Battling the Batphone: BT’s Allentown Grit!
Battling the Batphone: BT’s Allentown Grit!  
Podcast: The Carton Show with Craig Carton & Chris McMonigle
Published On: Fri Dec 19 2025
Description: In this emotional and raw segment from his final full-time show on WFAN, Brandon Tierney reflects on a career defined by volatility, grit, and an obsession with "the Batphone." BT takes listeners back to 1999 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he made just $16,000 a year and didn't even know how to run a soundboard. He recalls a shoestring budget operation where he sat in a separate room from his co-host, watching a single phone line light up like the Bat-signal—his cue to rip off his headset and play producer just to talk to the fans. The conversation turns from the past to the present as BT connects with "stand-up" callers like Al from Howard Beach, reminding the audience why sports radio is more than just scores—it’s about the "CYO hustle" and the shared upbringing of New York sports fans. Tierney reflects on the "brutal business" of radio with zero regrets, promising one last look at his famous "Unkillable" speech before handing the mic over to New York legends Alex Rodriguez and Rick Pitino.