In 1998, Rick Wolff had an interest in working in sports radio and specifically at WFAN in New York. His father, legendary sportscaster Bob Wolff knew then WFAN Program Director Mark Chernoff, and a meeting was arranged.
During the meeting, Chernoff learned that Wolff, who was a book editor at the time, had played professional baseball and was a sports psychologist for the Cleveland Indians.
“As we talked, we got around to talking about youth sports including coaching, parenting, and performing,” said Chernoff. “He had some great ideas and I hired him to host a Sunday morning show at 8:00 AM and called it The Sports Edge”.
The show became appointment listening for everyone in the youth sports community including coaches, parents, and players.
“It became an important addition to the station,” said Chernoff. “Rick always brought a lot to the table including great guests, like school athletic directors and coaches, plus celebrities who spoke to their own roles as coaches or cheerleaders for their kids. And he always took calls from listeners.”
And now, that youth sports community along with the entire WFAN family is mourning the loss of Rick Wolff who passed away last week at the age of 71 following a brief battle with brain cancer.
Wolff is survived by his wife Trish, son John, daughters Alyssa and Samantha, and his grandchildren Riley, Skylar and Henry.
If you knew Rick, worked with him, or just had the chance to meet him, you were privileged because he was as good of a human being as you could ever find.
“Like his father Bob, Rick was a gem of a person to work with,” said Chernoff. “His family and the radio family he established will surely miss him.”
Wolff’s show became an institution on the first and most successful all-sports station in North America. It was something you couldn’t find anywhere else, and the issues discussed were extremely important to the dedicated audience that tuned in each week.
“Rick and his show have been such an integral, meaningful part of WFAN for decades,” said Spike Eskin, Vice President of Programming at WFAN and CBS Sports Radio.
“The Sports Edge was a show that provided real value, and something that was necessary and isn’t provided anywhere else. You could always tell how much care and thought he put into each one. Rick will be missed by us and the community we serve in a very real way.”
Plain and simple, Wolff was a mensch, which is a Yiddish term for a person of integrity, morality, dignity, and with a sense of what is right and responsible. He was supportive of everyone he knew especially those he worked with and there were many lives of WFAN staff members that he touched over the years.
It didn’t matter who it was that he worked with. Wolff made a lasting impact on the WFAN family
“Rick was one of the first hosts I ever had the opportunity to produce a show for,” said Ed Arzooman who became Wolff’s producer when the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020.
“Working with him taught me so much about this industry and what it’s like to properly prepare for and execute a show on a weekly basis. I truly learned how incredible a human being Rick was. He cared about every single person involved with his show. There are not many higher accomplishments in life than when you can say you have built a community and positively impacted the lives of others. Rick did that and so much more.”
For anyone who had ever worked with Wolff, both past and present, the news of Rick’s passing hit the WFAN family hard. His work on The Sports Edge was brilliant and he was so well respected by everyone at the station.
“It was a unique program and he was an expert in that field,” said legendary WFAN host Mike Francesa. “He hailed from a good family and was always a class act. A prominent editor, we would discuss books often. It looks like he handled his illness with the same dignity that he did his life.”
Wolff brought a passion to his Sunday morning show because he was passionate about the topics of conversation. No subject was off-limits when it came to youth sports. He brought his thoughts to the table and had terrific guests. Most importantly, he also took plenty of opinions from the callers who joined the show.
“The Sports Edge gave parents, coaches, and young athletes an outlet for real issues affecting their lives in youth sports,” said WFAN weekend host Marc Malusis. “It was a pleasure to have known him and work with him. He was a gentleman and he will be missed. His impact is unquestioned.”
“Apart from being a Sunday morning institution who tackled subjects that hit home for 90% of our audience, the best thing that I can say about Rick is that he was kind,” said longtime WFAN producer and board operator Eddie Scozzare. “He cared deeply about his fellow man and tried his best to be of service to them.”
“Rick filled in important role with WFAN,” said former WFAN update anchor Mike McCann. “His show truly performed a public service, giving valuable advice to families and teenage athletes. He will be deeply missed.”
I had the pleasure of doing updates on Rick’s show many times and I always enjoyed our off-air conversations. As a sports parent myself, having the opportunity to discuss various youth sports issues with Rick was an honor and a privilege, and he was always a great resource when it came to topics that hit home, not just for me, but for both of us.
Each and every time I saw him, Rick would always greet me with a smile and would ask how my family was doing. He was a wonderful person and he will be deeply missed. My deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.
Rest in peace Rick, and thank you for being a great colleague, and most of all a friend.
Peter Schwartz writes weekly sports radio features for Barrett Media. He has been involved in New York sports media for over three decades, and has worked for notable brands such as WFAN, CBS Sports Radio, WCBS 880, ESPN New York, and FOX News Radio. Peter has also served as play by play announcer for the New Yok Riptide, New York Dragons, New York Hitmen, Varsity Media and the Long Island Sports Network. You can find him on Twitter @SchwartzSports or email him at DragonsRadio@aol.com.
