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Tony Paige Hosts Final Show At WFAN

“Paige hosted his first show on WFAN nearly a quarter-century ago in 1995. His second tenure with the station began in 2003, taking over as WFAN’s overnight host three years later.”

Brandon Contes

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After announcing his upcoming retirement in June, the departure of WFAN’s overnight host Tony Paige became a reality this past Saturday.

Paige hosted his first show on WFAN nearly a quarter-century ago in 1995.  His second tenure with the station began in 2003, taking over as WFAN’s overnight host three years later.  Paige’s final show was Saturday night and featured former NBA commissioner David Stern.  Prior to signing off, the longtime overnight host spoke to a different audience, joining Mike Francesa for an hour on Friday the 13th.

“It’s going to hit me a week from Saturday when I wake up at 7:00 instead of rolling in at 7:00. Monday at 2:00, I’m taking a nap in the afternoon. I get up at 2:00,” Paige told Francesa. “I wanna get the body back … on Monday my body really starts to slow down. I haven’t done anything. The body says you’re going to work tonight. You’re going to be up all night. Now I get to stay up.”

Although he’s retired from his regular gig at WFAN, the 66-year old Paige will still offer contributions to the sports media industry.  

“I’m going to do some writing. The Daily News wants me to write two stories a month,” Paige said. “I’m going back to do some boxing for the national TV. I want to do a book. Photography is a hobby of mine. I’m going to take some pictures.”

Paige developed a special relationship with the audience during his years as an overnight host.  The late night radio scene presented an opportunity for Paige’s laid back personality and simplistic on-air approach to connect with callers.

“I’ve been touched the last couple weeks by all the callers telling me what I’ve meant to them,” Paige told WFAN’s Jason Keidel in an exclusive interview. “They say I let them talk. That I’m kind. I’ve always looked at it that conversation is key. A certain civility is needed. A lot of people called and said this was their first time on the show, because they just enjoyed listening to me.”

Leaving WFAN on his own terms, Paige seemed at peace with his decision to retire during his final night on-air.  Fitting for a late night Saturday broadcast, Paige signed off for the last time by reminding people to never drink and drive, adding “I love you back, take care.”

Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.

Sports Radio News

Charles Barkley: ‘I Want to Be on TV Less’

“His contract with Warner Bros. Discovery runs through 2024-25.”

Jordan Bondurant

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Charles Barkley

It’s possible you could see Charles Barkley appearing occasionally on CNN.

Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Variety this week indicate the cable news network is close to finishing a deal that would have Gayle King on the network. Rumors have said that the network would like to have Barkley join her, but Barkley says nothing is decided on his end.

In an appearance on Bickley & Marotta on Arizona Sports on Tuesday, the Suns legend and NBA on TNT analyst said he and King are friends so this wouldn’t be a situation where the duo would be coming in green.

“I’ve gotten to know her well through the years through my relationship with Oprah (Winfrey) and she’s just cool,” Barkley said. “I said, ‘I would consider doing a show with Gayle, one day a week starting in the fall.'”

But Barkley, 60, reiterated what he’s made known for a while now: he doesn’t plan on sticking around in the TV business for too much longer. His contract with Warner Bros. Discovery runs through 2024-25. So this CNN opportunity could be pretty limited in scope, which is what Charles desired.

“It’ll only be one day a week if I decide to do it,” Barkley said. “I said, ‘No, I don’t want to be on TV more. I want to be on TV less.'”

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Sports Radio News

John Kincade: Thursday Night Football Flex Vote About ‘Licking Jeff Bezos’s Boots’

“For these billionaires to be licking his boots? Embarrassing. They can’t do this. It’s obnoxious.”

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John Kincade

A report claims that at the NFL owners meetings, a proposal to give the league the ability to implement flex scheduling for Thursday Night Football was proposed. 97.5 The Fanatic’s John Kincade was flabbergasted at the idea.

The proposal would allow the NFL to move scheduled games in the final weeks of the season from Sunday to Thursday. The league would also have to change the rule that teams could only play one Thursday Night Football game per season to accommodate the change.

During The John Kincade Show Tuesday, the host claimed that even considering the idea was simply a matter of the owners kowtowing to Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, whose company — Prime Video — broadcasts the package.

“They’re licking Jeff Bezos’s boots,” Kincade said. “I can only imagine buddies running trips and fans go ‘Ok, I’m going to the Eagles game on Sunday. I’m flying in Friday, spend two nights in a hotel, and fly out Monday’. Oh no you’re not, the game’s been moved to Thursday night. This is freaking ridiculous, and shining Bezos’s shoes is freaking embarrassing. For these billionaires to be licking his boots? Embarrassing. They can’t do this. It’s obnoxious.”

Kincade continued by marvelling at the idea even being floated to the public.

“To me, it’s just such a dumb idea. But sometimes those things happen in sports.”

The 97.5 The Fanatic host is not the only sports media member who has shared their displeasure with the proposal this week. Monday Morning Quarterback’s Peter King aired similar sentiments, saying “We can all agree this seems insane.”

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Sports Radio News

Mike Francesa: BetRivers Podcast Is Enough For Me Right Now

“I’ve had a couple offers in the last couple of months. I’ve turned them all down. Anybody that’s asked me for steady work or to do something Monday through Friday I’ve said no.”

Jordan Bondurant

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Mike Francesa

If you were hoping to catch Mike Francesa hosting a daily TV or radio show in the future, that ship has likely sailed.

Asked by a listener on his Mike Francesa Podcast if he would go back to doing a show on television similar to his Mike’d Up program on NBC New York, Francesa said it’s not in his future.

“I would doubt it,” he said on his Monday episode. “At this point, I’m not as visible. So it wouldn’t make as much sense as having me now as it would then. And frankly, I’m doing what I do now, and I love doing it.”

Francesa reunited with his former WFAN co-host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on ESPN’s First Take back in January, but Mike said the podcast he’s doing for the BetRivers Network checks all the boxes of what he’s looking for work-wise at the moment.

“It’s actually enough,” he said. “I’ve had a couple offers in the last couple of months. I’ve turned them all down. Anybody that’s asked me for steady work or to do something Monday through Friday I’ve said no.”

“It would have to be something very unusual for me to do on a regular basis,” he added.

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