BY CHARLES COSTELLO

It was classic radio. And for those watching on the YES Network, classic television.

Mike Francesa (wfan.com)

Mike Francesa, the host of Mike’d Up on 660 WFAN, and one of the all-time legends of the airwaves, Pete Fornatale, sat down Tuesday to discuss Fornatale’s new book, “Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock.” The book was released in June and currently sits at No. 241 on Amazon.com’s list of bestsellers.

This was Francesa at his best, exhibiting his expertise in areas beyond sports, entering the world of rock, culture, and history. And seated to his left in the studios of WFAN was Fornatale, eloquent and graceful in sharing his knowledge of the August 1969 rockfest.

Nothing to do with Woodstock, but the most interesting part of the interview for me was learning that Fornatale was once Francesa’s English teacher. Fornatale and fellow WFUV deejay Dennis Elsas were both English teachers at Maria Regina High School in Uniondale, Long Island while Francesa attended the school.

You can listen to the complete interview here.

A graduate of both Fordham Prep and Fordham University, Fornatale’s “Mixed Bag” can be heard Saturday afternoons from 4 to 8 on WFUV. Mixed Bag Radio, a one-hour interview show, can be heard Sunday mornings from 7 to 8.  He’s been a part of WFUV going back to his days as a student at the Bronx campus.