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Dominic Carter Makes No Bones About What His Future Holds in Afternoons on 77 WABC

Garrett Searight
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Dominic Carter Makes No Bones About What His Future Holds in Afternoons on 77 WABC

77 WABC host Dominic Carter has patiently waited his turn to nab a premiere slot on the New York news/talk station. And he has big aspirations for what he’s going to do in the 3-4 PM timeslot.

“The baton has been passed to me. I’m going to take it, I’m going to run, and I am going to dominate,” Carter told Barrett News Media. “Mark my words.”

Carter, who will continue to host his Midnight to 1 AM program on the Red Apple Media-owned station, takes over the timeslot previously helmed by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Owner John Catsimatidis canceled Giuliani’s show last month after he continually ignored company edicts related to the way the station would discuss the validity of the 2020 presidential election.

Despite the avenue in which he came to take over the program, Dominic Carter is ecstatic to have the hour in afternoon drive.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “WABC is a powerhouse. I come from within the system, almost like the farm system of a baseball team. I worked at WABC part time for years. And when I got the assignment, it will be the biggest thrill of my life. I’ve been ready for this moment. I’ve been ready for quite some time.”

Carter has worked in radio in the New York market since graduating college in 1986. And like the famous line from the Broadway musical Hamilton, he’s not throwing away his shot.

“What my plan is, I have to be very honest with you, is to dominate the market. Nothing else will be acceptable. To know my character is to know that I plan on being the best and frankly destroying the competition.”

His competition in the talk radio space in the Big Apple includes a pair of nationally syndicated programs, the first hour of The Sean Hannity Show on 710 WOR and America First with Sebastian Gorka on AM 970 The Answer.

Despite the heavy-hitting competition, Dominic Carter is keenly aware of what winning that battle will look like.

“It will take nonstop work. I’m used to that. I’ve done that for almost almost 40 years. I understand what’s at stake,” said Carter. “For example, I spend sometimes two or three hours getting ready for a show and I gladly accept the challenge. This is what I want to do … It is time that somebody stands up and tells the truth, no matter what the truth may be. And the one thing I can assure our listeners, my plan is to dominate and to expand the audience; to bring people in.

“The one thing I can assure you is that yes, we know talk radio is opinion-based, but I’m always gonna give it to you straight. I’m gonna give you the facts. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it … We have to get back to basic law and order. We have to get back to the American way of life. And that’s my approach on almost every topic. That’s where I’m coming from.”

Hosting a program from 3-4 PM ET and then another live show from Midnight to 1 AM ET won’t be an easy task. Time management will need to be a key component to Carter’s success, but he shared that the example set by the station’s leadership motivates him to continue to host both shows.

He noted that John Catsimatidis — who hosts Cats & Cosby in the afternoon and The Cats Roundtable weekend show — will be working on holidays like Independence Day. And if the billionaire owner of the station can be in the office at inopportune times, so can Carter.

“After the three o’clock show is done, I try to immediately start working on the midnight show. And that’s done normally about 7:00 PM. I try — emphasis on try — to get a nap. That takes, maybe if I’m lucky, I might get 45 minutes to an hour and a half,” he shared. “But what that time is it feels like it’s almost eight hours of sleep because once midnight hits, and once I start preparing at about 9 PM I’ve got to bring it at midnight. Our listeners deserve nothing less than my absolute best.”

Outside of the top news headlines of the day, late-night 77 WABC listeners can expect a completely different show from Carter than the one that aired in afternoon drive.

“For me to do the same show at midnight as what I did at 3 PM? That would be absolute garbage and insulting to our listeners. So the shows are different … I guess one of the biggest challenges for me is coming from news, you’re trained not to give your opinion. And in talk radio, it’s all about your opinion. So that’s been one of the biggest challenges that I’ve faced but I think I’ve passed the test. Hands down.”

Dominic Carter was also incredibly complimentary of both John and Margo Catsimatidis, as well as Red Apple Media President Chad Lopez, for giving him the “opportunity of a lifetime.”

