Chris Christie to have on-air audition as fill in for WFAN’s Mike Francesa next week

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been long-rumored as a potential replacement for WFAN’s Mike Francesa. And after being spotted on a beach that he closed last weekend, it’s probably best that the Governor look for positions that he can fill when his term is finally over. And come next week, Christie will be doing just that, subsituting for the Sports Pope as co-host with Evan Roberts on Monday and Tuesday.

Matt Katz, reporter for New York’s NPR affiliate, WNYC tweeted the news:

Christie has filled in on WFAN in the past and the station has confirmed that he is a potential replacement for Francesa. His fill-in gigs have been praised as Christie does come off as knowledgeable.

He has attended many sporting events not just in his home state, but also in Dallas where he’s been spotted many times as a guest of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Francesa is leaving WFAN in December and is in his farewell year. Even as he’s departing, Francesa still remains “numba one” in the ratings over rival Michael Kay. But as WFAN transitions to the post-Francesa era, station owner CBS Radio has to be fearful that no matter who takes over, there will be a ratings drop off.

And with Christie unpopular in his own state, plus not being all that well-liked in the neighboring state of New York, it would be a risk to take him on full-time no matter how knowledgeable on sports as he is.

But WFAN has to look to the future and as it was fortunate in finding a show to replace Don Imus in Boomer & Carton back in 2007, it may not be as fortunate with Francesa’s replacement.

Christie is likely to be looking at next week’s filling in for Francesa’s timeslot as a way to offset the bad news that has been plaguing him after the controversial beach closure, but as long as he’s on the air, New Jersey residents may feel he’s not taking his day job seriously.

[The Big Lead]