New Jersey Governor Chris Christie returned to the New York airwaves Monday to talk sports in place of WFAN legend Mike Francesa. In what has been touted as an audition – Francesa will leave his post in December, a month before Christie’s term as governor ends – Christie shared some unpopular sports opinions and was confronted by several angry constituents on air.

Christie, who’s approval rating of 15 percent is an historic low, could not escape politics on Monday, although he didn’t seem to mind much.

“Mike from Montclair” called into the station during Christie’s four hour gab session and berated the embattled politician for his infamous Fourth of July beach excursion.

“Governor, the next time you want to sit on a beach that is closed to the entire world except you, you put your fat a** in a car and go to one that is open to all your constituents, not just you and yours,” the caller from Montclair said.

Montclair is a particularly liberal part of the state which voted against Christie in both his gubernatorial races. Christie clearly remembers this fact.

“You know, Mike, I love getting calls from communists in Montclair,” the governor said.

“You’re a bully. And I don’t like bullies,” the caller responded.

“Listen, I’m not the guy who came on the air, swore on the air … You’re swearing on the air, Mike. You’re a bum.”

After a brief continuation of the spat, Christie hung up and the caller and moved on.

Later in the show, another caller reminded Christie that despite the fact that 80 percent of his constituents disapprove of the job he is doing, it is still the governor’s job to represent them.

This basic and most vital aspect of public service seemed lost on Christie as he responded, “You lost twice, John … So that shows how much you matter.”

While politics may have been a looming presence during Christie’s time on the air – he is, after all, still on the job – the governor and his co-host Evan Roberts did get to talking about sports.

At one point, Christie said that steroid-era players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should be admitted into the baseball Hall of Fame, an opinion which has gained some traction in recent years but is still fairly unpopular.

“[Bonds] was a Hall of Famer no matter what and now he might not be a Hall of Famer, which I think is crazy. You have to look at the guy. You have to look at the guy without the steroids. I would vote for Barry Bonds,” Christie argued.

He also voiced the similar support towards Clemens. “I despise Roger Clemens, as a Mets fan, but, if I had a ballot, I would vote for him for the Hall of Fame. He was a Hall of Famer before any of his issues. That, in my mind, should not disqualify him.”

Christie will be back on WFAN Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. EST.

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Article by Jacob Kaye

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