Sleeping With the FAN on: The Pasty Pathos of Sports-Radio Addicts

Let’s face it: Unless your favorite sports team wins the championship, all seasons end in crushing, terrible defeat. And when New York sports fans hurt, they turn on WFAN, 660 on their AM dial: their communal grieving center, their free sports therapist.

On the evening of July 2, a guy named Ira, along with a hundred or so other devoted WFAN callers, showed up at Umberto’s Clam House in Little Italy to watch morning guy Joe Benigno (whose style is generally unhinged) and overnight host Steve Somers (a cosmic court jester, known as “the Schmoozer”) do a one-time joint live show to celebrate WFAN’s 20th anniversary. “I think what happens is that you live and die with a team and it gets inside your blood,” Ira said, trying to explain the great male diversion we call sports. “So when they lose you have to express your feelings. After a loss I get really wound up. But after I make the call the next day, all the tension disappears and then I can chill out.”

Umberto’s was packed with the guys—and some gals!—who call up the station in the middle of the night to complain about A-Rod, suggest an outrageous trade or complain about Willie Randolph’s managing. Miriam from Brooklyn was there. JD from Brooklyn, Short Al from Brooklyn, all milling about, looking a little uncomfortable with so many people in the room.

Tony Roberts the actor called up. He’s a fan of Mr. Somers and had just finished a rehearsal for his new Broadway show, Xanadu. “Steve, I just want to thank you for keeping me and a lot of other Mets fans out there from throwing ourselves out the window,” he said.

John from Glen Cove, a Yankees fan, was sitting at a table across from a Mets fan, Joey from Yonkers. Joey was dressed head-to-toe in Mets gear. John wore dark aviator glasses, jean shorts, a Derek Jeter jersey and a Yankees batting helmet. He looked as though he was about to step up to the plate. “I’m a big Yankees fan,” John said. “I love the FAN because it’s a good place to go and get your frustrations out.”

During a station break you could hear a commercial for the Midwest Center playing over the loudspeakers. “… And that second drink, well who’s counting? But nobody knows how much you worry, how stressed out you are, how inadequate you feel. Nobody understands the fear you have, the lack of satisfaction in your life. The loneliness.” There was an offer of “a powerful free tape.”

While the other commercials were rolling, Mr. Benigno took some time to ponder why people keep coming back to WFAN. “We’re really built on negativity,” he said. “I think this is a place to get rid of that angst. This is the place where you can let that emotion out.”

The show resumed and Mr. Benigno and Mr. Somers took time to remember a caller who is no longer with us. “We’re on four years without Doris,” Mr. Benigno said. He was speaking of Doris from Rego Park. “She was a great Mets fan, and I’m sure she’s smiling down up there seeing how well the Mets are doing now.”

Everyone cheered. They all knew Doris from listening to WFAN.

Norm from Brooklyn was on the line.

“I want to thank you guys for being my friend over the years,” he said. “You’ve made my calls delightful and I’ve really enjoyed your company.” He paused to gather himself. “And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

Earlier in the day, back at WFAN’s Astoria studios, occasional overnight host Ann Liguori, who has been with WFAN since the beginning, tended to the calls in her own diplomatic bedside manner.

Paul from Astoria was on the line and he had something nice to say to Ms. Liguori. “You are the best talk-show host on the FAN,” he said. “You let the callers vent. You give the callers the last word. Other shows, they cut you off.”

Paul became a fan of Ms. Liguori’s when Dale Earnhardt died and he wanted to talk about it with someone. “You got me off the couch and I became a regular,” he said.

Peter from Martha’s Vineyard was next. “I always want to become involved with some family besides my own,” he said. “I feel like you’re my flesh and blood. It’s a very emotional feeling to be involved with you.”

Mr. Simon listens to WFAN religiously, especially at night. But it began to bother his wife, who finally had enough and made him wear headphones. “I tend to go to sleep with it on,” he said. “You’re the best, Annie.”

“You’re so sweet,” she replied. “Thanks for being there.

Next up was Jim from Long Island. He had heard how Mr. Simon’s wife made him get headphones. “If I had only worn headphones perhaps my first marriage would have …” he said. But he didn’t finish the sentence. He had said all he needed to say. And then Ms. Liguori moved the conversation along to a better, happier place.

In March of 2001, William Berlind interviewed Ann Liguori, occasional overnight host of WFAN, New York's sports-radio station, for The Observer. Leaving the Kaufman Astoria studios in the early A.M., he vowed that he would write a song that captured the inner world of Ms. Liguori’'s devoted late-night callers. And here it is, folks! [mp3]