It’s been nearly four decades since the sports talk radio format launched on WFAN in New York City. Over that time, the format has evolved from a local voice discussing local teams to national voices heard worldwide.
Damon Amendolara has seen the evolution firsthand, growing up a listener of WFAN and building a career in the industry over the last two decades. Last month, Amendolara re-signed with SiriusXM on a contract extension that will keep him as the morning voice alongside co-host Mike Babchik on Mad Dog Sports Radio, a satellite radio channel named after one of the first guiding voices of the format itself.
“Throughout my first-twenty-some-odd years on the radio, I was the solo host, and everything ran through me first and last,” explained Amendolara. “This was very different. [Mike] Babchik has had a tremendous radio career, and they envisioned us more as a tandem… That has made me far more versatile as I ever was before.”
Amendolara joined Mad Dog Sports Radio’s morning lineup with Babchik in 2023. The shift came following Babchik’s former co-host Evan Cohen leaving the network to join ESPN Radio’s morning group on Unsportsmanlike. Amendolara welcomed the role, teaming up with a proven talent in Babchik, who had already established a following on the channel.
“He understands what fluid, interesting, good vibe radio sounds like,” said Amendolara, noting the chemistry between the two was almost instant. “He had the voice and ear of all these listeners. I couldn’t walk in as the new guy and push him out of the way, nor would I want to. The listeners love him, so it was very important for me to show respect. I wanted him to be as big a part of this as I am… We had a very authentic mutual respect coming in, and it was really easy.”
Adapting To SiriusXM
Within the first couple of shows, Amendolara felt at home. He was no stranger to speaking to a national audience. He hosted The D.A. Show on the CBS Sports Radio Network for a decade. The program reached listeners across more than 150 radio stations nationwide. Each stop in his career provided him with valuable knowledge. Every experience also offered a different perspective.
With the move to SiriusXM from traditional sports radio, Amendolara had to adjust. He now understood that every listener is also a subscriber.
“I’ve noticed that callers, we make sure these callers feel heard. That was not a thing in many years that I heard from an executive standpoint in radio,” explained Amendolara. “At Mad Dog Sports Radio, it’s much different because of the way the channel was born. It was born through the DNA of WFAN… and I understood that very quickly when I arrived… The channel is built on the backs of those listeners. That’s a valuable thing to prioritize, and I like that it is prioritized.”
Another interesting evolution in Amendolara’s transition to SiriusXM was the absence of data. He referenced his time in traditional sports radio, when programmers tracked quarter hours and topic selection. Amendolara noted that there is no trace of that type of system at SiriusXM. He called the old method “foreign,” yet also refreshing.
“It is disorienting to not have all that data and analyze how we interpret it, but I have not found that as part of our conversations with any management,” said Amendolara. “In today’s day and age, when there’s so much data on so many things, it is surprising that it’s not used more. It’s a blessing and a curse. It doesn’t make you a slave to the metrics that executives might freak out over, but it also probably is something that could be a real helpful tool as well.”
Amendolara says he’s proud to be a part of what he calls the “most dominant” lineup he’s ever been in on Mad Dog Sports Radio. The channel’s additions in 2025 of Stephen A. Smith and Katie Nolan, he feels, built upon the work already laid in place by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Adam Schein.
Morning drive wasn’t the goal for Amendolara when he first began his career. Although he’s hosted a number of different dayparts at other stations, he now values both the benefit and the challenge of being first to crack the mic on Mad Dog Sports Radio.
“I get to set the agenda for the day,” noted Amendolara. “I love getting first crack, but it was never really a goal. The challenge is you don’t have time to think about the take. I take a lot of care in the thought and delivery of the take… There is a real challenge in being smart in the morning, because you haven’t been armed with a lot of information.”
Future Of Infinity Sports Network
Amendolara began gaining experience hosting morning drive during his time with CBS Sports Radio, which since his departure has been renamed the Infinity Sports Network. A consistent surveyor of the sports media landscape, Amendolara has been demoralized by the recent announcement of his former network consolidating with the BetMGM Network.
While he remains hopeful that the new Westwood One Sports network works out, he says the move is not due to a lack of talent.
“I was really proud to work at that network, and I was really proud of the product the entire channel put on for eleven years,” said Amendolara. “I’m hugely hopeful that it works, and all those people that I used to work with land with an opportunity to do what they do really well.”
Despite his personal success, Amendolara finds himself troubled by how the industry continues to shrink over time.
“Radio is something I truly love, but it’s constantly being challenged as a viable entity in the sports media landscape,” explained Amendolara. “Sports radio can be so influential and powerful… Yet because of this push of an audience away from traditional radio, there’s less money there to flesh out rosters and producers. Everything starts shrinking and opportunities start drying up… It’s demoralizing. It’s not just Infinity; it’s the entire industry.”
Paying Attention To Trends
Amendolara recalled a key moment while broadcasting live from the Super Bowl on radio row. It became clear to him that it was time to evolve again. During the chaos of the week-long event, he met several colleagues. They complimented his program, but not because they listened live. Instead, they had seen clips posted on social media.
This moment of reflection built on a recent public speaking event. Amendolara had spoken to a group of high school students. None of them said they listened to sports radio. However, they all consumed sports content on YouTube.
“I have to meet people where they are and where they’re going,” noted Amendolara about why he began crafting content specifically for a YouTube audience. “There is not a younger audience that is consuming sports talk radio. I’m not old enough to retire, so I have to make sure that I find a place where those people are communing.”
Over nine thousand subscribers later, Amendolara has posted over a thousand videos to YouTube. He finds himself connecting with a different audience and building connections for the future.
“I love it because radio is a beautiful empty canvas. YouTube is just a different kind of empty canvas,” explained Amendolara. “It’s a completely different puzzle to put together, and it’s fascinating. You do sports radio for twenty-five years and you have that thing figured out. Then it’s figure this out, and it’s kind of cool, like going back to school.”
Goals For The Future
Amendolara has always kept an open mind to what the next open door could be. While he believes the traditional radio industry often rests on its laurels, he’s excited to see how WFAN continues to evolve. He grew up listening to the legacy sports radio brand in New York City. With his rising profile on SiriusXM and digital platforms, he isn’t closing the door on a potential spot at his hometown station.
“Absolutely. That’s my backyard and those are the teams that I grew up around,” said Amendolara. “I’ve always learned in this business you kind of go where they want you. Because you never know when the door opens or closes. I’ve been lucky enough to have people want me for this or that. So, I’ve learned you always keep an open mind and just wait for the next door because it’s so hard to predict.”
As 2025 ends, and with a new contract extension in place, Amendolara sees a bright year ahead for his SiriusXM projects. The industry may continue to face challenges as audiences shift to digital platforms. Yet the goal remains the same every day. Find new ways to evolve enhancing the listener experience.
“If you listen to an hour of our show in the morning, you’re getting so much,” said Amendolara. “It’s the greatest value in sports radio, and I love doing it.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
