Devo & White Boy discuss the 1050 radio guys (Fear not, we're done discussing the local sports talking heads)

Michael Kay

(we couldn't find any embarassing clips of Michael Kay, so here ya go, MICHAEL and KAY)

White Boy:B His famous (at least in NY) call of ‘SEEE YA” has come to define his career as the former radio and current television Yankees announcer. His radio show on 1050 can be defined by his difficult job of walking the tightrope between seemingly conflicting roles; as an employee of the Yankees and as an objective viewer and analyst of the local sports teams. To Kay’s credit, he has done a reasonably good job of walking this tight rope as he usually is able to fairly criticize the Yankees when they deserve to be criticized. However, Kay can be downright morally indignant and dogmatic at times. I am still annoyed by his callous and derisive critique of a crying Mets fan immediately following Beltran’s strike out in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. As someone who is supposed to cater to the sports diehard, Kay should appreciate this fan’s genuine emotional attachment to his favorite team instead of judging someone else’s emotional reaction. Kay is also a terrible and sycophantic interviewer. He will ask someone a question that he knows he won’t answer to make it appear to his audience that he is interrogating his subject. However, the truly good interviewer, like Mike Francessa at 660, will ask questions in a way that invites the interviewer to answer honestly. If this involves getting under the skin and even offending the subject of the interview, then so be it. Kay’s greatest strength however is his ability to incorporate his update man Donny “Pucks” Lagreca and theme song writer Joey Salvia into the program. They are both great personalities who add a tremendous amount to the program. Perhaps Salvia’s finest moment was his touching, if not bizarre rendition of Barry Manilow’s “Mandy.” (Ooohh Andyyyy…) commemorating Pettite’s return to the Bronx after a three year stint with his hometown Astros. Overall it is a solid radio program that sometimes is sullied by the host’s poor interviews and morally righteous protestations.

Devo: D There’s very little that I’ve ever liked about Michael Kay. I hate his jerkoff name, I hate his jerk-off face, (even on radio) I hate his jerk-off attitude, and I hate him, jerk-off. Seriously, I hate the radio show. And yet, I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. I guess I like seeing how bad his show can get. He’s always had a huge ego and everything about his voice makes me want to change the channel. And even worse, way worse, is his Simple Plan-wannabe intro song. (Michael Kay is on the radio today.) On the plus side 1)he does a pretty good job eliciting anecdotes by various Yankee analysts on YES, and 2) he’s not John Sterling.

Max Kellerman

White Boy:C I actually like Kellerman in many ways. He’s much smarter than most of the radio hosts on either station. He roots for the same three teams I root for. He even is a fellow chosen person. (Happy Easter by the way to all you gentiles out there) But he’s incredibly obnoxious. He thinks he’s smarter than he is and acts like he invented sabermetrics. In addition, Brian Kenny adds absolutely nothing to the show because he is a typical ESPN talking head who is better suited for anchoring the 6pm Sports Centers than conversing with Joe New Yorker. Which reminds me, I don’t even listen to these guys that much because Joey B and E-Rob are on 660 at the same time anyway.

Devo: B+ So yeah, I usually choose Joe & Evan over Max too. (Really White Boy? E-Rob?) But the few times that I listen to Max, I’m a fan. I don’t know why, but I’m a fan of Kellerman’s obnoxious attitude. It’s fairly refreshing to see an obnoxious Yankee fan who knows how obnoxious he is, but goes forth with it anyways. And also, I haven’t been a boxing fan by any stretch since Evander Holyfield had two good ears, but it’s always amusing hearing Max talk about boxing history. Not sure why. Oh and yeah, Brian Kenny is definitely a weird choice to be his wingman.

Brandon Tierney:

This isn't BT, but it's still a fantastic Stephen A. clip.

White Boy: A Brandon Tierney (BT) is 1050’s Joe Benningo if Benningo was 30 years younger, much better looking, and had a strong Brooklyn accent. BT knows basketball and baseball as well as any host in New York. He brings the prospective of a former college baseball player to the airwaves and communicates it well with his listeners. His Brooklyn accent and personable style is charming to the late night, mostly blue collar and/or diehard sports fan, audience. He provides a rare and delicate balance of being very opinionated without being dismissive or rude to his callers if their opinions contrast with his. He is realistic enough to not seem naïve about the sports world but isn’t old enough to be obsessed with waxing poetic about how “great” sports like baseball used to be in the old times; you know before Latinos entered the sport and when it was still socially acceptable to hate a player because he was Black. BT, simply put, is the freaking man. And he does a great job on the Knicks pre and post game shows too.

Devo: Inc. Ah, Knicks pregame show: Because they haven’t lost yet!