“Mrs. Catsimatidis has been the biggest supporter of my career. They sat me down early on and told me ‘Dominic, hang on. We’re gonna find a way to make things work.’ And it trickles down,” said Carter. “Chad Lopez has been enormously supportive of my career. Straight up, I could not do what I do without Chad Lopez, and certainly not without the Catsimatidis family.”

How News/Talk Radio Can Rise to the Occasion During Presidential Immunity Conversations

Peter Thiele
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How News/Talk Radio Can Rise to the Occasion During Presidential Immunity Conversations

Very rarely does the United States Supreme Court have a ruling that can truly fashion the future of our Republic, but here we are. This is regarding presidential immunity. News/Talk radio needs to understand that the presidential immunity ruling is very important. I am going to give you the three scenarios and what I think about them. You may have different thoughts and feel free to comment.

Scenario #1

The Supreme Court punts and sends this down to a lower court. I think of this as the least likely of the rulings but here is why this could be plausible: The John Roberts Supreme Court allowed Obamacare by making a somewhat flimsy ruling saying that the health insurance mandate was based on the taxation and spending clause was legal. Obamacare enthusiasts felt a certain amount of pride and vindication over this ruling.

Judicial Conservatives thought Roberts was pressured and made this ruling upon an imaginary reason. Sending this back to the lower court is a Pontus Pilate washing of the hands move. 

Could it happen? I will give this a 20% chance of happening.

Scenario #2

The 2nd scenario is either eliminating or seriously weakening presidential immunity. I think that this would be the worst thing. You may not like Trump. That is fair and you are welcome to not like Donald Trump. This is America. Totally allowed.

If presidential immunity is weakened, this opens the door for prosecuting any former President.

Let’s talk about President Barack Obama. He approved the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen. Al-Awlaki was an American citizen. He was not on the battlefield. Al-Awlaki was denied due process that is afforded to every American citizen.

In the ordering of the killing of a U. S. citizen, corroding presidential immunity could lead to Obama’s prosecution. Obama made the right decision, but civil libertarians could argue that the legal process should be followed.

If you don’t buy what I am saying, you are living in a fantasyland. What crimes did Jimmy Carter commit in office? What about Bill Clinton? W? We could be prosecuting Presidents for decades. It has often been cited that political professionals are not our best and brightest. Clintonite Paul Begala once uttered that Washington D.C. was “Hollywood for ugly people.” 

Eroding presidential immunity will lead to weak Presidents who will shy away from making legitimate and difficult decisions. We don’t want that. Presidents are elected to make tough calls. If the USA is attacked, I want our President to respond immediately. I don’t want our President to meet with a team of attorneys to determine if a decision has legal ramifications after he/she leaves office. I know that agreement is often a difficult task in 2024.

If we can prosecute someone just because we don’t like them personally or politically, our nation is doomed. I give this a 40% chance of happening.

Scenario #3

Presidential immunity is upheld. I know that this may seem like a Pollyanna statement, but I want to believe that our presidents think of Americans first. If there is a unanimous ruling, this will protect all current and future presidents regardless of party. This would be the ideal position. Presidential immunity protects our country. There is no expiration date on prosecuting murder.

As I described above, Barack Obama ordered the killing of not just one American citizen but his children. Would some prosecute Obama for this? I would hope not, but the option should not be there. If presidential immunity is compromised, Joe Biden could and probably would pardon Obama.

As we know, pardons are often a political exercise instead of a principle of justice. I give this a 40% chance of occurring.

I am not a formally educated constitutional scholar, but I have read The Federalist Papers.  If you have never read these, you must. It gives you context for how the United States Constitution was crafted. We can all agree or disagree on various issues.

Some of my best friends, I agree with on very little. I enjoy their intellect and I hope that they say the same. I actually like the conversations with people I disagree with more than people that I actually agree with. It allows me to sharpen my thoughts.

