On yesterday morning's Boomer & Carton in the Morning show on WFAN, Boomer Esiason spoke excitedly about NHL training camps opening this week. His partner, Craig Carton, did not seem quite so enthused. As I noted earlier, I'm really not familiar with Carton's work. I thought that his time at WIP in Philly was an indicator that we could look forward to some hockey talk on WFAN's morning drive show. It may be that he's simply not jumping up and down at the thought of training camp starting. However, based on the exchange I heard yesterday, we may have to look to Boomer to bring the hockey.
But here's the kicker (or, in this case, the quarterback): Boomer Esiason, raised in East Islip, NY, is not an Islanders fan. Perhaps this is common knowledge, and if I think about it, I can even picture him on TV at MSG. But it is disappointing to get that confirmation. I was looking forward to having a Long Island native on a high-profile sports talk show pumping up the Islanders. Instead, he roots for the high-profile city team. Call me deflated.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Boomer Not Aboard
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
6 comments:
Nice-looking site, Outsider. I'm back from the islands and got a chance to stop by. Hope to do so more often....
Thanks for your words on my site. Appreciate the comment. And by the way, I've learned not to expect too much from Boomer over the year--he'd rather talk than think.
I'm surprised you were surprised about Boomer. I could be making this up, but I seem to remember from Boomer's Jets days that he was a BIG fan of the Ran... er, the high-profile city team. His time with the Jets overlapped the modern, Messier-led heyday of that other New York hockey franchise.
Jerry, your memory is probably correct. Any celebrity in New York at that time was likely to hitch his star to the Messiah-led extinguishing of the 54-year curse. MSG was the place to be (for a couple of years, anyway). I guess I just hoped that a Long Island guy wouldn't have succumbed to the lure of that particular spotlight. But it's entirely possible that Boomer was never an Islanders fan. I was just thinking that, with a high-profile show, it would have been great to have him as a supporter.
Well, let's not be so hard on Boomer. Although he's a product of Long Island, he's been a lifelong fan of the Rangers. (I can use that word here, can't I?)
Here's an excerpt from a 1988 New York Times article:
There are undoubtedly times when Boomer Esiason kicks back and dreams of slapping home the winning score - in a hockey game.
"I love the New York Rangers," Esiason said, smiling, running his left hand through his striking white hair laced with blond mousse. "I'd give anything to put those skates on and get out there. Problem is, I can't skate."
So while Boomer may not be talking up the Isles, at least he comes by his Blueshirt loyalty honestly.
Well, there you go. It was just a little wishful thinking on my part. I know there are plenty of Long Islanders who are not Islanders fans. We just happened to get a Long Islander in drive time on a 50,000 watt clear channel sports station...and he happens to be a Rangers fan.
And, yes, I guess we are using that word here now! At least we do have the expectation of Boomer talking hockey.
By the way, I think Boomer and Carton are doing a nice job so far.
Post a Comment