"We work in an industry where you get hired to one day be fired, or leave on your own merit. Very few people get to leave the way they want, and I'm very happy that Joe Benigno was able to leave the way he wanted – he had a special day yesterday, and was able to announce his retirement by choice."
That was Craig Carton's second thank you in the opening minutes of his return to the WFAN airwaves on Thursday, following the one to his wife, Kim, and four children.
Joe's retirement paves the way for Craig to take over as half of the WFAN afternoon drive team, and the new "Carton & Roberts Show" will run from 2-7 p.m. weekdays starting Monday, Nov. 9. When that happens, everyone's favorite bro will ride off into the sunset to play golf in Florida – and if anything, Craig hopes the time off helps Joe get better.
"I've played golf with Joe twice – once at a Super Bowl, and once with Boomer on Long Island – and I can honestly tell you, Joe is the single worst golfer I've ever seen!" Craig laughed. "And I'm not that good either! But the fact that he loves golf as much as he does, as bad as he is at it, I'll never understand. And the fact that he has a hole in fascinating – how can you be that bad and get a hole in one?"
Seriously though, Craiggy has nothing but love for Joe from Saddle River.
"Between Joe and Evan, my future partner, they were kind enough to leave early today to give me this opportunity," Craig said. "I want to thank them, and wish Joe the very best. He had a storied career, coming from being a caller, to winning a contest, to having a 20-year career alongside more partners than anyone else. My very best to Joe and his family in retirement."
Listen to Craig's entire opening monologue below!
Follow Craig Carton on Twitter: @craigcartonlive
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