Gregg Giannotti has come to John Sterling’s defense.
Sterling, 86, will un-retire and return to the Yankees’ radio booth for the team’s 2024 postseason run, and his decision faced some detractors, including Mike Francesa and Chris Russo.
Giannotti, who co-hosts morning drive alongside Boomer Esiason on WFAN, the Yankees’ flagship network, disputed the idea that Sterling was unfairly costing rising broadcasters Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari with his decision.
John Sterling will un-retire for the Yankees’ postseason run.Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“I thought it would happen. I wanted it to happen. It did and I think it’s the right thing to do and I think that anybody who criticizes it is off the mark..In the traditional sense of somebody retiring and then coming back when someone thinks that they have the job does not apply here,” Giannotti said, as covered by Barrett Media.
“This is different in the way that he left. It was a surprise. Nobody expected it when it happened, and the guys who have been calling the games, especially the younger kids and Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari, got an opportunity that fell into their laps…They got to call a ton of games.
“These guys got an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to call these games in the regular season and put that on their resume, something that would have never happened if John didn’t decide after starting this season to retire.”
Giannotti stressed that WFAN’s parent company, Audacy, called Sterling and asked if he’d like to return as opposed to the other way around.
“It’s not like John muscling his way back into the booth and swatting these guys away,” he said.
Gregg Giannotti, pictured in March of 2024, defended John Sterling amid backlash of the 86-year-old announcer returning to the Yankees’ radio booth.@BoomerAndGio/YouTube
Francesa and Russo reunited on Thursday to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the start of their iconic program in WFAN afternoon drive.
Russo brought up Sterling and said that his return was “not the right thing to do.”
“You know what? Listen, I think John made a mistake coming back,” Francesa responded.
Yankees broadcasters, Michael Kay and John Sterling pose for a photo before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on April 20, 2024.Getty Images
“I thought he had a very good exit. I thought he got treated very well. I think he’s making a mistake coming back, I really do.
