Philly Radio: Nick Kayal Rips WPEN During WIP Audition

Nick Kayal

Former WPEN ESPN 97.5 The Fanatic host Nick Kayal got his shot to co-host with Sportsradio 94.1 WIP 94.1 FM's Josh Innes on Friday, and didn’t waste any time before ripping the station that employed him for six years.  Click Here for Audio Highlights.

Kayal called The Fanatic an “inferior station on the dial” and said he had been “jerked around five times” before making the decision to leave the station and take a job with Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM.

Kayal’s drive-time show lasted only four months before SiriusXM took over control of the channel and eliminated nearly everyone in its lineup. But judging by the way Kayal went after The Fanatic, he was more concerned with winning over WIP listeners than burning bridges with his former employer.

“Rumor has it the transmitter shut off at 7 p.m. at that station,” Kayal said, a dig at the station's decision to utilize big-name ESPN guests during more popular radio hours. He also lamented long nights where he would talk, without a caller, for over an hour.

Kayal saved his most heated comments for Fanatic host and favorite Innes target Mike Missanelli, who he labeled as a lazy host and “a straight-up d-bag.”

“Everything that you read about him is pretty much true,” Kayal said, saying his relationship with The Fanatic's most popular host was terrible.