Even when handshakes are nonetheless a factor within the post-coronavirus period, Michael Kay received’t be extending one to Mike Francesa.
Kay has overtaken Francesa within the scores, however the New York sports activities radio rivalry stays fiery between the longtime afternoon drive voices of ESPN New York and WFAN, a lot in order that Kay stated he wouldn't shake arms and make peace with Francesa if he bumped into him in 10 years.
“I wouldn’t,” Kay instructed NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch in an prolonged Q&A. “Look, I by no means threw punches on the man, I simply returned them. He stated I began all this, the day I threw that Weight loss program Coke within the rubbish. That was only a counter-punch after he’d stated I used to be managed by YES. There’s nothing extra insulting which you could say a few journalist than she or he is being instructed what to say or write. So if I needed to do it once more, I might do it again and again and over. I imply it once I say I've no private animosity towards Mike. I do know he’s bought a spouse, kids, a life. However for me to say hiya first – no.”
Francesa’s days of ruling the scores are over as “The Michael Kay Present” — with Kay and his companions Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg — has come out on prime of the final two books for the coveted afternoon listenership of males aged 25-54. That features the autumn guide, Francesa’s final earlier than heading again into semi-retirement in December.
The 66-year-old Francesa now does a each day online-only present from 5-6 p.m. earlier than showing on WFAN from 6-6:30 p.m. WFAN not too long ago added Francesa to a four-hour slot on Sunday as a part of its coronavirus plan.
“Nicely, initially, it was essential to beat Mike decisively earlier than he bought out (from his afternoon slot),” Kay stated. “It was very gratifying. I knew it was a matter of time and if he had stayed on we'd’ve continued to win. I don’t know if one man pontificating on his throne was as enticing to hearken to anymore. When he got here again (to WFAN briefly in 2018) it wasn’t enjoyable. It wasn’t enjoyable to hearken to. It wasn’t even enjoyable for him. I believe that resonated with listeners.
“We skew youthful in direction of popular culture on our present. We’re the sports activities model of Howard Stern – not that blue, in fact, however we pull proper as much as the road. The fellows I work with, I might hang around with them. We have now a blast and listeners choose up on that.
“I'll say this about Mike, although: I've the utmost respect for what he did for the sports activities discuss trade. Nevertheless it grew to become private, he was derisive in direction of me, which I might by no means do to him. He was nasty and impolite all through the battle, which gave me unimaginable satisfaction to win and proceed to win.”
Within the fall guide — the final time each had common afternoon-drive exhibits — Kay (7.four share amongst males 25-54) crushed Francesa (5.5) within the Nielsen Audio Rankings.
In October, after it was reported that Kay beat Francesa within the first month of the autumn guide, Francesa tried to downplay the change in guard.
“I've been in afternoon drive since 1989 and have by no means completed behind one other sports activities program,” Francesa wrote on Twitter. “By no means. The opposite station celebrating a hit now could be the identical as spiking the soccer after lastly scoring a TD in a sport that's 77-0!”
To Kay, that analogy was “not relevant.”
“ why? As a result of 63 of these factors don’t rely,” Kay stated. “All that issues is the sport you’re enjoying proper now. In fact Mike wasn’t gracious about it, he was by no means gracious about something, so why would he change now? He was nasty and cruel till the top. I give ESPN credit score: they caught with us when the chances have been towards us. We had a nationwide present (hosted by Stephen A. Smith) main into us and New York is just not a nationwide present city. We have been climbing up a greased pole however we lastly bought to the highest.
“However there’s nonetheless one factor that ought to be repeated about Mike. He was iconic, he’ll be remembered for a very long time. He and Chris (Russo) re-shaped the trade and made it doable for lots of people to search out jobs. However Mike hasn’t distinguished himself by the best way he’s acted.”
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