It has been quite the season so far for the New York Yankees. They started off as one of the hottest teams in baseball but have cooled off considerably in recent weeks. It has also been an interesting time in the radio broadcast booth as legendary radio voice John Sterling retired in April and several different voices have taken his place. Emmanuel Berbari and Justin Shackil have been the two getting the most work and Berbari talked about the job and its future during Evan & Tiki on WFAN.
As Berbari sat down to talk with hosts Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber they started out talking about the job he has done and some of his calls and catch-phrases he has used. Barber then asked, “How have you found it? Has it been as fun and fulfilling as you thought it was going to be?”
“It’s been a really fun ride, and it’s funny, it goes by quickly, because now we’ve got, what, 60 games to go?” Berbari said. “So, it’s actually remarkable how quickly it’s gone by, but yeah, definitely a dream situation as somebody who grew up a Yankees fan. That goes without saying.”
Barber followed up asking, “How did it come about? How did this first happen for you?”
Berbari, 25, said, “I think, starting with the post-game shows last year, and then filling in on a series with Justin [Shackil] in Pittsburgh at the end of last year, started that conversation. We were each supposed to take 25 games for John [Sterling] entering this year, and then once he retired a couple of weeks into the season, then it naturally became, ‘You’re part of that mix, part of that rotation.’ So, stemming from last year, just lucky enough that I’m still here.”
“I mean, that’s opportunity,” Barber said. “Opportunity gets created, you’re ready for it. That’s essentially what it comes down to.”
Berbari replied, “Yeah, and then trying to seize that opportunity the best that you can.”
What followed, was the obvious question about the future of the position. “Have they talked to you about what the future holds at all?” Berbari was asked.
“None of us know,” he said. “No one in this room knows, but we’re just trying to take it, another cliche, day by day. We’ll see where it leads.”
Roberts asked about another subject that has come up recently, which is the Yankees series from August 9-11 when the broadcast booth will consist of Craig Carton and Suzyn Waldman. Carton, formerly of WFAN and now with FS1, was known for imitating Waldman when he was on the radio station, and it was well known that Waldman did not appreciate Carton’s impression of her.
“This is the million-dollar question and I do not know the answer,” Roberts said, “Has Susan said anything about the upcoming broadcast in a few weeks with my former radio partner?”
“I think she’s looking forward to it,” Berbari said. “I think both of them are high-level entertainers, so you pair that together, you marry that together, and I’m looking forward to listening. I’m going to be doing post-game. I’m going to be back at the booth trying to hang on every word.”
“Be ready to step in,” Roberts said.
Berbari replied, “That’s one piece of advice I was given. Be ready to step in on a moment’s notice at any time”
