Damon Amendolara’s New York Accent

Howard Johnson had the unique experience of two franchise-defining World Series teams. HoJo was part of the ‘84 Tigers, a historically dominant team that remains the organization’s last to win a title. He was also memorably part of the ‘86 Mets, a team that is still revered today. He compares the two while reflecting on his multiple 30/30 seasons. He looks at his own Mets Hall of Fame induction, w...

Bob Kendrick is the preeminent authority on the Negro League's Baseball legacy. As president of the museum, he is a treasure trove of information and anecdotes. In his incredible storytelling ability, Kendrick shared memories of the New York area teams in the Negro Leagues and how they drew some of the biggest crowds in the country. He also explains the honoring of the “Black Aces” and how Doc Goo...

Mike Stanton was one of the key arms in the Yankees' terrific bullpen of the ‘90s and ‘00s. He walks down memory lane after his first Old Timer’s Day to remember MLB’s last dynasty. He discusses the Subway Series and the special era of the Yankees. On the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, Stanton remembers how emotional that day and the following weeks were. He walks through the Yankees' legendary run thr...

John Feinstein is one of the most prolific American sports writers in history, authoring 44 books including 23 best-sellers. He joins D.A. for a conversation about his roots as a Mets and Jets fan growing up on the Upper West Side in the '60s and the old days of getting into standing room only at Shea Stadium. Feinstein discusses how his all-access book "Season on the Brink" changed his life and h...

Wesley Walker is one of the greatest wide receivers in Jets history, and he also has plenty of opinions. Walker discusses the enormous optimism surrounding this season’s Jets, and what Aaron Rodgers must do to bring that elusive Super Bowl home. He also is remarkably candid about former Jets coach Herm Edwards and how Herm changed for the worse after Walker played with him in college. Walker also...

Many Mets fans may be surprised to know Ed Kranepool has the third most hits in franchise history. The beloved member of the ‘69 Amazin’ Mets was much more than just a good quote. He spent his entire career with the Mets, starting with the expansion team in ‘62, right through the dark years of the late ‘70s. He saw it all, from national punchline to World Champs, then back into the abyss. Through...

Ken Singleton spent 25 years on Yankees television broadcasts and gives his thoughts on the frustrating season they’ve had. He discusses the pitching woes aside from Cole, a lineup that has lacked production, and a World Series drought going on 14 years. Singleton also remembers his childhood growing up in New York, and how stickball helped launch his MLB career. Singleton also tells fantastic Ear...

For three months in 1996, East Rutherford was the most magical place on Earth for John Wallace. In March he led Syracuse on a Cinderella run to the national championship game at the Meadowlands, losing to one of the greatest teams ever. Then in June, he was drafted by the Knicks inside the same arena. Wallace describes what makes Jim Boeheim a legend and what those battles in the old Big East were...

Terry Collins still gets stopped in the street and thanked by strangers for his job as manager of the 2015 Mets. He discusses how the intensity of New York made the job challenging yet rewarding. He reached out to Joe Torre for advice on how to navigate the city’s media and fans. He discusses the difficulty in watching Johan Santana have a shortened career after the no-hitter, and the ill-fated de...

Brianna Green never dreamed of becoming a Harlem Globetrotter, even though she loved watching them as a kid. Decades after they rolled through her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, Green became just the 15th female member ever. That was just the beginning of her boom in celebrity. She now counts over 1 million followers across her social media channels and is an influencer and ambassador for women'...

Charley Steiner grew up 17 miles from Ebbets Field in the '50s, so he experienced a typical post-war childhood on Long Island entranced by Vin Scully and the "Boys of Summer." He eventually became the voice of his beloved Dodgers many years later after they had arrived in Los Angeles. In between dreaming of calling Dodgers games and actually doing it, he called Herschel Walker and the New Jersey G...

Few Mets players have garnered 105 games played and had the lasting impact of George Theodore. He was nicknamed "The Stork," befitting his 6'5" frame, and became a fan favorite over two seasons in '73 and '74. Theodore discusses his eccentric personality, and "clubbing" in '70s NYC. He talks about what he learned from, and why he wishes he had more time with Yogi Berra and Willie Mays. George reme...

