Change has been the name of the game lately at WFAN. When Jon Weiner, better known as Stugotz of The Dan Le Batard Show looks at the lineup, he sees something missing.
“I think it could use some Stugotz,” the native New Yorker and lifelong WFAN fan told me.
The man’s wish is coming true…for a couple of days anyway. On Thursday and Friday, he will join Gregg Giannotti on the station’s morning show as he fills in for Boomer Esiason.
It is something that he has been hearing from loved ones should have happened long ago. In fact, as excited as Stugotz is, he says it is those people that are really anticipating him being on air at the original sports talk station.
“I know my dad and brother are excited, they love the station the way I do so this will be very cool for them,” he said. “Gio and I were going to do this like three years ago but my mom passed away from Covid, she would have loved this the most and I know she’ll be up there somewhere listening on Thursday and Friday with a big smile on her face.”
Giannotti is excited too. The partnership, although temporary, has been long in the making.
“Stu and I have admired each other’s work for a while and we are both very similar,” he told me. “NY guys who grew up obsessed with WFAN and chose a career in sports talk radio. We talk a couple times a year about WFAN and I’ve been wanting to co-host with him for a while and it finally worked out.”
Last week in announcing the two-day event, Gio joked that he could never have Stugotz on the morning show when it was at full strength. He and Boomer would be drowned out by Stugotz’s energy.
Don’t take that to mean Gio was ever putting Stugotz off. When he says he admires Stugotz’s work, he means it and can tell you exactly why.
“He’s just so funny and understands his role perfectly. When the LeBatard show is at its most entertaining everyone is feeding off of each other, the fuel he provides the crew is essential. He has that quality about him where even if you don’t know him personally you feel like you do. A guy you want to drink and laugh with.”
The feeling goes the other way too. While the two have never met in person, Stugotz has real affinity for Giannotti, both as a talent and as a human being. He told me he has enjoyed watching Gio’s personal and professional growth before stopping himself.
“Holy shit! I sound old,” Stugotz says.
Everyone in this business has that one station. Whether it happened when you were a kid or it happened much later in life, it is the station that made you realize you not only wanted to talk about sports on the radio, but that you really could make a living out of doing it. For many in our industry, being on that station is a dream job.
A local identity has never been more important in sports radio. That means more and more of those dreams are coming true.
In Stugotz’s case, WFAN was a dream job, but his real job surpassed the scope of a single market, even if it is the biggest media market in the country. That makes getting to do a “double take” of sorts on his hometown station all the more special.
“WFAN is THE reason I decided to get into this industry. Mike [Francesa] and Chris [“Mad Dog” Russo] in particular,” he said. “I listened then and I still listen today whenever I can. The names John Minko, Bob Heussler and Eddie Scozzare mean something to me. Chris Oliviero, Mark Chernoff and Eric Spitz, those names mean something to me. The history of that place means something to me. I’m a WFAN nerd. I’m the guy who made sure he was in his car every day at 1 pm, I’m the guy who drove around the neighborhood a few extra times because I wasn’t done listening to Mike and Chris and I’m the guy who knows who Eddie bleeping Scozzare is!”
The love is genuine. Giannotti jokes that it brings up some real concerns.
When I ask him if he worries about Stugotz wandering out of the studio and into program director Spike Eskin’s office, he said that it is just one of his worries.
“I think every single break he’s gonna be out of the studio talking to everyone in the building,” Gio said. “I gotta keep an eye on him, I can see him stealing stuff off the walls for his man cave.”
This is a moment of triumph for Stugotz. He has already proved the doubters from his past wrong. He doesn’t need to do that again. This moment is for him and the people that love him.
“I’m throwing myself a parade down Main Street in Port Washington after Friday’s show,” he said.
Demetri Ravanos is a columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. He is also the creator of The Sports Podcast Festival, and a previous host on the Chewing Clock and Media Noise podcasts. He occasionally fills in on stations across the Carolinas in addition to hosting Panthers and College Football podcasts. His radio resume includes stops at WAVH and WZEW in Mobile, AL, WBPT in Birmingham, AL and WBBB, WPTK and WDNC in Raleigh, NC.
You can find him on Twitter @DemetriRavanos or reach him by email at DemetriTheGreek@gmail.com.
