For 20 years, Don La Greca, the voice of the Devil, helped create one of the most successful sports radio shows in New York history, but his name never appeared on the show.
On Wednesday, LaGreca joined former WFAN host Brandon Tierney’s podcast and finally said what he should have said two decades ago: He didn’t fight hard enough, which is the biggest professional regret of his career.
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Tierney didn’t relax. He’d known LaGreca long enough to see him feature prominently on the show and asked a direct question: How many times have you actually gone to management and asked to put your name on the show?
La Greca’s answer was immediate and relentless.
“Not enough. That’s one of my regrets. Not enough… I should have been more positive,” LaGreca said via YouTube. “I really felt like I was being bullied a lot because I would go to management and they would say, ‘Yeah, that’s a good point, Don. We should do something about it.'” And then nothing could be done. “
La Greca’s situation is particularly noteworthy because it is unique in the industry.
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It’s not like one contributor or supporter is asking for more credit. This is a true co-host—a man who has long run the show on his own—who operates without the title that every similar show in America affords its equivalent voice.
“There’s no other show in the country that doesn’t have a co-host whose name is not on the show,” LaGreca admitted.
La Greca described the celebration of the show’s 20th anniversary – a packed theater in Manhattan, industry legends in the room, Bob Costas sending a video tribute and Yankees legend Joe Torre in attendance.
This is an important moment.
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Chris Russo moderates. Three times that night, Russo turned to La Greca with genuine surprise, suggesting that he had no idea how important La Greca was to the show’s success.
“So I never felt like I was fully appreciated on that show,” LaGreca said. “Yeah, of course it’s Michael and management and … the audience, because if you listen, you know. But if you’re the kind of person who jumps, there’s a lot of interviews where (it’s) ‘Thank you Michael.’
LaGreca recalled how the show featured Giants legend Bill Parcells as a weekly guest.
“Every time I asked a question, he said, ‘Okay, Michael,'” LaGreca recalled.
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What’s striking about the entire conversation isn’t the bitterness.
LaGreca went out of his way to praise Michael Kay – who showed faith in him early on and fought for him when program directors questioned his worth. This is not about settling scores. This is about something more difficult: responsibility.
“I blame myself. I should have asked for it. I should have threatened a walk (or) something. I should have worked harder for it,” LaGreca said. “I think it’s easier to say it now because I’ve moved on and at the moment… I probably lack confidence. Maybe I feel like I’m not worthy.”
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