Russo leaving WFAN
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- August
- 14
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on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 7:34 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Now if we can only get Mike to leave too.
YEY
56bomber my thoughts too. Although I read he signed a long term deal. I sure hope his deal included gallons of diet coke for each show.
The world has suddenly become a better place in my eyes. Now if only the Yankees can win again….
No surprise. Most people have seen it coming. Russo won’t won’t be off the air for long. Too may radio outlets out there that thrive on goofs, airheads and controversy as long as it gains viewers and sells advertising.
That stinks for the wfan. Russo might of been annoying but he made that show amusing because he was so crazy. Francesca is boring and will not last by himself.
Wow Mike solo from 1-6:30, never listen to the fan between those hours again with him there by himself. Boring radio.
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good riddance, Mr. PMS
Howard Stern ready to make Russo an offer to bring him on board.
More later . . .
NOOOO! I really love the guy, he’s tons better than Mike. He better be going to 1050!
Is that the skinny annoying one, or the fat annoying one? They’re both insufferable… as is most sports talk radio.
Crazy story, I think the right wor is Hallelujah. But don’t get too excited, he probably got the show on 1050. Hopefully Mike will call it quits, he stinks alone.
I know some don’t like Francesa, but at least we don’t have to listen to that Yankee Hater again. Whenever something bad happened to the Yankees, he would be overjoy with glee. Good riddance!
Wait, so I still have to read complaints about a Bronson Arroyo fetish?
I couldn’t care less whether Russo is a Yankee hater. The guy was a moron and Francessa, the Yankee fan, is no better.
My only problem with this move is that Francessa didn’t go with him. They need new blood for that slot.
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
(La, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
(La, la, la, la, la)
La, la, la, la, la)
Now if only Francesa would leave too..
Maybe both of them can go off the air!!!
Russo a NY hater on NY radio, does not make sense to me.. Yea he may have some other affinities but dislike of all NY teams, does not make sense to me.
BYE BYE…
How do you walk Jason Varitek to load the bases? C if for Captain, not clutch.
Oh wait. Russo is going to Sirius XM radio? Ugh
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2008/08/14/2008-08-14_chris_mad_dog_russo_out_at_wfan.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy6ShZYlj68
Russo is great people! He’s just a hilarious character!
they both suck.they really are not smart baseball guys,but without the dog the show can’t last.
the giants…for those not in the know, used to be a new york team.
I guess he is going to Sirius XM radio. I stopped listening to that show a long time ago. The other Mike should go also! I’ve leaned more towards ESPN over the past few years.
Russo’s bias against certain New York teams often overshadowed any serious sports talk that should have been part of his show.
He was more shtick than a sports talk guy. His leaving for SIRIUS is a bad move for him – he’ll just fade away from everyone’s minds.
Francesca is probably popping champagne right now.
More info on story here:
http://mikeandthemadblog.blogspot.com/
Sox winning big (again). 10 GB in the division, 6.5 in the wild card. Ouch. Too bad we only lead the league in payroll and excuses.
Yay!
now make the YES Network cancel Mike and the Maddog and put some other show that actually is not biased.
Hey, all is good …. as long as NESPN doesn’t axe Steve Phillips and John Kruk and they get paired up on WFAN.
As much of most of you guys hate him, it really is an end of era. These guys were pioneers and in the early years excelled at what they did.
I used to cut class in high school to go listen to Mike and Dog in my car just to hear what they were going to say about the Yankees and the Mets.
Francesa on his own will struggle. The ratings will fall and they’ll either try to bring in another partner in 6-9 months or he’ll segue off the station.
I didn’t like the character Mad Dog became in recent years, although it was always fun to hear him proclaim the Yankees done and then watch the Yanks come back.
But in the early years of their show, no one in this country was doing a radio sports show as good as they were doing. Don’t give me Jim Rome or anyone else.
Mike and the Dog really started a lot what we here, for better or for worse.
I read that Mike just signed an extension with Wfan.
It is confirmed Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has signed a long term deal with Sirius Radio.
These two were great together although I know that they didn’t get along. My entire upbringing consisted of listening to these two guys in the afternoon. I can’t tell you how many times after a big yankee win I would turn on the radio and 1pm the next day to hear how Mad Dog would try and spin the story to upset yankee fans. As a kid, I would always ask my father, why would a anti-yankee, met, jet, ny giant fan work for a NY radio station? He is a personality and his brand has worked in the market, I for one will miss hearing his shtick on the radio and I’m glad that I have Sirius so I can still listen to him from time to time.
Thanks for the memories.
Ahahaha the nut is gone now all we need is Fat Mike the Bitter Retard to get off the air and replace the show with something decent. They can be funny yes but they are both on crack 90% of the time.
