Every generation of New York City sports fans has had voices it could call its own. 

Mel Allen, Red Barber, Vin Scully, Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, John Sterling, Marty Glickman, Marv Albert, Sam Rosen and Jim Gordon were the play-by-play broadcasters who echoed throughout homes and bedrooms everywhere, as they helped connect listeners to the game and allowed fans, young and old alike, to dream about what their favorite team was doing that day or night. 

Eventually, just like the players they described with their words during the broadcasts, these industry icons also had to pass on their seats in the booth to the broadcasters we know today. 

Michael Kay and Rickie Ricardo call Yankees games daily and have for longer than either would likely care to admit. Bob Papa and Bob Wischusen do so weekly for the Giants and Jets, respectively, calling games for over five combined decades. Ian Eagle and Chris Carrino have been the soundtrack for Nets fans dating back to when the team still called New Jersey and the Continental Airlines Arena home. Mike Breen has been living his childhood dream as the voice of the Knicks since 1997. And Brendan Burke, who slid seamlessly into the Islanders’ chair in 2016-17, has become as synonymous with the team as any of the team’s broadcasters who came before him.

Six different teams across four different sports. Eight men with vastly different styles, but similar paths to get to where they are today. They inherited an unparalleled legacy and they guard it well. Or, as Kay said via email, “I always say that Mel Allen will forever be the Voice of the Yankees and we are all just borrowing the title for the time that we have it.”

They may be “borrowing the title,” but these eight men are the current voices of New York sports and while they each have their similarities, they also have very distinct opinions on what that means to them. 

After all, New York is notorious for being a high-stakes pressure cooker and taking the mic for the city’s beloved teams carries an equally intense weight. 

But if you listen to the men themselves, some of them actually push back on that notion. 

“I don’t feel that pressure, because I grew up here and it’s all I know,” Kay explained. “I think you would feel the pressure if you came from another city. I mean, I was born into this and know how important the teams are to their fans, so I look at it as a natural part of the gig.”

Eagle agreed with that, stating via text, “I’ve never looked at it as pressure. Having grown up in Queens, I was always familiar with the high standard of New York broadcasts.”

Even the “out-of-towner,” Burke doesn’t think of it as pressure. “It’s certainly not a pressure that I feel. I look at it as more of an honor to be included in a group of extremely talented broadcasters. These are broadcasters that I grew up listening to and admiring. They’re the best of the best. I have a responsibility to the Islanders, their fans and the game of hockey. But I really don’t view it as ‘New York sports’ as a whole.”

At least Breen admits that the play-by-play position comes with a standard sort of pressure, even if he too doesn’t feel as if the New York aspect adds to it. 

“Well, I don’t know if there’s any added pressure. I think there’s pressure in any play-by-play job that you take. You wanna do your best. You wanna be professional. You wanna serve the fans. I will say this, though: growing up in New York, my whole life, I can’t talk about other people who broadcast in other cities but weren’t natives of that city. But growing up in New York, I know how much the fans care. How much it really means to them, whatever that favorite team is in New York. 

“So, you know, going in, you better do a damn good job, because these fans care and they’ll let you know about it. But I think that was, in many ways, a benefit, knowing what a New York fan is like, because I’m a New York fan and I grew up rooting for my favorite New York teams and listening to my announcers. So I think that actually helped in terms of dealing with any sort of pressure that you might feel of broadcasting in New York because I’m a New Yorker and I have a fairly good idea of what New York fans want.”

There’s definitely something to the “being from here” standpoint. Bob Papa says his mentor Marty Glickman explained it to him quite well. 

“Marty always told me a couple things that were very important. He’s like, ‘Remember, you’re in New York and New York is the melting pot. And there’s a lot of people that live in New York that are from other parts of the country and they’re fans of other teams. It’s very important to make sure that you’re not doing a national broadcast, but you’re not doing a pure local broadcast as if you were in Tuscaloosa, because your audience is much more diverse than it is in many of the other cities outside of some of the other major markets.’ 

“Sometimes I’ll get mail from Giants fans or comments from Giants fans that I get too excited when the other team makes a big play. 

“Marty always instilled upon me; he always said, ‘Okay, picture you’re sitting in the stands at a game and you’re rooting for your team. But if the other team, a player on the other team, whether it’s basketball or hockey or baseball or football, whatever the case might be, makes an unbelievable play, doesn’t everybody in the audience ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’ and get excited, even if it goes against their team of what they’ve just witnessed? So carry that into your play-by-play. If someone’s listening in the car and they’re listening to a game and suddenly there’s some incredible play that happened, you need to elevate your voice to an excitement level. It doesn’t mean that you have to necessarily be happy about it, but you are painting the word picture for your audience. An exciting, memorable play is an exciting, memorable play no matter what the color of the uniform.’ So I’ve always tried to kind of have that in my brain.”

