"Hey Liguori, What's the Story?!!"

By: Frank Borzellieri
Years before Ann Liguori attained her status as the most celebrated interviewer in the world of sports, she made a decision that could have short-circuited her career in its infancy. On her first day on the job as a producer for ABC radio in her early 20's, she was compelled to overrule the king of sports broadcasting, Howard Cosell.

"In those days," Ann recalls, "everyone at ABC was terrified of Howard Cosell. He was huge."

Cosell was recording his commentary for the day at his home. The broadcast was going out live over the air, but was scheduled to be re-broadcast throughout the day. During his remarks, Cosell made a factual mistake, which many listeners caught.

"People were calling in, pointing out Howard's mistake," Ann says. "I realized I had to make him do it over again. I really thought I would be fired."

Determined, but with high anxiety, Ann Liguori called Howard Cosell at home. "I said, 'You don't know me, but I'm a new producer here.' I told him he would have to correct his commentary for the rebroadcasts. There was silence and then he said, 'Do you know who I am, young lady. I'm Howard Cosell and I don't make mistakes.'"

But Ann persisted, Cosell did indeed correct his error, and he never forgot her.

Remarkable Accomplishments

Today, Ann Liguori's accomplishments in sportscasting are all the more remarkable given the young age at which she achieved them. Every Friday night at midnight, from the studios of WFAN in Astoria, her radio call-in show begins with the canned mantra, "Hey Liguori, what's the story?"

The story is the current state of affairs in New York sports, and Ann's callers – to whom she provides insights (and therapy for the die-hards) – are New York sports fans, "the most knowledgeable and most passionate" in America, the Cleveland native says.

The all-sports station WFAN is now in its 13th year. Ann Liguori has been there from the start. Her sing-song voice is recognizable to everyone who keeps the station on after the Mets post-game show. Last Friday, the Mets finally entered first place. "Congratulations, Mets fans…" she began. But the most excited she has been this year was the night the Knicks clinched their finals appearance against the Indiana Pacers. They were thoughtful enough to do it on a Friday night, in order for Ann Liguori's listener's to hear her joyous take on it.

"Sports Innerviews"

But Ann Liguori's Friday night soirees on WFAN are only part of her resume that now make her New York's most well-rounded sportscaster. She has established herself as in her works, "the Barbara Walters of sports," by landing the most impressive interviews with sports' biggest stars. Her weekly award-winning "Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori" is seen on the Fox Sports Network, viewed locally on Fox cable. What is unique about the show is that Ann is the owner and President of her own television production company, "Ann Liguori Productions," which makes her responsible for every aspect of the show, including soliciting the advertisers. Of course, this business savvy also makes her "the Martha Stewart of sports." She says, "there are not too many women who've taken an ownership position in television. I'm proud to have done it for 15 years."

She also co-hosts "Golf 2000 with Peter Jacobson," a nationally-syndicated golf magazine show." In fact, she says, "Golf is becoming my favorite sport." This is no surprise to anyone who has read her book, "A Passion for Golf – Celebrity Musings About the Game," a work that has received considerable attention due to its unusual slant. Everyone from Sylvester Stallone to Kevin Costner to Alice Cooper to Dan Quayle sharing personal affections about the game. Ann also writes a regular column in the golf section of USA Today.

Women in Sports

The national love affair with the women's soccer World Cup victory has brought women's involvement in sports to the fore. Ann says, "The win was huge for women in sports. Mia Hamm now has her own building at Nike. The first big thing that happened for women in sports was the success they had at the '96 Olympics in basketball, soccer and softball. Then the WNBA was formed.

"But greater than that was the success of the women's World Cup team. The question is: will the country support a pro women's soccer league? What's needed are the three M's: money, marketing and management. Millions of people play soccer. It is huge on a grassroots level."

Always an athlete herself, Ann earned 16 letter in high school. She is deeply committed to girls getting involved in sports. "I was quite the jock. I recommended to parents to get their kids into sports. Not only is it great exercise, but sports teaches you how to win, how to lose, and helps with self-esteem. The qualities you learn in sports help you the rest of your life."

Landing John McEnroe

Ann Liguori's interview style is laid back. "I don't want to be Sam Donaldson. I get these athletes away from the field in a comfortable surrounding and they open up," she says. "They'll say things to me they've never said to anyone. Mario Lemieux told me my interview with him was the best he'd ever done.

Ann's first big break came when she landed an interview with John McEnroe for Inside Sports magazine. At the time, McEnroe was number one in tennis and Inside Sports couldn't land an interview. She remembers, "Inside Sports told me if I could get McEnroe, they'd put it on the front page and make him Athlete of the Year."

"Ann Liguori in the Lineup"

Ann has come a long way from her first Saturday morning spot with WFAN. A graduate of the University of South Florida, she majored in broadcast journalism and received a fellowship in New York, her first job was as a researcher at CBS Sports. She went freelance and produced, on her own, "Ann Liguori in the Lineup, brought to you by Miller Lite," which was her daily sports commentary picked up by stations around the country. "WFAN heard my commentary and called me," she says.

"Not Intimidated by Anything."

As part of the ferocious lineup that includes Imus in the Morning and Mike and the Mad Dog, Ann Liguori has found her niche – and her following – among the best fans in the world.

"As a woman," she says, "I had all these roadblocks to overcome. It can be very intimidating. But I'm not intimidated by anything."

So when she's not receiving mail from every "Liguori" in the world, wondering if they're related, Ann Liguori is telling "the story" and showing fans why she is the best sports announcer in New York.