History was made on Tuesday night as Keith McPherson made his hosting debut on WFAN in New York replacing Steve Somers after the latter’s extraordinary 34-year run at the station. Prior to joining WFAN, McPherson, 33, was a host of both the Pinstripe Strong and Talkin’ Nets podcasts at Jomboy Media, and managed social media for the company as well. Additionally, he had experience as a digital marketing and strategy manager at Roc Nation Sports, which represents prominent athletes across many leagues, such as Saquon Barkley, Immanuel Quickley and Robinson Canó, and was a social media manager at fuboTV.
“We did it. Let’s go!,” opened McPherson on his first show. “So much energy [is] running through me right now… WFAN, New York City — club going up on a Tuesday!”
McPherson thanked those listening to his inaugural program on-air, and, much like his predecessor Steve Somers, invited listeners to join the conversation and talk about their favorite New York teams.
“If you decided at 7:00 tonight [that] this is what you were going to do — listen to me talk sports — I appreciate you,” said McPherson. “Twitter, Instagram, texts, everything — it’s been crazy; it’s been an overload. It’s been a wild ride, and now we’re here. Now it starts. This is night one, and the torch has been passed.”
Before McPherson proceeded with his program, he sent a special message to Somers, who officially retired from WFAN after 34 years on the air; McPherson here, and Somers there, seemingly enough. Keith McPherson called Somers the greatest of all time at his craft, hence the title “G.O.A.T.,” and looked forward to beginning the challenge of crafting his own sound and style just as “The Schmoozer” did himself.
“I have to send a shout out to the G.O.A.T. — Steve Somers — forever G.O.A.T.E.D!,” exclaimed McPherson. “There was a lot of talk about his replacement; a lot of talk about shoes being filled. I deadened that every chance I could… because you can’t replace a guy like Steve Somers… That’s a voice we will never be able to replace, and no one will ever take his place — and definitely not me. I am glad to carry the torch; glad to take this mic, take this seat; and lead us into the future, whatever that future may be, New York.”
WFAN’s newest on-air host briefly discussed the process in joining the station, and how so many things in his life have rapidly changed over the last few months.
“If they would have told me three months ago… that I was going to be trying out to be the nighttime host… If they would have told me that the press release was going to come out saying that you’re replacing Steve Somers, I would have said: ‘Woah, woah. Hey — take it easy. I don’t know if I’m ready for all that.”
Three months later, though, Keith McPherson is ready for his chance on live radio, getting his start in the number one media market in the world: the Big Apple.
“It’s not about if you’re ready,” explained McPherson. “It’s about staying ready so you don’t have to get ready, and I’m ready to rock tonight.”
Keith McPherson hopes that his new role at WFAN will be the start of a new era of great things for the station amid a changing media landscape and consistent ratings battle with 98.7 ESPN New York. Furthermore, he hopes the sports teams in the New York-Metropolitan area give their fans even more memorable moments and things to cheer about, and subsequently come talk about on New York’s FAN.
“[I] hope you become a fan of the FAN,” said McPherson. “I’m just a fan at the FAN. We’re all fans — die-hard fans, long-suffering fans, casual fans, bandwagon fans — we’re all here.”
