Adream job often remains just that — a dream. For one local resident, though, a lifelong dream has come to fruition thanks to a contest hosted by a prominent sports radio station.
Gregg Sussman, 22, of Manalapan, was named the grand-prize winner of WFAN’s Fantasy Phenom Challenge, a contest that offered a grand prize of a one-year contract to host a weekly sports talk program. The contest attracted more than 2,000 aspiring talk show hosts. Sussman was selected as one of the five finalists before being awarded the opportunity to work for “The Fan.”
“If anyone ever asked me, I would say, ‘I want to have my own talk show on WFAN,’ ” said Sussman, who graduated from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland last spring. “This is a dream come true.”
Sussman earned plenty of experience in sports radio while attending college. He hosted his own talk show and called play-by-play for various sports on WMUC, the University of Maryland’s student-run radio station.
With no job in place after graduating from college, he began to send résumés to radio stations around the country. The Manalapan native was even set to pack his things and move elsewhere if he was offered a job.I
nstead, he found himself on the air live with longtime WFAN host Mike Francesa outside Bar Anticipation in the Lake Como section of Belmar. Sussman and the other four finalists were featured on Francesa’s program on Aug. 27.
“I figured I had a one-in-five shot,” Sussman said. “I hoped my youth and enthusiasm would be the difference.”
Speaking of his final attempt to impress the judges and listeners, Sussman said he “swung for the fences and hoped for the best.”
On Aug. 30, Francesa made the official announcement on his show that Sussman won the Fantasy Phenom Challenge.
“I haven’t gotten off cloud nine,” Sussman said. “It’s absolutely incredible, and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity.”
Asked to reveal the secret to his success, Sussman explained that he was always prepared.
“I never went in cold. I had my bullet points,” he said.
An enthusiastic man by nature, Sussman acknowledged that the judges, including WFAN host Joe Benigno, gave some helpful advice throughout the competition.
“I was going 110 [percent] and I needed to bring it down to 100. I needed to reel it in,” he said. However, he still sees his enthusiasm as an important part of his on-air persona. “I want to be myself,” he added.
A passionate sports fan and WFAN listener since childhood, Sussman knows what it takes to succeed in the New York City media market. He plans to cover all major sports rather than focusing on one or two. In addition, he would like to build a virtual friendship with those who call into his program.
“I want callers to feel like they are talking to a friend sitting on the couch,” he said.
Sussman’s passion for sports will arrive on WFAN this month. He appeared on the WFAN overnight show as a guest of Mark Malusis on Sept. 13 and announced that his first show will be broadcast 1-3 a.m. Sept. 26.
The two-hour program will continue to air during the early morning hours on Sundays, and Sussman is busy preparing for his opening show.
“You don’t realize how hard it is to talk for two hours to yourself,” he said.