Anyone wonder if Texas is throwing the game? 3 high scoring games in a row.
Joe and Evan should take that slot. They’re so much more interesting. They’re completely unbiased, they have great personalities, and they’re so good working together. I’d listen to them any day over Mike. I’d rather have Carlin solo even, but he has Loud Mouths and everything else – the guy’s a star. Boomer and Carton are great, but I can’t see them taking an afternoon slot. They’re great in the morning.
“These guys were pioneers and in the early years…”
If it wasn’t for Art Russ Jr. on WABC back in the 80s there would be no Mike And Mad Dog. WFAN was born out of the idea that a station could do “Sports Talk” (Name of Art’s show) 24 hr/day.
Art Russ Jr was the real pioneer.
I’m guessing the theme song won’t get played tomorrow.
Joe and Evan are the worst. They are Met fans, I can’t listen to Joe’s pessimistic views…just brutal to listen too. Evan is my age and talks and acts as if he were older, he’s a kid and should realize he has the best job ever (maybe I’m just jealous).
Joe and Evan should take that slot. They’re so much more interesting.
Joe I can take, Evan I can’t stand
good….ba bye, J@ck@$$ !
S.A.—Mike or Joe and Evan?
The only gut I really enjoy listening to on WFAN is Tony Paige – he actually respects the callers and their opinions.
You guys are all nuts if you’re happy with him leaving the Fan. That show was bar none the best sports talk show on the radio in the country. You really do not know how good you have it in NY. Out here in the west coast you have COMPLETE MORONS like Jim Rome or Tom Tolbert ruling the airwaves, and the people who listen to them are even duller than the hosts. I’m sorry, even though they both get on my nerves I do understand what a good team they make and how good they were together. On their own they weren’t as good and the ratings will bear this out. But I guess I’d rather listen to either of them solo than that buffoon Kay or any other of those mongrels on ESPN in NY. Sad sad day for radio.
Dembore, I hope your fingers get axed off.
Cody August 14th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
S.A. — Mike or Joe and Evan?
Huh? What’s the question?
Have Mike and Joe together. That would be fun.
Joe would be screaming “Oh the Pain” every five minutes
“That show was bar none the best sports talk show on the radio in the country.”
And a lot of that had to do with the fact Russo and Francesca hated each other’s guts – when they went at it – it was great radio. Great radio – not great sports talk.
Russo will not need that TB Ray hat on SIRIUS.
As much as they both annoy me, this is the end of an era. It’s a little sad.
They were a must listen during the Yankees championship run in 1996.
#9,
I used to listen to Art Rust Jr. too. I liked him a lot. For those old enough to remember, John Sterling had a show too (around 1976 or 1977).
“I used to listen to Art Rust Jr. too.”
I still use his line: “The Big Ball Orchard In The Bronx.” when I refer to Yankee Stadium.
A must listen is Art’s interview with Joe DiMaggio circa 1986 – a classic!
#9
Is he still alive?
I’m disappointed. If one was going to stay, I’d have preferred Russo. He’s a nut, but at least entertaining. Mike is so pompous and will be impossible to take solo.
Sad day. I may not have agreed with their line of thinking but like other people on here have said I knew everyday at 1pm I had some NY sports talk that could keep me entertained up here in Boston. Those two put WEEI to absolute shame. Been listening to them on my iPhone since I got it and they’ll be missed. The best tonic would be to find a good young guy to team with Mike.
“Is he still alive?”
Yes Clay… but he had a stroke or something like that that left his speech poor. There was a thing on TV where they showed Steve Malzberg (WOR Talker & former WABC Sports Talk show host) visiting Art in his Manhattan apartment. I think Art remarried after his wife died – remember when he came back on the air after that happened? He was so broken hearted.
Art was a class act.
“John Sterling had a show too”
Sterling was not the laid back goofball that he is now. He was easily agitated and quick to jump on annoying callers. I can clearly remember him responding to one such caller by cutting him off and saying, “Sir, I wouldn’t give you the skin off a grape!”
Say something funny, Mike.
This is disappointing, Mike and Chris were great together…
Russo will disappear into oblivion on Sirius. They’ll go bankrupt before too long anyway. Just look at what happened to Howard Stern. He disappeared, too. And was way more popular.
I would guess that they move Evan into drive time with Mike – leaving Joe B to stew in the early morning in his Jets/Mets/Rangers angst
As a yankee fan I am bummed about this. I thought they were great together. The two of the apart were horrible. Mike is too arrogant and Chris is too loopy. They balanced each other out. Wont be listening to either now that they are gone.
There are too many quitters on the YES network.
