Photographer: Bob Straus
Sports radio and TV personality, talk show host and journalist Ann Liguori continues to shine as a leader and visionary in the world of sports media. She is the Golf & Tennis Correspondent for WFAN Radio and CBS Sports Radio Network covering the Majors including The Masters, US Open golf, PGA Championships, Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and US Open Tennis Championships. Ann is the first woman to host a call-in sports show on WFAN and hosted a five-hour weekly call-in sports show from 1987-2008. Ann is President of Ann Liguori Productions and owner of ‘Sports Innerview’ ‘Radio & Television properties. She is the owner of the longest running sports show, hosted, owned and produced by a woman. ‘Sports Innerview’ with Ann Liguori aired on sports cable networks from 1989-2005 and featured interviews Ann did with sports legends such as, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Julius Erving, Harry Carson among many others. Her book, ‘A Passion for Golf, Celebrity Musings About the Game,’ is out in second edition.
What made you go into the sports and entertainment world?
Ann Liguori: I’ve always been an athlete, training and competing in a variety of sports. Growing up in Brecksville, Ohio, the kids in the neighborhood would gather in our backyard and often, I’d be among the first athletes ‘picked’ on teams. I was blessed with natural athletic ability. In junior high, I organized a team from my Junior High School to compete in AAU track meets. By the time I got to High School, Title IX had been passed and the school offered a variety of Varsity sports for girls to participate in. I played volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, and in the spring, I’d run sprints and do the long jump for the track team and then race over to the tennis courts and compete on the boy’s tennis team, because the school didn’t have a girl’s tennis team, at the time! A year after I graduated, our high school put together a girl’s tennis program!
From an early age (3-years-old!), I was intrigued with the interviewing process and genuinely interested in people’s success stories. Ruth Lyons, a television talk-show pioneer based in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I was born, made a huge impact on me when I was a toddler. I can remember watching her show. From the time I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a radio and television talk show host and interviewer! My athletic background and interest in sports made it a ‘no brainer’ to pursue a career in sport’s broadcasting. Throughout my youth, I did various jobs that helped me along the way from being a PA Announcer for high school basketball games, to creating a cable show while I was a Broadcast Journalism major at the University of South Florida to accepting a fellowship offered by the International Radio & TV Society (IRTS) which brought me to Manhattan for an 8-week summer fellowship, immediately upon graduating from college.
All these years later, I continue to enjoy running my own business as a sports broadcaster, author and media consultant.
Who has been your favorite athlete to interview?
Ann Liguori: That’s a tough question to answer because I’ve interviewed thousands of athletes during my career on WFAN, where I hosted a 5-6 hour call-in talk show every week for over 20 years, hosted ‘Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori’ on cable networks for 15 years, where I interviewed legends in sports; hosted ‘Conversations with Ann Liguori,’ a weekly show on The Golf Channel where I golfed and interviewed top names in sports, Hollywood, music and business and continue to host the radio version each week of ‘Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori’ on NPR affiliate WPPB 88.3 FM and peconicpublicbroadcasting.org.
To listen to archives of this show, visit http://www.annliguori.com/radiodownloads.php
To purchase a DVD copy of Ann’s award-winning interviews with your favorite sports legend, click here: http://www.annliguori.com/shop.php?mc=1
Interviews I’ve done with legendary Cleveland Brown’s Jim Brown were always heated; Pete Rose was feisty and angry when I interviewed him months after he was banned from baseball; David Justice denied many of the comments he made on my show about the subject of racism; Brett Favre was the utmost gentleman when I golfed with him in the home town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; it was like pulling teeth to get tennis great Bjorn Borg to say anything interesting; Mickey Mantle was a great story-teller and quite sentimental; Wilt Chamberlain was quite compelling talking about his many interests from his basketball career, his interest in volleyball and in women! But perhaps my favorite interview was with Ted Williams who was both gracious and interesting as he talked about his baseball career, co-piloting a plane with John Glenn in the Korean War, getting inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame and how proud he was of his son, John Henry, who appeared on the show with him in the third segment.
Did you ever feel intimidated meeting an athlete? If so, who was it and why?
Ann Liguori: No, I never felt intimidated meeting or interviewing an athlete. My athletic career and successes gave me lots of confidence and self-esteem and I made sure I am overly-prepared for each interview! Plus as an interviewer, it’s my job to help make my guest feel comfortable and at ease.”
I saw that you do a lot of charity work. What made you start your own foundation, The Ann Liguori Foundation?
Ann Liguori: I lost my Dad to cancer when I was a junior in college and a year and a half later, I lost my 22-year-old brother, Jim, to leukemia. Those two tragedies pushed me to do lots of volunteer work for all kinds of charities. I participate in dozens of charity golf tournaments and other charity events throughout the year and when the American Cancer Society approached me over 15 years ago to host my own golf tournament, I happily said ‘yes.’ Each year, I host a charity golf tournament in the Hamptons. For 15 years, I also hosted a dinner dance at Duck Walk Vineyards in The Hamptons during the height of ‘the season.’ Five years ago, I was encouraged to put my own Foundation together. The Ann Liguori Foundation raises money and awareness for cancer prevention and cancer research. We’re proud of our work on the East End of Long Island and beyond! Next year’s golf tournament is Monday, May 19th, at the prestigious Friar’s Head. To register, click here: http://www.annliguori.com/charitygolfevent.php
You hold an annual charity golf tournament. How are your skills on the golf course?
Ann Liguori: I love playing golf and am very competitive! I play golf all over the world, tape shows promoting various golf properties, cover the top golf tournaments in the world and am blessed with invitations to play amazing courses at fun celebrity, charity, media events, pro-ams, etc. Let’s just say, I win more matches than I lose. LOL
Congratulations on making the cover of the ‘Women Who Kick’ calendar! What does it mean to you to be an inspiration to women?
Ann Liguori: The ‘Women Who Kick’ calendar/program consists of women who ‘inspire, motivate and empower.’ I’m honored to have been chosen for the cover. Being an inspiration to women is very important to me. I strive to be a good role model for young people through my radio and television shows, appearances, messages, etc. I truly believe in giving back, mentoring young people in the business, being a positive influence and spreading joy. Love, kindness and compassion is what life is all about!
For more information on Ann visit her website, at www.annliguori.com.
Follow Ann on Twitter: @annliguori
Like Ann on Facebook: www.facebook.com/annliguori
