ESPN's Reali Returned to WFUV Radio Roots Sat., Called Fordham-Manhattan Game

ESPN “Around the Horn” host and ABC Good Morning America contributor Tony Reali returned to his broadcast roots last Saturday (November 28), calling the play-by-play on WFUV Radio (90.7 fm/wfuvsports.org) for the Fordham vs. Manhattan men’s basketball game with ‎student broadcaster James Decker providing color commentary.

Reali, (FCRH ’00) is a product of Fordham’s illustrious radio station, which has a long line of sports broadcast excellence starting with the legendary Vin Scully (Dodgers), and including such top play-by-play announcers as Michael Kay (Yankees), Mike Breen (Knicks), Bob Papa (Giants), Chris Carrino (Nets), Charlie Slowes (Nationals), Spero Dedes (CBS Sports) and Ryan Ruocco (Nets).

“I couldn’t be more excited to call Saturday’s Fordham-Manhattan game for WFUV,” said Reali. “It’s Thanksgiving and family is coming home!”

“I have known Tony Reali for 18 years, and he has not changed since I first met him in 1997,” says WFUV executive sports producer Bob Ahrens. “Always willing to give back to the students, he is one of the kindest and nicest alums.”

It was a whirlwind sports day for WFUV Saturday, starting with the Fordham football playoff game at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga at 12:50 p.m., with Matt Moro delivering the play-by-play and Kristian O’Hara providing analysis on WFUV 90.7 fm, wfuv.org and wfuvsports.org. Then at 7:25 p.m. (wfuvsports.org only), Drew Casey and Corey Miller broadcasted the Fordham women’s basketball game vs. Syracuse from the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas.

Like Reali, the immortal Scully, and many others, the student broadcasters get great inspiration from those success stories.

Along with its sports history steeped in tradition, WFUV (90.7 FM or www.wfuv.org) is New York’s source for music discovery, and a noncommercial, member-supported public media service of Fordham University for more than 65 years.

More Reali Quotables

“Hosting Around the Horn and calling a basketball game aren’t too different. There’s lots of points and lots of yelling and you always have to be ready for the unexpected - whether that be a reverse dunk coming of a stolen inbounds pass or anything coming out of the mouth of Woody Paige. I just have to remember not to press the mute button on anyone Saturday.

“Without WFUV there’s no ESPN or Good Morning America for me. I wouldn’t be Pardoning Interruptions or going Around the Horn. I’d still have a mute button but it wouldn’t be plugged into anything. My roots are WFUV and the lessons I learned still teach me today and drive me through every broadcast on ESPN and ABC.

“The last time I came back to call a game for WFUV was nine years ago. Spero Dedes and I were on the mike for Fordham-Charlotte as part of an ‘Alumni, Welcome Home’ event. Spero had just called Kobe’s 81 point game and I had just muted my 81 thousandth sportswriter. I remember thinking 5 minutes into the game, this Dedes character might have a future in the business.

“WFUV remains a force of nature in the broadcasting business. To have ties to Vin Scully and Marty Glickman - the two greatest broadcasters of all-time - is part of it. But the reach, now, is astounding. I won’t name all the voices or networks because there are too many and it would take forever- but the fact is: you can’t watch a sport or turn on a broadcast and not feel the presence of WFUV. I’m honored to be part of its past, excited for the present that is Saturday, and look forward to working with - and listening to - all the talent that will become the voices of the industry in the future.”