WFAN VP Mark Chernoff happy for son Mike Chernoff on landing GM job with Indians
Cleveland Indians general manager Mike Chernoff answers questions during a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. Credit: AP / Tony Dejak
Mark Chernoff is vice president for programming at WFAN, meaning he employs people whose job often includes harshly critiquing sports executives.
That includes the general managers of Major League Baseball teams, one of whom now is his son.
On Tuesday, Mike Chernoff was named GM of the Indians, succeeding Chris Antonetti, who in turn succeeded Mark Shapiro as president of baseball operations. Shapiro is leaving Cleveland to join the Blue Jays as their CEO.
"I'm a happy daddy," Chernoff said during batting practice before the American League wild-card game at Yankee Stadium. "I love my son. I'm excited for him. It's wonderful news and I believe well deserved. He loves the organization, they've been great to him and he's been very happy there."
The younger Chernoff, 34, joined the Indians as an intern right out of Princeton, where he played baseball.
"He really wanted to work in baseball," Mark Chernoff said. "I'm used to it that this is what he chose as a career."
Still, Mark acknowledged that it is just as well Mike works in Cleveland rather than as a high-ranking executive for the Yankees -- whose games WFAN carries -- or Mets.
That might be a tad complicated.
"It sure would be," Mark said. "I stand up for my son no matter what." But surely having him as a GM in New York might be awkward. "Yes. I would say yes, that is true."
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred stopped by during batting practice to congratulate Chernoff on his son's promotion.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