Some very sage advice from one of the people who helped build New York’s incredible broadcasting legacy. You could even say that Glickman’s advice to Papa is a challenge of sorts. You want to toot the horn of your team, but you have to take into account the other team’s fans. 

Wischusen would agree with the idea that broadcasting here is a challenge, saying, “I love the challenge…having grown up in the New York Metropolitan area. I have been blessed my entire life to have listened to and continue to listen to many of the most legendary voices in sports broadcasting. Even being in the same conversation with some of those folks creates the type of challenge where you really want to be at your best at all times.”

Carrino, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame back in August as a recipient of the prestigious Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award, offered his own thoughts on whether or not broadcasting in New York has any added pressure.

“I don’t look at it as pressure. Duty is one thing. The way I look at it is, I think New York is so diverse in its sports fandom. The fans in New York are so knowledgeable that you have to walk that line between appeasing who you think your fans are and still being professional when it comes to your audience. Because you know that, in this city, it’s not like everybody listening to you is a fan of one team, despite what the media is gonna tell you about how the Knicks united the city. 

“I understand there’s a lot more Knicks fans than there are Nets fans. But people tell me all the time, ‘I’m not a Net fan, but I always have FAN on and I listen.’ We have a responsibility to be professional, to be fair, to be entertaining. It’s not just about appeasing a fan base. So I think that’s what you get in New York that you don’t get in Indiana, no offense to other smaller markets. 

“As far as pressure goes, I’ve always looked at it as, if you’re in this business, you want the pressure. There’s always gonna be an immense amount of pressure on you to do a good job, to get things right, to be entertaining. And if you don’t want that pressure, you’re never gonna make it in this business. Pressure is a privilege and it’s a privilege to be the voice of a professional sports team, especially in this city.”

Pressure is indeed a privilege. The voices who bring fans all the action know that they hold an important role. They just don’t all necessarily agree about how pressurized that role is. Perhaps Ricardo can best settle this debate.

“I don’t wanna use the word ‘responsibility,’ but I guess it’s the stewardship that I have of broadcasting to the number one market, but specifically with the number one sports franchise in the world, the New York Yankees, that I take very, very seriously. It’s an honor to represent the pinstripes to such a huge part of the fan base. 

“The Latino baseball fan base is huge. Major League Baseball, it’s a huge percentage of Latino players and Latino fans. So baseball’s demographics are shifting. They’ve been shifting for years. And it’s my job now that the Hall of Famer for the Dodgers, Jaime Jarrín, is retired. I’ve kind of taken up the mantle of being that lead voice in the number one market with the number one franchise and that’s something I take very, very seriously. 

“So, from a broad point of view, from a broad picture, it is a heavy burden on me and I take it seriously to be that voice, to be that representative and to represent the pinstripes, Hal Steinbrenner and everyone involved in the greatest organization in sports. That’s a heavy burden, but one that I welcome and one that I am proud to represent.”

In essence, each of these broadcasters understands the responsibility of what they do; they just have their own views on how they handle it. 

But being part of this New York legacy isn’t just about handling the supposed pressure. These men are the soundtrack for generations of fans and guardians of their teams’ histories – roles they all agree are a big part of the job. 

“I take that seriously!” Wischusen said emphatically. “When you consider the Jets specifically, and all of the tough seasons that they’ve had, you are talking to one of the most dedicated and die-hard sports fan bases, not just in New York, but in the world. Jets fans are amazing…they stick with their team no matter what. And I want to always do right by them.”

“It’s an honor to be the gatekeeper for a franchise such as the Yankees,” Kay chimed in. “Since I grew up a fan, their great moments are ingrained in me, so it is a natural part of the gig and it’s something I cherish, working for a franchise with such a rich history.”

It does indeed help when your team has a history as rich as the Yankees. 

“It’s a challenge that I take on every day and a challenge that I look forward to,” Ricardo said. “The Yankees provide huge moments.”

Of course, each New York team has its own unique history and vault of moments, no matter how big or small. 

“What you try to do during your broadcast is you try to make sure you’re connecting the dots for the younger fan that’s listening, that’s very current, to tying it into the middle-aged fan and tie it into the older fan and always be able to make references to the different generations of fans that would be listening,” Papa explained. “And if there’s a way to connect a dot in between plays or bring up a play that you can refer to as something that happened from yesteryear, I think that brings a real value for the fan base, because they feel connected to what you’re doing and they feel like you’re one of them.”

