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Farewell To The FAN

Popular host John Jastremski leaving WFAN to join Bill Simmons at “The Ringer”

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Though he’s leaving WFAN, John Jastremski will still be making television appearances on regional sports networks like SNY (Jastremski is second from right), and his column at The Wave is staying put as well. Photo courtesy of John Jastremski

Back in 2011, John Jastremski’s career got the boost it needed, winning WFAN’s “Fantasy Phenom” contest and getting a weekly show on the popular radio station. He’s spent the last decade honing his craft and becoming one of New York City’s top sports voices.

Now, his career is once again on the upswing.

Back in December of 2020, sports media mogul Bill Simmons reached out to Jastremski to gauge his interest in joining The Ringer Podcast Network, founded by Simmons (which he sold to Spotify for about $200 million, while retaining a majority share).

It wasn’t an easy decision to make, said Jastremski, who was a guest on this week’s “Rockaway Fridays With The Wave.”

“You go through a lot of different things in your mind; where you’re at, where you’re going and where your future may be,” said Jastremski. “[WFAN] gave me my start they gave me my opportunity and I don’t think I’d be in the position that I’m in today if it wasn’t for [WFAN’s] Mark Chernoff.”

Earlier this week, Jastremski announced he was leaving WFAN to join The Ringer, stressing that the biggest selling point for him was Simmons.

“He has always been a guy that in many ways has been one step ahead of the curve and I think his results, his resume, and his bank account kind of speaks for itself,” said Jastremski. “When somebody like that comes to you with an idea that’s eye-opening … I wasn’t actively working to leave WFAN, [and if I left] it needed to be something that was going to wow me.”

There’s been plenty of media coverage about Jastremski’s decision, but according to him, a lot of the reporting has been inaccurate, so we asked him to set the record straight.

“The narrative that I could not work with somebody or that I didn’t want to work with a partner is the biggest bunch of crap known to man,” said Jastremski, declining to identify which media relayed incorrect information. “I have obviously developed my niche and I’ve developed my craft working solo … they don’t normally give you with a partner unless you’re established or you’re an athlete and you need that sort of radio guy. I loved working with Evan Roberts, I loved working with Chris Moore, I loved working with Kim Jones, and I had fun working with Brian Jones. I could go on and on and on, but the narrative that’s out there that I could not work with a partner or that I told management I’m not working with a partner is B.B. so I’m glad that we got that straight.”

The best part, says Jastremski, is that Ringer isn’t limiting him in his other endeavors, including his weekly column at The Wave.

“You’ll see me on SNY, you’ll see me on the Golf Channel, and you’ll see my column every Friday,” said Jastremski.

Jastremski says his new podcast (the name has yet to be announced), will be easy to find as well.

“A lot of folks out there who are wondering, ‘how do I listen, do I have to pay?’, the answer is no, no, no. I can’t stress that enough,” he laughed. “Everybody’s got a smartphone, even my mom and dad have a smartphone right now and they’re learning how to do it; you go to Spotify, you go to Apple podcast t… search my name, subscribe and you’ll get the podcast.”

JJ (bottom) will be joining Bill Simmons (top) and The Ringer Podcast Network.

Jastremski’s last show on WFAN will be next Friday, April 2, and his new column will debut on that same day, in next week’s edition of The Wave. Until then, follow Jastremski on Twitter for breaking news on the podcast debut, @john_jastremski.

 

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