopped flipping.

"It's an ugly, ugly, ugly day for San Diego radio."

Clear Channel operates seven radio stations in San Diego ---- XTRA Sports, KOGO, KMYI-FM, KGB-FM, KIOZ-FM (home of the Chargers), KHTS-FM and KUSS-FM.

Reportedly, a number of employees from all those stations were escorted out of the building this morning.

"We can't take this personally," Elsten said. "And I don't think any of these decisions were made at the local level.

"I believe everything came from San Antonio (Clear Channel's headquarters) as the company tries to cut costs."

Sports-talk radio is among the most expensive formats.

Most employes at XTRA Sports were under contract through the end of the year.

Editors Note: STAA wants to help those sports broadcasters who were laid off by Clear Channel on Inauguration Tuesday. We are offering free consultations to help you formulate a game plan for getting back on the air. I encourage these professionals to call me directly at 949-215-6713. - STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik