Pat Parris is out at WXOS, the first major deletion to the lineup since the station joined the all-sport radio battle in January.

He had been working with Post-Dispatch sports columnist Bryan Burwell in the 9 a.m.-noon slot and they had the top market share at that time among the three major sports stations' target demographic — men ages 25-54. And they were No. 5 overall on the sports-banter list. Still, they had 101.1 FM's lowest-rated show.

Sources said station management didn't like their chemistry and bought out Parris' contract.

"Pat was a valuable member of our team and played an important part in our success the past 10 months,'' WXOS program director Jason Barrett said. "I am personally grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him and truly appreciate the commitment and professionalism he brought to our building."

Parris, whose primary job is as a host on Fox Sports Midwest, said he was comfortable with the decision.

"We mutually agreed that if the show needed to go in a little bit different direction that I was willing to be the one to step aside because I have other responsibilities that didn't allow me to be as flexible as Bryan,'' Parris said. "To me it was an easy decision to step aside and say, 'Hey I tried and it didn't work out this time.'''

A replacement hasn't been named, but Barrett said the show will be cut by 60 minutes beginning Nov. 16, ending at 11 a.m. That hour will be picked up by Bernie Miklasz, who has the top-rated show in the format and currently airs from noon-2 p.m.

"Bernie Miklasz has been a dominant force on our airwaves for the past seven months and the audience demand for his show to be extended has been very strong,'' Barrett said.

Parris said he'd like to do radio again, but under different circumstances.

"I would have to say that if it meant having to be the lead guy on a show for three or four hours a day, Monday through Friday, that I probably wouldn't do that again,'' he said. "It seemed to be a little bit more than I had bargained for.''

But he said he's glad for the experience.

"It was a positive situation for me,'' he said. "The station is really good and solid, I think they are doing the right things in the right way. But although we were No. 1 in our time slot we weren't getting the ratings (of the station's other shows) so I can see why they were concerned.''

MCKERNAN'S MULLINGS

Tim McKernan continues to ponder offers from KSLG (1380 AM), where he is the lead host of the morning drive-time program, and competitor KFNS (590 AM).

He said they are vastly different opportunities, as the deal to remain at 1380 now is for the Internet operation McKernan heads, insidestl.com, to buy the show's air time and pay the salaries — including his. He said that's intriguing because it would be a big step for that company as it contemplates expansion, possibly into other cities. But a move to KFNS, where he would be in afternoon drive time, would provide a guaranteed salary and end his days of having to get up before sunrise. He finds both options intriguing.

"I would be working for a guy (KFNS general manager Dave Greene) who is building something very strong and something that is very attractive,'' McKernan said. "If I were to do the thing with 1380 and insidestl.com, it would be about controlling our own destiny, of the show and website, and taking it in-house,'' to sell. ... "This is on us, putting my money behind it. It is really high-risk with potential high reward.''

A move to KFNS, however, would preclude his other hosts — TV sportscasters Jim Hayes and Doug Vaughn — from participating full time because they have television duties in the afternoon and McKernan emphasizes how important they are to the success of the program.

NO TV FOR TIGERS

No live telecast is scheduled for Saturday's Missouri-Baylor football game, the least-attractive game on this week's Big 12 schedule. The teams have a combined 1-7 record in league play (Mizzou has the victory).

However, Fox Sports Midwest will air a one-hour condensed replay of the game at 1 p.m. Tuesday and at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

MU's game the following week, at Kansas State, will air on Versus and has been set for an 11:35 a.m. kickoff. It will be Mizzou's first appearance on that network, which is the final option in the primary branch of the Big 12 television package. Ahead of it are ABC, ESPN/ESPN2 and FSM.

Although DirecTV customers will be blacked out — that satellite system dropped Versus in September because of a contract dispute — placing the game there makes it available to more people than if it was placed on one of the Big 12's secondary TV options — Fox College Sports, which is picked up in few homes, or pay-per-view.