Here is what this means for your radio show. You have never been more essential. You provide your opinions that help people analyze their thoughts, biases, and opinions. This ruling could be a match to already unprecedented times. If my first two options are the ruling, the United States of America could very well be neutered. It will create an isolationist nation that will create a void in the world where justice will no longer prevail. 

Jake Peavy Feels the Connection to Baseball and Willie Mays at Rickwood Field

Derek Futterman
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Jake Peavy Feels the Connection to Baseball and Willie Mays at Rickwood Field

When Jake Peavy was dealt to the San Francisco Giants just ahead of the trading deadline during the 2014 Major League Baseball season, he was welcomed to the organization with open arms. Throughout his preceding years in the major leagues, largely spent with the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox, he established himself as a premier pitcher with an ability to lead his team to victory.

Peavy ended up being a pivotal piece for the Giants down the stretch run as the team positioned itself to secure its third World Series championship in the span of six seasons. While in the clubhouse, he had the chance to converse with Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays and developed a friendship with him that continued after his career ended two years later.

Peavy regarded it an honor to speak with Mays and longtime Giants clubhouse attendant Mike Murphy about the game of baseball and life in general. Peavy is from Mobile, Ala. while Mays grew up in nearby Westfield, Ala., a short distance away from historic Rickwood Field. Mays had played at the ballpark as a teenager, suiting up as an outfielder for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League. His talent was palpable and left an indelible mark on the game of baseball, accompanied by an aura and sense of humility that continued throughout the rest of his major-league career spanning over two decades.

“I had a great relationship with the two of them and sat in that office many days, and we talked about being from Alabama,” Peavy said. “I talked about [his] Rickwood Field days and Willie starting being in high school and not being able to go on the road and Willie’s father.”

Mays passed away peacefully among loved ones on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 93, a devastating loss of a sports icon synonymous with the game of baseball. On Thursday night, Rickwood Field, the ballpark in which Mays began his professional career, will host a Major League Baseball game for the first time when the San Francisco Giants face the St. Louis Cardinals. Earlier in the week, Mays released a statement divulging that he could not attend the game this year and emphasized that his heart would be with everyone honoring the Negro League ballplayers, hoping that it would be a source of enjoyment and inspiration for children.

The league will honor Mays’ life and legacy this week at Rickwood Field, with the inaugural event serving as a landmark to recognize the impact he made on the game and society at large. Peavy will be on set for MLB Tonight alongside host Greg Amsinger and analysts Chris Young and Adam Wainwright to break down the action on the field and also bring viewpoints and knowledge pertaining to the setting and its relevance in the history of the sport.

“I think the initiative is to spread the message of paying homage,” Peavy said. “I think that so often in today’s fast-moving society, we lose sight of learning from our ancestors and people who came before us and really respecting them.”

As an analyst with MLB Network, Peavy feels a gravity and responsibility to contribute to the growth of the game by being part of the conversation and using his platform to benefit the next generation.

“The fact that this game is direct homage at the history of Rickwood Field [and] the history of the Negro Leagues, which now needs to be more prevalent and that story needs to be told – it hasn’t accurately been told and [put] out there,” Peavy said. “You’re talking about Josh Gibson now, the new Babe Ruth, the most famous and the best statistical player that we’ve ever seen, and we’ve got to talk and tell that story to the new-age kids.”

Throughout his major-league career, Peavy gained respect for the media and became more cognizant about how sports teams and events are covered. Rick Sutcliffe was his first pitching coach with the San Diego Padres and later transitioned into a media career. Former Padres Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn became a color commentator after playing as well. A few years after Peavy retired, he became part of the MLB Network team and began appearing across programming. On the shows, he articulated his esoteric knowledge and thoughts on the game while maintaining relationships around the sport.

“Your uniqueness and the perspective… is what’s going to draw people to you – the authenticity of that – that’s where I’m at,” Peavy said. “I don’t want people to think that I’m lying to them on television [because] what I say, I’ve done some research behind and then I believe it. Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s my opinion and here it comes, and there’s some thought that’s been [somewhat] behind it.”

