Growing up in New York, a young Sal Licata began listening to WFAN in the mid-90’s. He also was a caller to the station. His dream was to one day be behind the microphone talking sports at WFAN.
Working at WFAN became reality when Licata was hired as an intern. The dream reached a new level last week when he was named the new midday host. He joins Brandon Tierney from 10am to 2pm starting on July 24th.
It was certainly one of those “pinch me” moments.
“It means the world to me,” said Licata. “The idea of having everything I’ve ever dreamt of become a reality is still something that I’m trying to comprehend. It just does not feel real. The goal was always to be on the air and to be now with Brandon Tierney on WFAN is just something that honestly, I can’t even imagine…I can’t believe that it actually became a reality for me.”
In addition to his solo shows over the years at WFAN, Licata has also done fill-in work with other hosts, but never with Tierney. While they’ve never teamed up on radio before, they did work together years ago on television at SNY so there is a bit of familiarity with each other.
At the end of the day, there’s a commonality between the two and that could equate to some very entertaining radio.
“I know that we’re both at the core, passionate New York sports fans and to me that’s what this radio station has always been built on,” said Licata. “The number one thing to me is as long as we check our egos and don’t make any argument personal, we’re going to be just fine. He’s got to let me be myself and I have to let him be himself. As long as we do that, I have no doubts that the show will succeed.”
It goes without saying that not every show in a sports radio lineup is the same in terms of content and presentation. For example, a morning show generally includes a good amount of pop culture while an overnight show relies heavily on phone calls. Licata has hosted in a variety of dayparts during his career, but now is set to make the transition from full-time solo overnight host to full-time midday host with a partner.
“I think I need to treat it the same way I’ve treated every other show I’ve ever done whether it be fill-in or full-time,” said Licata. “When I’m on, it’s prime-time so I need to take that mentality over to the mid-day show. The only thing that changes is that when you do a show with somebody else.”
Getting the promotion from overnights to middays is a marquee moment in Licata’s career, but he’s grateful for everything he’s accomplished including the full-time overnight gig that he’s about to depart. He will forever be a part of the legendary list of WFAN hosts to hold down the fort during overnight hours including Steve Somers, Joe Benigno and Tony Paige.
While he’s pumped up for the midday show with Tierney, there is an aspect of the overnights that Licata will miss.
“The callers 100% because there’s no other time slot that gives you that bond with the callers like the overnight show,” said Licata. “I could not do that show without them. They have been the number one reason why I had any kind of success on the overnights. Without the callers, that show was not even remotely as good as I feel like we made it with them being such a huge part of it.”
Licata has worked hard to climb up the ladder in his career, but he also acknowledges that he had someone very important in his corner who played a big role in his success.
That would be legendary WFAN afternoon drive host Mike Francesa.
“Mike was the first person to ever believe in me other than myself,” said Licata. “We would have interactions in the newsroom. He said ‘this guy should get a show’ and I think that led to me getting my first ever show in 2006 on Christmas Eve on the FAN. Then I got another show on New Year’s Eve and then slowly kind of worked my way up and then became part of Mike’s show. There has been no bigger supporter, especially early on, than Francesa.”
As Licata is set to assume prime real estate at WFAN. His story at the radio station also includes perhaps the worst moment of his career when he was fired back in 2010. Licata takes ownership of the moment. While it was a tough pill to swallow, the mistake helped him change the trajectory of his life and his career.
“I think people make mistakes in life,” said Licata. “It was the worst mistake and it was also the most that I ever learned from a mistake. It changed me as a person. It humbled me. It made me hungrier. It made me self-evaluate and all those different things made me a better person which in turn made me a better host. If I can go back, I wouldn’t change a single thing even though I don’t love the way I was back then…young, immature, insecure, egotistical…all those stupid things, I wouldn’t change a thing the way that it worked out.”
After leaving WFAN, Licata was faced with the tough challenge of trying to rebuild his career. SNY was the first outlet that would give him a chance to get back on the air and then in 2013, he got a second chance with WFAN returning to the station that he dreamed of working for. In 2014, Licata actually then left WFAN for a second time, but that was on his own terms as he moved over to WOR when they acquired the radio rights to New York Mets baseball and also developed a sports talk show.
Licata made a decision that he felt was in his best interests.
“WOR was a place for me to go and get better as a talk show host, learn to be a better host, face the challenges of doing a sports-talk show on a news-talk station poses,” said Licata. “I’m thankful for that opportunity as well. I learned and grew from WOR.”
Licata eventually returned for a third stint at WFAN and the resurrection of his broadcasting career continued to take shape. Though the ups and downs, Licata never stopped believing in himself and his hard work has now paid off in a big way. He’s thriving at both WFAN and SNY and he’s put the struggles and mistakes in his rear-view mirror.
Does he feel vindicated?
“Vindication is definitely not the right word,” said Licata. “There is a sense of satisfaction and being proud of myself for following my dream, working hard, doing things the right way, learning from mistakes and evolving. I’m very proud of my acomplishments and very thankful for the opportunity that has been provided to me whether it be (former WFAN Program Director) Mark Chernoff who gave me a second chance, (current WFAN Program Director) Spike Eskin who has been as good to me as anybody has possibly been letting me be myself, (Audacy New York Market President) Chris Olivero and Boomer and Gio for promoting on their show. I’m very thankful and appreciative to everybody who provided me an opportunity.”
Licata’s promotion from overnights to the middays was just part of a new station lineup announced by WFAN, with all of the moves triggered by the departure of afternoon host Craig Carton who is leaving WFAN for a full-time opportunity with Fox Sports.
Chris McMonigle replaces Licata on the overnight show while Tiki Barber departs middays to join Evan Roberts on the new afternoon show that will also include Shaun Morash moving down the hall as he comes over from “The DA Show” on CBS Sports Radio. Tommy Lugauer will become the executive producer of “Evan and Tiki” and will host the “bridge show” leading into Keith McPherson evenings from 7pm to midnight.
“I could not be more excited,” said Licata. “I think it’s a healthy way to operate when you’re promoting from within. Everybody who has gotten promoted here from within I could not be more excited for them. To be a part of that and a part of the station moving forward where I hope I am for the next 20 or 25 years, it’s a dream come true. I could not be more excited.”
Dreams do come true. Sal Licata is living proof of that.
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.
