CenterStage: My Most Fascinating Interviews―from A-Rod to Jay-Z

by Michael Kay

From the longtime host of the New York Yankees’ television broadcasts, ESPN Radio’s “The Michael Kay Show,” and YES Network’s Emmy Award–winning CenterStage comes a selection of his most memorable interviews with the most intriguing personalities in sports and entertainment—ranging from Jay-Z to Mike Tyson to Serena Williams to Adam Sandler to Bon Jovi to Larry David.

Emmy Award–winning television announcer and interviewer Michael Kay’s eighteen years as host of CenterStage have given him access to many remarkable figures in sports and entertainment. Now, this absorbing selection of the best, most revealing—and often surprising—interviews are available in one amazing collection, including some of the behind-the-scenes stories that didn’t appear on camera. From Kay’s very first CenterStage interview in 2001 with quarterback Steve Young, the show’s creators knew they had something special. Kay’s ability to get celebrities and otherwise private personalities to open up and share candid insights has become his trademark.

Among the interviews featured in the book are those with Red Auerbach, Charles Barkley, Mike Tyson, Bobby Orr, Sly Stallone, Jay-Z, Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, John McEnroe, Rob Reiner, Seth Meyers, Serena Williams, Alan Alda, David Halberstam, Larry David, Bob Costas, Billy Crystal, Lindsey Vonn, Chris Evert, and Quentin Tarantino. For any pop culture fan or sports enthusiast, this prized collection is one to cherish for generations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Film

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2021

About the author

Michael Neil Kay is a sports journalist whose career has spanned print, radio and TV. He has been the lead play-by-play broadcaster for the New York Yankees since the YES Network debuted in 2002. Kay also hosts 'Centerstage' on the YES Network.

In 1996 and 1997 he was a member of the MSG team that won Emmys for Outstanding Live Sports Coverage—Single Program for Dwight Gooden's no-hitter and The Battle for New York: Yankees vs. Mets.

In 1998, he was on the MSG team that won an Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Coverage—Series.

In 2007, he was nominated for several New York Emmy Awards for his work with the YES Network (both for Yankees broadcasts and for 'Centerstage'). He won one New York Emmy for his work as part of the broadcast team for New York Yankees Baseball “Manny vs. NY: Yankees/Red Sox, 5/24/06”.

*excerpted from Wiki

Reviews

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is comprised of transcripts of a selection of the interviews that Michael Kay (the long-time NY Yankees TV announcer) has conducted over the last 18 years as host of the TV show CenterStage. Each transcript is introduced by commentary written by Kay. He is a very good interviewer and his commentary was insightful. It’s the commentary that makes this book.

I’m not all that interested in what most celebrities have to say, which is why I don’t watch talk shows (including CenterStage). But CenterStage is more like Inside the Actors Studio. The questioning is more focused and less trivial. While the celebrities might be there to push their current ventures, they wind up talking about their careers. I was generally more interested in the non athletes like Lorne Michaels, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Simon and David Halberstam, but I also enjoyed George Foreman, Andre Agassi and Mike Tyson. Obviously you can just read the interviews with the celebrities you know, but I also found interesting nuggets in the interviews with some of the people with whom I was not familiar.

I had a few quibbles with the book. There were only three women included - Serena Williams, Chris Evert and Lindsey Vonn. It would have been nice to have pictures from each show and the date of each interview definitely should have been listed. Most had a year, but none had the exact date. One good addition was the index in case you are interested in a particular person or event.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a regular viewer of Centerstage because we do not subscribe to the YES Network. I had high hopes for the book. The high hopes became a loud "meh."

Granted, Michael Kay chooses interesting subjects for his interviews. Imagine finding conversations with both Jon Bon Jovi and David Halberstam within the same pages? But if I am going to learn of such conversations, I want to learn from them. I am sure that the experience is different while watching the show, but the interviews had a sameness to them in print. It seemed like Kay gives a quick review of each subject's youth, inquires about their participation in sports--or whether or not they are fans, and of whom--and then reviews the subject's most notable achievements, and asks how the subject feels about what they've done. Some interviewees have impeccable reputations, while others I thought were worthy of much more probing questions.

Anyone who watches Centerstage should save their money. Come to think of it, so should everyone else. There just isn't much new here.

[Andy Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Yankees fan, I get to see this show be advertised on YES all the time. Never really been interested in watching the show, but out was fascinating to actually read this book, and the highlights of interviews. It showed some insights on famous individuals that Michael Kay has interviewed. I enjoyed that each person, it was "how did we get here"- and talks about how people became, the athletes they are, how movies/TV shows came to be, things of that nature.

If you don't want to watch an hour interview- read this book- I really enjoyed it.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were really interesting interviews (I only skipped a couple as I'm not much of a boxing fan) and for the most part, really interesting celebrities and athletes including one of my faves, Seth Meyers (so I saved his and Charles Barkley's for my last 2 reads). It was also educational. For example, I learned that A-Rod (the original A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez - not the fraud Aaron Rodgers) got his moniker from the longtime voice of the Ms, Dave Niehaus. "My oh my!"

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to be missed

I have to admit I'm a big Yankees fan and love Michael Kay. That being said, even if you're not a Yankees fan of even a sports fan you'll enjoy this book. The interviews were fascinating. I don't really know any sports except baseball, but it didn't matter. All the interviews were interesting. I just wish the book were longer.

[Alan Correnti · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an avid listener of the Michael Kay Show, I am pleased with the book. The recollection of the interviews are compelling and run the gambit of the entertainment industry. While the stories are great, I am thinking watching the interviews would be more powerful.

[Michael Giuliano · Rating 3 out of 5]

CenterStage was a solidly enjoyable collection of celebrity interviews. Michael Kay has an easy way of building rapport with his subjects, and his subjects are mostly quite interesting. Alan Alda and Rob Reiner were especially enjoyable.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the interviews.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A random find. It was fun to listen to most of these interviews with famous people.

[Christopher Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting interviews. Only adjustment would be reduce number of interviews and expand the ones that were chosen.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining book. This reminded me of mini biographies. My fave was probably Quentin Tarantino.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook which was nothing more than a recording of the interview from his show preceded by an intro by Kay. Nothing too spectacular but it passed the time on a road trip.

[Paul Mendelowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this, but the written interviews were shallow. My prefer tot eh TV interviews.

[Frank Ramunni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read July 2021. Really enjoyed , easy and quick. Nice change of pace

[Scott Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the talk show "Center Stage" shown on the YES network. Michael Kay talks to athletes, actors, musicians and many others. It is an easy read with each conversation occupying a few pages. Michael Kay, the voice of the Yankees for over 30 years, knows when to step aside and let his guest pontificate on whatever is on their mind. Some are more boisterous than others, but the eclectic group of guests has something for everyone.