The Ongoing Radio Rivalry: Suzyn Waldman and WFAN Personalities
In the world of New York sports broadcasting, tensions have once again surfaced between longtime Yankees radio voice Suzyn Waldman and WFAN radio host Boomer Esiason. This recent episode continues what appears to be a pattern of WFAN personalities taking aim at Waldman over the years. The latest incident occurred during a discussion about endorsement opportunities between Waldman and her new broadcast partner, Dave Sims, who joined the Yankees broadcast booth for the 2025 season. The pairing has created a new dynamic in the booth, with their on-air exchanges catching the attention of WFAN hosts who subsequently made them a topic of discussion on their morning show.
The controversy began when WFAN morning host Gregg Giannotti suggested that Waldman might be jealous of endorsement deals secured by her new colleague Dave Sims. Sims had recently posted promotional content for a personal care product called Dude Wipes, which caught the attention of Esiason. The former NFL quarterback then made what many would consider inappropriate comments, suggesting Waldman could endorse feminine hygiene products. Esiason’s remarks, which he delivered while admittedly struggling to maintain composure, represented yet another instance of the radio station’s personalities making Waldman the subject of jokes that many might find disrespectful to a pioneering female sports broadcaster.
This latest incident harkens back to a longstanding pattern at WFAN, where Waldman has frequently been targeted by on-air personalities. Most notably, Craig Carton, Esiason’s former co-host, became known for a recurring, unflattering impression of Waldman that ran for years during his tenure at the station. The impression was often criticized for its mocking tone but remained a fixture of Carton’s approach to commentary about Waldman. Despite the history of these on-air jabs, Waldman demonstrated professionalism by working alongside Carton during the 2024 Yankees season, suggesting her ability to separate personal differences from professional responsibilities.
Esiason’s comments about Waldman come during a time when he has been particularly vocal about the Yankees broadcast team. Earlier in the 2025 season, he had already made headlines for criticizing Dave Sims when the broadcaster missed a workday. This pattern of commentary indicates that Esiason may be developing a habit of using the Yankees broadcasting situation as fodder for his radio program, with Waldman often at the center of his remarks. The persistence of these comments raises questions about workplace respect and the treatment of female professionals in the male-dominated sports broadcasting industry.
When reached for comment about Esiason’s remarks, WFAN’s parent company, Audacy, did not provide an immediate response, nor could Waldman’s representatives be contacted. This lack of official response leaves listeners to draw their own conclusions about whether such on-air behavior is considered acceptable within the organization’s professional standards. The silence also leaves open questions about what, if any, boundaries exist regarding how on-air personalities discuss their colleagues in the broadcasting industry, particularly when those discussions take on a gendered dimension.
Meanwhile, as these broadcasting controversies played out, the Yankees’ season came to an abrupt end with a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. The defeat eliminated the Yankees from postseason contention and propelled Toronto to their first American League Championship Series since 2016. This disappointing conclusion to the Yankees’ season shifts focus away from the team’s on-field performance and potentially amplifies attention on off-field matters, including the dynamics between the team’s broadcasters and their colleagues in New York sports media. As the off-season begins, the relationship between Waldman and her WFAN critics remains an ongoing subplot in the New York sports media landscape.