Over his two years on the airwaves, Peavy has grown to learn the nuance of television operations and perceives the baseball elements of the role as second nature. Being cognizant of the synchronicity across programs and how to compendiously articulate a message to the audience has been part of the learning curve and facets of the role in which he feels he has improved. Peavy will seek to blend his discernment of working in sports media with his experience visiting and playing at Rickwood Field to serve as an asset on the seminal broadcast.

“I love the game of baseball and I’m passionate about it and I want to grow it, so I’m really looking to take another step forward,” Peavy said. “I’ve done this at a high level at something else, baseball, and was able to win a Cy Young [Award] and to be a part of a World Series championship, so I want to put that same effort and focus into being a media member and really just give my best effort.”

Mobile, Ala. is the hometown of five members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Satchel Paige, Ozzie Smith and Billy Williams encompass this pantheon, and there are numerous other athletes and fans that have had the privilege to step foot into Rickwood Field. While Thursday night’s game is critical in the tight National League playoff race, the contest is also a fundamental reflection on the past, honoring those who paved the way for posterity to prosper and cultivate a love of the game.

“Rickwood Field is going to bring the best out in us if we let it, but for me, it’s not really scripting too much of the night,” Peavy explained. “Letting it be about what it is and feeding off that emotion in a nice way for it to manifest there in front of us kind of will be the biggest challenge.”

Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Draws 8.5 Million Viewers Across North America

BSM Staff
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Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Draws 8.5 Million Viewers Across North America

Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, which saw the Oilers win their second straight game of the series, drew 8.5 million viewers across North America. The series as a whole is now averaging 7.2 million viewers across North America, which is up 64% over the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

The 8.5 million viewers for Game 5 was the total across ABC, ESPN Platforms, CBC, SN and TVA Sports. The number represents a 61% increase from Game 5 last year when it was the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers.

Game 1 and Game 4 of the series drew just over 7 million viewers while Game 2 drew 6.8 million and Game 3 had a North American audience of 6.5 million viewers.

Florida had a 3-0 lead in the best of seven series before Edmonton came storming back in Game 4 with an 8-1 victory. A more competitive Game 5 saw Edmonton score 5 goals and take a 5-3 win.

Game 6 of the series will be played Friday night at 8 p.m. ET and if a Game 7 is necessary, it would be played Monday June 24. All games will be on ABC and on ESPN+.

Sean McDonough is calling the games on ABC along with Ray Ferraro and Emily Kaplan. Steve Levy, Mark Messier and PK Subban provide analysis before the game and in between periods.

Mark Simone: Critics Have Said Radio Has Been Dying Since the Mid-60s

BNM Staff
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Mark Simone: Critics Have Said Radio Has Been Dying Since the Mid-60s

Despite what you may read or hear, radio is not dying and has no deathbed in sight. And 710 WOR host Mark Simone wants you to know it.

While speaking with a caller during his radio show Wednesday, Simone was asked about radio usage by the general public. That’s when he stepped on his soapbox to sing the praises of the medium.

“It’s interesting. Radio listening is pretty consistent over the last 50 years. Television, newspapers all way, way, way down,” said Simone. “But actually the same percentage of people listen to the radio now that did 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 40. So don’t believe that.

“This is the best example. There’s a big trade magazine that has an article about ‘Radio is dying. That’s it. Radio’s finished. It’s over.’ This is from the June 1966 issue. Don’t believe all of that stuff. It’s here to stay.”

According to recent studies, 86% of Americans still call AM/FM radio their preferred audio medium in the car.

Bill Riley Exiting Host and PD Role at ESPN 700 to Become Utah’s Director of Broadcasting

BSM Staff
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Bill Riley Exiting Host and PD Role at ESPN 700 to Become Utah’s Director of Broadcasting

Bill Riley, the long-time radio voice of Utah Athletics, will be joining the athletic department in the role of Director of Broadcasting. Riley, a three-time Utah Sports Broadcaster of the Year is being brought in to oversee the launch of the school’s new endeavor where it will self-produce digital game for ESPN+ as a part of its move to the Big 12 Conference.
 
