Michael Kay’s ironman streak might be coming to an finish.
For 37 straight years, Kay has labored the Yankees’ sport on Opening Day, between being a sportswriter (first at The Publish in 1987) after which transferring on to radio in 1992 to YES Community in 2002.
Nonetheless, the Yankees will open their 2025 season in opposition to the Brewers solely on ESPN.
Final week, Kay found this information reside on his ESPN New York / YES Community radio present, and to say he wasn’t thrilled about it might be an understatement.
Kay initially noticed that ESPN could be airing the video games, and mentioned that he could be “red-hot” if this meant the sport wouldn’t be obtainable regionally on YES Community.
“If it’s exclusive [to ESPN] I’ll weep,” Kay mentioned.
The Yankees’ announcer shortly realized his fears had been coming true.
“I’m just told by someone in the know — 100 percent exclusive,” Kay mentioned.
He mentioned that he desires to take his younger son Charlie to the sport if he wasn’t working.
“Why? Why can’t ESPN do it around the country and let YES have the local [call]?” Kay requested.
Co-host Don La Greca replied, “No offense Mike, but I don’t think ESPN was thinking about you.”
“They never do. They haven’t lately!” Kay mentioned.
Kay floated the concept possibly ESPN, the place he additionally calls occasional video games together with through the Wild Card spherical within the playoffs, may enable him to be part of the published, whether or not that be as a sideline reporter or within the radio sales space.
Co-host Peter Rosenberg joked that if the highest ESPN MLB announce staff was on the later sport involving the Dodgers then Kay may name the Yankees sport with Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick from the “Monday Night Football” B-crew.
