Eagle: The phenomenon of WFAN really hit in 1992. They made me the board operator for “Mike and the Mad Dog,” and I can tell you from firsthand experience that they became rock stars. Everywhere that they showed up, it would elicit a reaction. To me that was the breakthrough year, when the station just exploded. As their success grew, their problems grew. They were both making great livings. Their Q ratings were high. But then the petty stuff started creeping in. Contract disputes. Who’s getting more money? Who’s gaining more popularity? It just brought a separate set of problems. They were on the air together five hours a day, five days a week.
If you missed it: Grantland has an excellent oral history of WFAN, which includes stories from Howie Rose, Steve Somers, and Chris Russo. And then a whole bunch of other FAN folks drop in, too. Go read it.
What’s up with Steve Somers’s voice lately? Am I the only one who thinks he sounds totally different than even a few months ago? Granted, these days I don’t listen to the FAN’s talk shows that often.
I’ve wondered that exact same thing… it sounds like someone is sitting in for him and imitating him…