Utah Athletics says it will produce 50-plus live broadcasts of home athletics competition during the next school year via the conference’s Big 12 Now digital platform on ESPN+.

Riley has been the play-by-play voice for Utah’s football and men’s basketball radio broadcasts on ESPN 700 and 92.1 FM since 2010, and also hosted weekly coaches’ shows. He will continue those duties and will also continue to teach a sports media class at the school, which he started in 2022. He will not, however, continue in his role as program director or daily host for ESPN 700 as he moves to the athletic department full-time at the end of the month.
 
 “We are very excited to bring Bill Riley into our team and benefit from his extensive experience in broadcasting and his deep connections and familiarity with Utah Athletics spanning nearly three decades,” said Charmelle Green, Utah’s Deputy A.D. and Chief Operating Officer in a release.

“This is an important new endeavor for our department and the University of Utah, and this position is critical for us to have immediate success in the broadcasting space. We’re looking forward to working closely with our university partners to build a robust broadcasting department and establish a strong presence in this industry as we enter the Big 12 Conference later this summer.”

“I am thrilled to join the amazing team at the University of Utah in this exciting new position,” Riley said. “Not only do I look forward to continuing as the Voice of the Utes, but the opportunity to play a role in this significant expansion of the U’s broadcasting capabilities will enable me to become more deeply involved with all of the Utes’ teams as we grow their coverage and expand the broadcast curriculum for students.

“The talent, vision and commitment of the Utes’ athletics staff has built a tremendous foundation for the production and distribution of digital broadcasts, as well as elite storytelling and content creation, and I’m excited to come alongside that team as we take on this new endeavor.

“This opportunity is a dream job, and it would not have been possible for me without the great experience that I’ve had at ESPN 700 here in Salt Lake City over the past 20 years,” Riley added. “It is a first-class station with first-class people, and I’m grateful that I can continue to be part of Utah radio broadcasts on the ‘Home of the Utes’ in my new role at the U.” 

RJ Choppy on NBA Finals Ratings: ‘This is the New Reality of TV Ratings in the NBA’

BSM Staff
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RJ Choppy on NBA Finals Ratings: ‘This is the New Reality of TV Ratings in the NBA’

ESPN announced yesterday that Game 5 of the NBA Finals on ABC between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks averaged 12.22 million viewers and attained a record-setting share of audience in the People 18-34 demographic. As a whole, the NBA Finals averaged 11.31 million viewers and a 5.8 rating, according to Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, which represents a 3% decline in viewership compared to last year. Excluding the 2020 and 2021 NBA Finals, both of which were altered because of the global pandemic, the 2024 NBA Finals is the lowest-rated on record and the least-watched iteration of the championship round since 2007. RJ Choppy discussed the viewership metrics during the Shan & RJ morning show on 105.3 The Fan where he divulged the information to the listening audience.

Shan Sharriff, co-host of the program, acknowledged that the fact that Game 4 ratings were not released until several days after the contest was indicative that the game did not perform well. Game 4 ended up being the least-watched contest in the series, averaging 9.62 million viewers and a 4.7 rating on ABC. The 2020 and 2021 NBA Finals series notwithstanding, no NBA Finals game had a smaller audience than the game since Game 3 of the 2007 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers, which drew an average of 9.49 million viewers on ABC. Nielsen began tracking out-of-home viewing in 2016 and implementing the figures into its viewership estimates four years later.

“We started getting some really juiced numbers,” Shariff said. “Every single sport was setting records where, ‘Oh my gosh, look at viewership records and how high this is,’ so I feel like era-adjusted, Chop, that viewership may actually be higher for Suns-Bucks.”

