Carl Garofolo Jr., a man with a very distinct, deep voice, chuckles whenever people ask if he’d consider going into radio. The joke’s on them, because June 4 marks the 20-year anniversary of Hudson Valley Sports-Talk, the broadcast that he hosts.
The show, which airs on WHVW (950AM) at 11 a.m. on Sundays, covers sports at every level. “From the peewees to the pros and everything in between, we’ve got you covered,” Garofolo says. His guests have included athletes and coaches from local college programs, middle grade intramural leagues, and beginner teams. “Sometimes we even have the whole team come on the show, but it gets a little tricky when you try to fit 15 eight-year-olds in the studio,” he laughs.
Covering the region from Columbia County all the way down to Rockland and Westchester, the show reports on games of all kinds: baseball, basketball, soccer, T-ball, flag football, lacrosse, cheerleading — and the list goes on. But Garofolo is most proud of the broadcasts which include interviews with Special Olympians and highlight sports for athletes with disabilities. “I’ve featured blind athletes, wheelchair tennis, tandem sports where people play with guides. We’ve pretty much covered the entire gamut of every sport,” he says.
In addition, Garofolo and Hudson Valley Sports-Talk have hosted events to support organizations like the American Heart Association, Miles of Hope, and Camp Sundown. “The show is not just about sports,” he says. “It’s about people and who they are in their community.”
Find out more about WHVW at www.facebook.com/whvwradio.