“One of the great parts about being a team broadcaster is that you feel like you’re part of the team; you feel like you’re part of the fan base, because, in many ways, you’re a family member to the fans,” Breen said. “They welcome you into their home or into their cars when they’re listening to you or watching you. 

“For me, and I know a lot of my generation feel the same way, watching and listening to Marv Albert for so many years, you realize how important the job is. He set such a standard that we all have tried, I’m talking just basketball now, that we all have tried to reach. And although, in my opinion, none of us have ever reached Marv’s standard, it gave you something; it gave you a goal of something to shoot for and know that you had this iconic broadcaster who set the standard, who was such a spectacular, legendary broadcaster for so many years in New York that you feel that responsibility to try and keep that standard as best you can.”

Speaking of having a goal or standard to shoot for, Eagle and Carrino each explained how being a gatekeeper for your team’s history is a motivational factor for them.

“After a certain number of years, your voice becomes synonymous with memorable moments associated with the team,” Eagle explained. “Your goal is to rise to the occasion and make sure you do justice to the event and athletes that you’re covering. I take great pride in being the soundtrack for so many viewers and appreciate the responsibility that comes with that.”

“I grew up as an incredible sports fan,” Carrino added. “Fanatic about sports and there are voices that stick in my head that connect me to those memories and if you wanna do this, that should motivate you. That’s such an honor and a privilege and it’s what kinda you do it for: to make sure that your voice is connected to those moments. And not only that, it’s not just about, ‘I want my voice to be connected to those moments,’ it’s I wanna be able to enhance that moment for the fan. With my job, if I’m doing it the right way, it adds to the moment.”

Burke echoed Carrino’s sentiment about wanting to be able to enhance the moment by saying, “Ultimately, the calls that get remembered are because of the moments and not the calls. So I try to make the call and get out of the way.”

Getting out of the way and letting the moment breathe is something that all broadcasters are taught and in New York, this group happens to do that very well. 

Several of them were trained for their current roles during their time at WFUV, Fordham’s student radio station. It’s something that connects Kay, Breen, Papa and Carrino, even though they all graduated in different years. 

These men also share another important connection: they all grew up listening to the voices who came before them and were inspired by those broadcasters at an early age to get into the business they’re in today. 

Papa used to listen to Giants games on the radio when they’d be blacked out on TV. Breen listened to Marv, whom he eventually ended up succeeding. Ricardo became a Yankees fan thanks to his dad. Burke joined the industry because of his dad, who was a writer. They used to be the listeners; now they’re the voices. 

And as we’ve already gleaned, it does take a little something “more” to “make it here.” 

The desire, the training, the shared mentors, the competitiveness – it all helps explain how these men have become as successful as they are, which also means that they’ll occasionally be pitted against one another when awards season comes around. 

“I get a chuckle every year when they announce the nominees for the New York Sports Emmy for play-by-play,” Burke quipped. “It’s the top guys from around the country all up for the same local award. It’s an incredibly impressive list. That’s about the only time I think of us as a group. It’s incredible to be included in it, but we are all just doing our own individual jobs. The legacy part takes care of itself.”

The legacy part may “take care of itself” for the current group who is still crafting theirs. But by learning from the established legacy of those who came before, that’s how you really keep the connection alive.

“There’s a brotherhood that you feel,” Breen explained. “You wanna uphold their standards…New York fans care so much. They want to embrace you, but you have to produce for them. I’ve always gone by three things, for me, that I learned from all the former great New York broadcasters. Number one, the key is preparation. You have to be prepared, because a New York fan’s gonna know if you’re not prepared; they’ll know immediately. 

“Number two, you have to have a way that the fan realizes you love the sport that you’re broadcasting. So when I’m calling a game, I want the Knicks fan to think, “Boy, he really loves basketball. There’s no question about that.” You have to have that joy and that energy to show them that. 

“The third thing is, you want to make them feel like they’re part of the broadcast. And I think you do that by your interactions with your partner. That’s an important part, because it feels like they’re just sitting around listening to two friends call a game and talk about basketball or baseball or football or whatever sport it is. And I think those are the things that you have to do for the New York fan.”

Those are three strong keys for any broadcaster to go by, including the next generation. While Kay, Papa, Ricardo, Wischusen, Burke, Breen, Eagle and Carrino are nowhere near the end of their respective careers, they all shared some advice on what they would tell those who come after them, not just about being a broadcaster, but about how to handle being a voice in New York. 

While they all essentially shared the same advice, it was Wischusen and Eagle who put it best. 