Earlier in the week, Nielsen Media Research reported that streaming usage had been measured to encompass 38.8% of total day television viewing among Persons 2+ in May 2024. ESPN broadcasts of NBA games across ESPN, ABC and ESPN2 averaged 1.7 million during the regular season, some of which included simulcasts or alternate broadcasts. With the NBA reportedly nearing a new media rights contract with The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC), NBCUniversal and Amazon’s Prime Video worth a collective $76 billion, Choppy believes there has to be some concern with the performance on broadcast television.

“We are now in the post-LeBron; post-Warrior dynasty era,” Choppy said. “I think this is the new reality of TV ratings in the NBA. The Warriors-Cavs, which was a 4-0 sweep in 2018 – this series averaged a 5.8; that averaged a 10, and that was 2018. It was 4-zip, it was a sweep and it averaged almost 18 million viewers a night. This one averaged 11 million a night.”

Shariff expressed that he felt the NBA Finals matchup was compelling with storylines surrounding Kyrie Irving and involving big marketplaces. The series, he outlined, was lacking the presence of Los Angeles Lakers forward and four-time NBA champion LeBron James, along with potential interest from the West Coast. Choppy added that the Celtics did not have a transcendent superstar on the team whereas the Mavericks did and is not sure if it plays into the numbers. He then proceeded to draw a comparison to the 2023 World Series, which featured the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. The five-game series averaged 9.11 million viewers with a 4.7 rating on FOX, according to data from Nielsen Media Research, marking the lowest-rated and least-watched World Series on record.

“MLB does better,” Choppy said. “Now this year they didn’t – this was a very lowly-rated World Series. The World Series this year was the fewest viewers for each game in the first four games in league history [that] the league had ever seen. They were getting 8 and 9 million viewers, so it wasn’t as bad as that, but it’s basically what every World Series or worse had done in recent memory.”

Kevin Kelly, Former AEW Announcer, Says He Is Suing the Company

BSM Staff
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Kevin Kelly, Former AEW Announcer, Says He Is Suing the Company

Former AEW announcer Kevin Kelly said he is suing All Elite Wrestling over his departure from the company three months ago. Kelly was apparently let go due to several social media posts about why he had not been used more by the company. Kelly also accused fellow AEW announcer Ian Riccaboni of trying to sabotage his career and committing libel against him.

Kelly was a guest of Eric Bischoff on Wise Choices, a second weekly podcast Bischoff puts out in addition to his long-running podcast 83 Weeks.

Kelly told Bischoff that he was struggling mentally due to the situation with Riccaboni and was seeing a psychiatrist provided by the company. He said he was extremely unhappy and took his thoughts to social media and then left an angry message for an HR staffer.

“I went off,” Kelly said about the message he left.

After explaining more of what went on, Bischoff asked, “So what are you going to do? You suing them?”

“Yeah, of course,” Kelly answered. “You have to.”

Kelly, whose real name is Kevin Foote, worked for WWE from 1996-2003 and also worked for Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling prior to his time at AEW. Kelly started with AEW in June of 2023 and was let go in March.

More Than 60% of Americans Plan to Watch CNN Presidential Debate, New Survey Shows

BNM Staff
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More Than 60% of Americans Plan to Watch CNN Presidential Debate, New Survey Shows

As CNN prepares to host the first presidential debate next week, a new poll shows it should expect a big audience for the made-for-TV event.

A poll conducted by Puck News and Echelon Insights shows that 63% of respondents plan to watch the first debate on Thursday, June 27th. The poll was conducted between June 10th and 12th, and included more than 1,000 respondents.

Of those asked about the debate, 46% said they expected former President Donald Trump (R) to perform better than President Joe Biden (D). 37% thought Biden would be the top performer, while 17% were undecided.

Additionally, 56% of those polled said they would like to see independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. be allowed to participate in the June event. Due to the rules agreed upon by the Biden and Trump campaigns, Kennedy has until Thursday, June 20th to eclipse 15% in a national poll to be included in the debate. As of this publication, he has yet to garner that support.