Jeff Nelson’s timing is impeccable. He was traded to the Yankees in December of 1995, just 10 months before the Yankees' first World Series title since 1978. He collected three more championships with the Bombers and then left in 2001, just as the next title drought began. He was in the dugout for two Yankees perfect games and then called another last week for YES as Domingo German achieved the hi...

Joe Theismann is best known for his standout career at Notre Dame and for winning a Super Bowl with Washington. But it all started in New Jersey where Joe grew up a Jets fan. Theismann idolized Joe Namath and finally met his hero during his rookie year. He describes that experience, as well as his rivalry with the Giants and the night that ended his career. Monday Night Football in ‘85 was one of...

No player embodied the Devils' rise from hockey wilderness to Stanley Cup greatness more than Ken Daneyko. He witnessed the franchise's humble beginnings after the move from Colorado and watched as the Devils became a model organization. His tough-nosed attitude and willingness to pulverize his own body and others led him to being beloved by New Jersey fans and having his number retired by the tea...

Curtis Granderson has the rare experience of playing for both the Mets and Yankees, and the even rarer experience of being adored by both fan bases. Granderson set himself apart with his intellect and gracious personality and is using both traits to open access to youth baseball. He discusses why the black baseball player has started to evaporate and how he's trying to remedy that. He explains his...

Constantine Maroulis burst upon the scene on American Idol and made it into the final 6 nearly 20 years ago. Even though Carrie Underwood would eventually win, his star turn proved to be a launching pad. Maroulis discusses his Idol experience, and then his massive success on Broadway. He showed his dynamic acting ability with a Tony nomination for “Rock of Ages” and now is starring in another musi...

Ryan Meara is not only a Red Bulls institution, he's also a native New Yorker. The Yonkers native grew up a tortured Mets fan during the Yankees dynasty, and loved Tony Meola of the MetroStars before there even was a Red Bulls. On "New York Accent" he discusses his family lineage of FDNY and how 9/11 affected them all. He also talks about trying to finally deliver an MLS Cup to a fan base he grew...

Bernie Williams was an indispensable member of the Yankees dynasty of the '90s and 00's. He grew up in the farm system and eventually formed a bond with Derek Jeter, Andy Petitte, Jorde Posada, and Mariano Rivera which is one of the most special in New York sports lore. He went from being the focus of trade rumors from the desk of Steinbrenner to having his number retired in Monument Park. William...

Tommy John may have lived one of the greatest baseball lives of anyone. He pitched for 26 years in MLB, finished just shy of 300 wins, and played in 3 memorable World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers. He also is a medical marvel and athletic pioneer due to his arm surgery in 1974. In this conversation John discusses the prognosis of his historic procedure, what it was like when Thurman Munso...

California native Chris Childs was always built more like a New Yorker. He relished the big games, played an intense and demanding style of ball, and appreciated the transit workers and sanitation guys he saw every day on his way to the Garden. He helped steer the Knicks to their last NBA Finals appearance in 1999, and along the way battled the hated Heat almost every season. From the PJ Brown fli...

In more than 80 years of Rangers hockey, only one man built a Stanley Cup champion. That’s GM Neil Smith. He took over the team in ‘89 and describes how far from a contender they were. He goes through the early acquisitions of Adam Graves and Mark Messier, then the constant tug of war with coach Mike Keenan. He oversaw the most dramatic trade deadline in franchise history and the risks he took in...

Shawn Green only played a pair of seasons in New York, but they were two of the most memorable for different reasons. He was part of the '06 team that made Game 7 of the NLCS and the '07 squad which collapsed in historic fashion. He discusses whether the Mets should've won a World Series over the Tigers, and how it all went wrong the next season. He is considered the greatest Jewish ballplayer and...

Greg Maddux was one of the most dominant pitchers of all time and somehow did it without a blazing fastball. These are his stories of using precision and efficiency instead of power, and the toughest hitters he had to face. He also takes us inside his two World Series battles with the Yankees and the difficult October losses the Braves were dealt. Maddux pinpoints his career highlight and how scar...

Jeff Smulyan has been called the Godfather of Sports Talk for his role in creating the genre. As CEO of Emmis Communications, he purchased WHN in New York City then flipped it to all sports and rebranded it as WFAN. It was a decision met with resistance and doubt within the company, let alone the outside world. And the early results were harrowing. But within a year, the FAN became an NYC staple a...