“My best advice would be to be yourself,” Wischusen said. “Don’t try to imitate. Have your own authentic call.”

“First and foremost, be authentic and allow your passion to come through,” Eagle said. “You want to be informative and entertaining to truly connect with viewers. Being prepared is nonnegotiable, as viewers can sniff out if you’re being disingenuous in how you present the game. Take your job seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously; there’s a long list of people that could step in and do your job and never forget that.”

With that advice in hand, we’ve managed to really get a good look at what makes these guys tick. It all comes down to preparation, authenticity and keeping your drive alive. This is what has allowed them all to seamlessly add their names to the long list of those who came before in this city. And, of course, there is one other thing they all have in common: they all do this for the fans. 

So, since they normally speak to the fans by way of breaking down all the action of the game, we’ve decided it’s time for them to speak directly to the fans in a way they cannot while doing the play-by-play for their respective teams. 

Gentlemen, what would you like to say to all the fans who have supported you during your many years in the booths as the voices of New York?

Bob Papa: “I would say a big thank you…All my interactions with Giants fans have been absolutely spectacular. It almost makes me blush sometimes when a fan will come up to me, maybe he’s a dad now, in his late 40s and he’s got a young son and he’s like, ‘I grew up listening to you.’ It does make you feel a little bit old, but it also brings a smile to your face knowing that, ‘Hey, you made the overall experience better for the fans.’ And I think ‘thank you’ is the easiest and really the honest way of answering it.”

Bob Wischusen: “Jets fans over the years have said so many nice things about our broadcasts and I really appreciate all of it! No fan base in New York deserves a winner and has stuck it out through thick and thin with their team more than Jets fans have. And I’ll be so happy for them when eventually it turns around and they get to experience winning again. And I think it’s coming sooner rather than later.”

Michael Kay: “I would say, I realize how much each game means to each and every one of you and I prepare for each game knowing that. I try to put the same preparation and attentiveness into each game the way you are putting your heart and soul into each outcome.”

Rickie Ricardo: “Number one, my gratitude. My thanks for the loyalty. This is a very loyal audience. And to that audience that is with me night after night, that follows Yankees Beisbol, it’s become a huge world. To each and every one of those people that follow us on social, that listen every night, that tune in on the TV and change the language, I just wanna say thank you. I appreciate you. I cherish you each and every night. You’re part of my immediate family. We’re doing this together. We’re having fun together. And when we do get to the ultimate moment, when I can say (in Spanish), ‘a victory that means the New York Yankees are World Champions for the 28th time,’ we will all celebrate under one tent and enjoy this, because we’ve all earned it over the years. But obviously, my gratitude and my thanks to each and every one of you.”

Brendan Burke: “Islanders fans have been amazing to me. They gave me a chance. It’s so easy to not like something different just because it’s different. They didn’t do that. They were open to the change and that allowed me to settle in and get comfortable and grow into the role. And I can’t thank them enough for that.”

Ian Eagle: “The fans are the lifeblood of all of this. I get to interact with them at Barclays Center and am blown away by the kind words they share with me. I would just love to thank them from the bottom of my heart and let them know how tickled I am whenever I’m approached and they repeat calls back to me like ‘That’s a Man’s Jam’ or ‘Major Rack Attack’ or ‘Big Finish’!! It’s been an honor to chronicle the stories surrounding the Nets and I don’t take for granted how fortunate I’ve been to be behind the mic in both New Jersey and Brooklyn.”

Chris Carrino: “I’m well aware of the Nets fan base and who they are and what they’ve gone through and the ebbs and flows of the years that have gone by with this team and this franchise. I would just want them to know that I’ve always had respect for the intelligence level of the fans. I understand fans can be a little irrational at times, but I’ve always had respect for them in terms of, I use the analogy all the time, ‘If I tell you it’s sunny outside, but you can look out your window and see that it’s raining, you’re never gonna believe me when I tell you it’s sunny and it’s sunny.’ So, I’ve always tried to be honest with the fans about what’s happening and I hope that’s come through. I hope I have credibility; I just hope that I’ve made it fun for people to be Nets fans.”

Mike Breen: “I would give them a big hearty thank you and a big hug because the fans have been so supportive, so encouraging at times, letting me know what they think, good and bad. That’s what I expected, because that’s the way I was as a fan growing up. But from a Knicks standpoint, the fans care so much and you realize what the team means to them, that it really motivates you to be the best that you possibly can be. It motivates you to put the extra time in because they deserve it. That’s the number one thing. These fans, they devote their time, their money, their heart, to their team and you better be the one to be able to provide the call that warrants that type of loyalty that they have for the team. They have shown me that.”