Q&A: WFAN's Evan Roberts' Persistence Paid Off

Woodmere native Evan Roberts has successful pursued his passion for covering sports since graduating in 2001 by serving as a co-host on WFAN’s Midday Show for the last four years.

Roberts got started with his sports broadcasting career as a child when he first  first appeared on 660 AM WFAN at age 10 doing updates on the old Imus in the Morning program. The Lawrence High School graduate has also hosted shows on Maxim Radio for Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. His vast sports broadcasting background prior to arriving at WFAN full-time in 2007 has also included providing updates on Diamond Vision for the New York Mets, sideline reporting for ABC during the Little League World Series and hosting a show for the New Jersey Nets called “Slammin Planet.”

Roberts took the time to speak with Patch and discuss his career on a major New York City sports radio station, working with his co-host Joe Beningo and his memories of the Five Towns.

As someone who is so passionate about sports, is working as a co-host on WFAN a dream job and something you always had your eye on doing?

It is certainly a dream job getting to talk sports for a living. When I was a kid one of my dreams was to be the play-by-play voice of the New York Mets ... but when I got into talk radio that became my number one passion. I love the medium of radio and can't picture doing anything else. 

What do you attribute to your success becoming a co-host at a major sports radio station at such a young age?

Luck, passion, desire, and persistence. Every job I've ever had in radio I have put in 1000 percent effort, and put everything on the back burner so I can give maximum effort. When I worked full time at Sirius making enough money to live, I still worked overnights at WFAN despite it costing any semblance of a social life. I also have written hundred of letters and remained persistent with [program directors] in sending out tapes and not taking rejection personal. 

It seems like you have a great chemistry with your co-host Joe Benigno. How has it been working with him and is your chemistry helped by the fact that you are both passionate Mets and Jets fans?

The biggest help is Joe himself. When I was named his co-host, he could have been a jerk to me, but he couldn't have been more welcoming and kind.  He doesn't take sports debates personal and it helped in letting me feel comfortable saying anything to him. Certainly being fans of the Jets and Mets gives us a bond, but I think us getting along off air has helped his in working together. 

As a huge New Jersey Nets fan, what will it mean to you when they move to Brooklyn — very close to where you now live?

What excites me most about the move to Brooklyn is relevance.  As a Nets fan more so than with the Jets and Mets we have a real complex! Despite major success in the early 2000's we always felt like second class citizens. The move to New York is more important in making us feel like we belong. I can't wait!

What are your memories of growing up in the Five Towns? Do you still visit often?

Unfortunately, my family left two years ago, so I haven't been back often recently. But I only have fond memories of growing up there. Every time I visited before that I would always smile and think about the great times I had growing up there.