Breaking Down WFAN 660 AM New York's Hosts

Mike Francesa

Mike Francesa, the voice of sports talk radio broadcasts his show from 1:00 - 6:30 during the weekdays. His show is syndicated on the YES network and he has had every big name in sports on as a guest.

Since his split with Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, I think the show has diminished in quality, and with Francesca on his own, without a host, for five and a half hours, it is apparent that his job has become tougher. Francesca on his own seems very arrogant and stubborn on the air.

Whenever a caller pays him a compliment, it just seems like he doesn't have the time of day for it on his show. Since I have been listening to him since I was 5 years old, he has rarely conceded being wrong for anything.

Francesa is one of two admitted Yankee fan hosts (in addition to his former producer, now over night host Mark Malusis).
Hate him, love him, no matter what, he will be recognized as the voice of New York Sports talk.

Craig Carton and Boomer Esiason

Boomer and Carton have been partnered together for about two years—since Don Imus was dismissed from his role on the station.

The two offer an interesting combination along the lines of ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike In the Morning—with a former NFL player and a Jewish guy from New York, the similarities are there.

Their show incorporates a lot of "guy talk" in addition to sports talk. Carton, at times, can become very annoying and very critical of New York teams.

Boomer is less of a yeller on the air as opposed to Carton.

Overall, they put together an excellent and entertaining four-hour show that is great to listen to if you don't want just pure sports talk.

Joe Beningo and Evan Roberts

What is the result when you partner someone in his 20's with someone in his 50's?

It's what I call the best show on WFAN.

Beningo and Roberts are both Mets and Jets fans, which makes it entertaining to hear their passion and cautioned enthusiasm.

They don't let their fandom turn into Yankee and Giant hatred, as they give unbiased views about those teams. Joe Beningo, a former caller who got his start in broadcasting by winning a fan contest in 1994, just sounds like a typical New York or North Jersey guy. He and Evan just sound like they are sitting at a bar and talking about sports.

Their show is during the midday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., and frankly, I think they should get a shot more often to do it from 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., giving Francesa a break.

Tony Paige

To say that Tony Paige is a class act would be an extreme understatement.

Paige is not exactly a yeller on his overnight shows, he treats all callers with the utmost respect, and is able to talk about every sport.

He will always let a caller talk and make their points.

Despite being a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, he rarely ever references them, and because of this, he is able to deal with some of the most passionate Giants and Jets fans during the season.

Tony is a favorite among boxing fans because of his years covering boxing for numerous media outlets. Paige keeps workers on overnight shifts and truck drivers company with not letting his fame make him seem stuck up. I have spent many nights working on homework with WFAN locked into him for five hours straight in the overnight.

Mark Malusis

Mark Malusis is another overnight host for WFAN, but unlike Tony Paige, he brings a certain swagger to sports talk with his rants in his opening segments.

He judges all New York teams harshly, particularly when discussing the New York Mets's recent late-season struggles. Malusis is always respectful to callers in letting them make their points, but when he feels a caller's point is ridiculous, he gets them to question their beliefs. Malusis was a former producer for the Mike and the Mad Dog Show, so he learned from the best and is a rising star in the Sports Talk world.

Steve Somers

Somers has been a fixture for WFAN since the station's early days and has the most original style of any host on the air. He is famous for "schmoozing" and his poetic way of painting a picture of his opinions.

He treats callers with great respect, but if you are looking for someone to put their fanhood behind them, then you are listening to the wrong host. Sommers is a fan of the Mets, Rangers, Knicks, and Giants, and doesn't give equal time to callers who like teams such as the Yankees and Devils.

In fact, I called once to talk about the Devils and he barely let me talk without asking why I liked the Devils.

He often makes fun of his producer Russell Mathis for being a Cowboys fan and taunts Tony Romo on the air. Steve can be heard usually during the nights or the middle of the day in the winter.

Steve Sommers

Somers has been a fixture for WFAN since the station's early days and has the most original style of any host on the air. He is famous for "schmoozing" and his poetic way of painting a picture of his opinions.

He treats callers with great respect, but if you are looking for someone to put their fanhood behind them, then you are listening to the wrong host. Sommers is a fan of the Mets, Rangers, Knicks, and Giants, and doesn't give equal time to callers who like teams such as the Yankees and Devils.

In fact, I called once to talk about the Devils and he barely let me talk without asking why I liked the Devils.

He often makes fun of his producer Russell Mathis for being a Cowboys fan and taunts Tony Romo on the air. Steve can be heard usually during the nights or the middle of the day in the winter.

Adam the Bull

Adam "The Bull" is quite the contrary to Steve Sommers, because he is someone who likes to rant about how the Mets and Yankees should be playing better. He himself is a Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Bengals fan from Brooklyn, and is able to give unbiased analysis on New York Sports. Bull is a new host on WFAN and has a very good memory; he, in fact, has remembered what teams I root for, despite not being too frequent of a caller of his show. He often refers to his weight issues and pokes fun of it, and occasionally incorporates "guy talk" into his show.

Adam the Bull

Adam "The Bull" is quite the contrary to Steve Sommers, because he is someone who likes to rant about how the Mets and Yankees should be playing better. He himself is a Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Bengals fan from Brooklyn, and is able to give unbiased analysis on New York Sports. Bull is a new host on WFAN and has a very good memory; he, in fact, has remembered what teams I root for, despite not being too frequent of a caller of his show. He often refers to his weight issues and pokes fun of it, and occasionally incorporates "guy talk" into his show.