The June 27th event will not only be available on CNN. Both ABC News and PBS have joined the network as simulcast partners for the 90-minute debate.

Respondents in the poll were also asked about where they get their news. 50% said from local TV outlets. In cable news, 37% said Fox News, 36% said ABC News, and 35% said CNN, before outlets like MSNBC, NBC News, CBS News, Newsmax, and OAN.

Fred Toucher: If Sean Grande is Not Retiring After Sign-Off Message, He is a ‘Pretentious Lunatic’

BSM Staff
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Fred Toucher: If Sean Grande is Not Retiring After Sign-Off Message, He is a ‘Pretentious Lunatic’

The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship on Monday night, securing the 18th banner in the history of the organization and officially claiming the title of the franchise with the most championships in league history. Celtics radio play-by-play announcer Sean Grande delivered a final call encapsulating the moment on 98.5 The Sports Hub and then commenced postgame coverage with color commentator Cedric Maxwell. To close the broadcast, Grande delivered an emotional sign-off message to the listeners in which he told Maxwell that he loved him and thanked the listeners for tuning into the broadcasts. Fred Toucher played the audio of the sign-off on Wednesday morning’s edition of Toucher & Hardy on 98.5 The Sports Hub and proceeded to deliver his opinion on the matter.

“The 23 years I’ve spent with you guys has been, with the exception of being a dad, has been the honor of my life, and I wouldn’t trade any of it,” Grande said on Monday night. “I recognize that being the voice of the Boston Celtics is probably the first line of my obituary one day. It has been an honor in every way, shape and form an honor could be.”

At the moment, it is not clear whether Grande is retiring from his job as the radio play-by-play announcer for Boston Celtics games. Earlier in the year, he did not receive the television play-by-play job for the team following the retirement of Mike Gorman at the end of the season. The way in which he signed off, however, resembled what one would say on their last broadcast, according to Toucher, considering the remarks about his time with the team and his obituary.

“If he’s not leaving and that was just the end of the season, he’s an absolute lunatic,” Toucher said. “And quote it, say I’m a di-k, I don’t care. I thought about it overnight – I’m even more convinced than ever. If he’s not leaving, he’s a pretentious lunatic. That’s lunacy to make that about yourself at the end.”

As Toucher gave his opinion, he articulated that Gorman was not comfortable making the broadcast about himself at the conclusion of the first round of the playoffs. While he recognizes that Grande deserves a sign off if it is indeed his last broadcast, not revealing whether or not he is retiring has elicited speculation. Co-host Rob “Hardy” Poole asked if Grande genuinely does not know if he will be back, leading Toucher to express that he should not have signed off in that manner if it was the case.

“Putting myself in his position and having sort of the same job – talking on the radio – it’s insanity,” Toucher said. “It’s insanity. They just won the championship; it has nothing to do with you.”

Show anchor Jon Wallach, who has filled in on Celtics broadcasts in the past and has always wanted to be the voice of the team, shared that he had not heard anything. Additionally, he spoke with Maxwell on Tuesday and learned that he was not aware of any potential change taking place.

“Sean has signed off similarly in the past,” Wallach said. “This one was a little bit more, I don’t know if ‘dramatic’ is the right word, but this one he seemed more choked up than in previous years, but similarly he’s said things like, ‘Thank you or going on this ride with us. It’s been an honor.’ That kind of stuff.”

Toucher thought that Grande should have ended the broadcast by congratulating the Boston Celtics for winning the NBA Finals and conveying that they would be remembered for the rest of their lives. Instead, the minute-long monologue about the honor he has to call Celtics games and work with Maxwell is a decision he regarded as insane. In fact, if Grande was sitting in front of him in the radio studio, Toucher said that he would have expressed the same thing and does not feel badly about his opinion.

“If he’s retiring, I wish he would have said he was retiring, and then he could be honored like he deserves for having the job for 23 years,” Toucher said, “but if he’s not retiring, he’s a lunatic.”

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