It's Time

Thank you all for your postings, text messages, emails, cards, letters and support. This morning, May 11th in the 7am-8am hour I announced, along with my good friend Tom Chute(don't know where I'd be without his support), that the time has come for me to step away from the microphone and broadcast industry. That rich baritone many of you have listened to for the past 10 years on WATR, the past 4 years on CTSN & Brid's Eye Sports, for 9 years on ESPN Radio & Television, for 7 years on WCBS-FM and The CBS Radio Networks, 10 years on local radio, has left me. My  doctor at Yale has told me it is unlikely my professional voice will return. And so, I move on.

It has been a great ride.........36 years in the broadcast industry,nearly twenty years (in two separate stints) of calling high school games, something I always wanted to do. I've worked with a most incredible array of talent while working sports starting with Steve Gesseck, what a time we've had calling some memorable (and not so memorable games) now we just get to play golf together. My friend of 33 years Chris Berman (there is no way I can ever say thanks), me pal Emmit....ah jaysus where to I start? We started ESPN Radio together, traveled the country checking out the venues, both sporting and non-sporting.....(care for a glass of '63 Fonseca?) and walked through the foggy dew! Slainte boy-0, Dan (The Duke) Davis, Denis Horgan Jr.,Beth Faber, Brent Musburger, Ron Flatter (brilliant!!),Tom Jackson, Phil Simms, Joe Theismann, Sterling Sharpe, Mike Tirico, Linda Cohn, Tony Bruno, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Rob Dibble, Music composer extraordinaire John Colby and then coming back home and working with Allie Vestro, Dave Grant, Steve Croce, Ben Talbot, John Holt, Joe Zone and all of the great folks that help me build CTSN, especially Larry Rifkin and Tony Meliso.

Then there in the beginning, the man who saw my talent, made me  work at it while in broadcast school, Ed Flynn,  later I would have the pleasure of working with Ed. Allan Todd, who hired me for my first fulltime job at WOWW... the man who opened the doors, truly developed my talent, the person I could never thank enough.....Joe (McCoy)Lenti....without his guidance, insight and mentoring there would have been nothing more than a mediocre career....maybe.  My friend and mentor for 33 of the 36 years years, John Kosinski.....always brilliant, always spot on. How could I forget another good friend and mentor.....Steve Feica...the best damn radio newsman I ever worked with. I had the honor and pleasure to work and become friends with Dennis Falcone, Billy Sabatini, Maria Martello, Al Vertucci, Ron Lundy, Bruce Morrow, Harry Harrison, Bob Shannon, Don K. Reed, Booby Jay, Max Kinkel ,Wolfman Jack, Dion DiMucci, Billy Joel. At CBS how can I ever thank Jana Polsky...she always wanted my voice on her CBS Radio Sports promos.......and then.....there is my WATR family. Words fail me, I cannot begin to tell you all of my most marvelous professional family and what they mean to me. The Gilmore brothers, Mark & Steve, Tom Chute, Barbara Davitt, Trish Torello, Paul Griffin, Kay Drysdale, Maryann Coleman, Suzy Banda (how I miss Vinnie), Allan Todd, The Costa's, Jay Crawford, Julie Fernandez, Ed Flynn, Ed Kooza, Tom Graves, Franks Marro, John Kosfsik, my buddy Larry Rifkin (thanks for the opportunity) and saving him for the last.....JB, John Bunnell........how many Royal New York Doo-op Shows did we see, how about the 1987 Dion return, that Yankee game in 1978....hahaha! Oh what a ride.

I look forward to the future and am quite peaceful. I have a deep, abiding faith and know that God will provide. I truly believe when a door closes a window opens. God has a new plan for me and I accept his challenge.

There is no way I have made it this far and overcome this malady without my love, Janet. I would be nowhere without her love and support(and ass-whoopin', hahahaha). I have a most awesome family..........my children Aaron and Rebecca and Lindsey, My siblings Al, Jess and Vic,they and their families all watch for me and keep me propped up.  And my closest friend, compadre and, well fill in the blank, Harry Cashin, who corrects my English, tries to correct my golf swing, tells the best irish jokes, who I can sit for hours on end with and talk about everything under God's sun.  With all of this support, how can anyone fall down.

It has been my pleasure to bring you the news, sports and all kinds of cocktail facts over the years. It has been my pleasure to be of service to my community, helping those who are less fortunate or cannot help themselves . My hope is that we all look ahead, strive to make our society and places of living better than what they are. Be of assistance to your fellow human.
And so in conclusion, if you would allow me to quote Paul Anka........"yes there were times, I'm sure you knew,when I bit off my than I can chew, but through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way..."

Thank you for listening...........so long everybody!