Former ESPN 97.5 The Fanatic host Nick Kayal got his shot to co-host with Sportsradio 94.1 WIP’s Josh Innes on Friday, and didn’t waste any time before ripping the station that employed him for six years.
Kayal, who also writes columns for Philly.com, called The Fanatic an “inferior station on the dial” and said he had been “jerked around five times” before making the decision to leave the station and take a job with Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM.
Kayal’s drive-time show lasted only four months before SiriusXM took over control of the channel and eliminated nearly everyone in its lineup. But judging by the way Kayal went after The Fanatic, he was more concerned with winning over WIP listeners than burning bridges with his former employer.
“Rumor has it the transmitter shut off at 7 p.m. at that station,” Kayal said, a dig at the station’s decision to utilize big-name ESPN guests during more popular radio hours. He also lamented long nights where he would talk, without a caller, for over an hour.
Kayal saved his most heated comments for Fanatic host and favorite Innes target Mike Missanelli, who he labeled as a lazy host and “a straight-up d-bag.”
“Everything that you read about him is pretty much true,” Kayal said, saying his relationship with The Fanatic’s most popular host was terrible.
Kayal read text messages he claimed Missanelli sent him criticizing his show, claiming the host started every message with “bro” and didn’t like it when Kayal used the word “pissed” on the air. He also performed an impersonation of the host he called the “Bitchanelli minute,” appropriating Innes’s derogatory term for his radio rival.
Requests for comment from both The Fanatic and Missanelli weren’t immediately returned.
WIP is getting close to figuring out who will replace the departed Tony Bruno as Innes’ new co-host. Rickie Ricardo is set to co-host with Innes on Monday, then I’m told management will start to focus on their final choices.
WIP hopes to have a decision about Innes’ new co-host by the middle of August.
Credit to Philly.com who originally published this article
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