WOW! That is great news. And, also dump Mike?? Where is Russo headed? San Francisco, I hope. I haven’t listened to these clowns in 3-4 years!
If you want good, professional Yankee radio, just listen to Max Kellerman and Brian Kenny from 10-12 on ESPN radio!
FUHGEDABOUTIT! all the Anti-Yankee tools that are all over the place. KELLERMAN AND KENNY are the answer!!!!
I’m sorry but I’m sad to see him leave. I love to turn on the show while doing chores around the house. They go on some great rants that can entertain anyone. And even though I do not always agree with them, they are entitled to their own opinions.
Personally, my favorite Russo rant was about the SF Giants in the post-season. Freakin hilarious, I thought his head was gonna explode.
I think Mike’s going solo for a while.
“If you want good, professional Yankee radio, just listen to Max Kellerman and Brian Kenny from 10-12 on ESPN radio”
Ay yi yi. Kellerman is more full of himself than Francessa. Kellerman uses stats the same way a fingerless magician juggles meat cleavers: poorly.
Last week he expounded endlessly regarding the fact that Edwar Ramirez puts K-Rod to shame.
The frequent boxing segments (along with the never-ending rap references) make the show a tough listen.
i especially appreciate the great predictions the Mad Dog has made for my teams over the years. Giants’ Super Bowls, Yankees not making the playoffs, etc.
I hope he is taking a trip around the world – the atmosphere at WFAN is now much much better!!!!!!!!
MAX KELLERMAN is by far the best show to listen to if you’re
A.) A Yankees fan.
B.) A fan of reason.
SiriusXM has signed him..
If they think people will listen to Mike solo, they are sorely mistaken. He is booooring without Chris. Chris at least you could listen to when Mike wasn’t there. I wish it were the other way around, that Mike left.
Either way, it’s a big help to Michael Kay, who I find a lot easier to listen to.
If I had one wish it would be for Carlin and Kim Jones to take over that slot. (I guess they would extend Joe and Evan a little to have it make sense.)
They have great chemistry and are very entertaining, plus they know their stuff.
I had become sort of tired of them but, I have to admit, I am a little sad about this…........I mean, Russo was really unlistenable during the baseball season because he hated the Yankees SOOOO much and was mindless when it came to some of his criticisms, but I do think they had the best show on…........they would bring in the authors for interesting books, I enjoyed the football predictions, the Mike and the Marquis trivia stuff, their “on location” shows. I have to admit, they had a lot of fun stuff, and they also had a lot of times when they went OFF on each other which was a lot of fun because you could tell it was real. Again, I’m not saying he didn’t get on my nerves, and I’ve found myself listening to them less, especially during the baseball season, but there were shows they did that no one else on the radio does and I will miss that.
I never liked Mad Dog. I am glad he is gone. I think Francessa is going to have a hard time maintaining his ratings without a partner.
They could plug Carton into Mad dog’s slot and not miss a beat.
Sportstalk radio has really become a difficult listen. Russo and Francesca were at times entertaining especially when the Yankees won and Russo was bummed.
However, it was always difficult to listen to a gentleman who fractured the language and was often wrong but never in doubt.
I realize that sports is not physics but it would really be good if the hosts tackled serious issues in sports, occasionally. Calling for the manager/coach’s job is getting very old.
Mike and the Salzberg.
this is too bad. i really like them together, i guess theres always michael Kay-Y
Mike and the Maddog are great together. They are entertaining, they are fun to listen to. Who cares if he hates the Yankees? I’m a big Yankees fan, as are all of you, but it doesn’t mean everyone has to be. This is sad news in New York and the end of a very good and very long era. It also is part of a much larger trend/force—terrestrial radio, which provided the medium for the sports talk boom in the 80s, is becoming less and less relevant in society today. It will not be a very viable medium for long.
YES has to put Kellerman on now. Somehow, they have to get that done.
too bad they didnt at least wait til the yanks were eliminated to have him leave.
HAHAHA
brian kenny is espn. kellerman by himself is too obnoxious to take, he needs brian kenny for a straightman.
mike and the salzberg is on it’s way, welcome back the jerk and SISKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO , and the flush.
francesa is difficult to listen to. he thinks he is smarter than everyone. he also thinks everyone that calls is wrong…no matter what they say. call in and say 1+1 equals 2 and he will blast you. he is boring and insufferable.
(i actually love jim rome on radio. but, i wouldn’t want a national show in that timeslot.)
sad day
i nominate pete to take over!!
I was born in 1988, and I’ve been listening to them all of my life. Going to school in Boston, one of my favorite parts of the drive home has always been when we get back in range and get decent reception. I’m gonna miss them tremendously; it’s not the same when they’re apart. And guys, what made them the best show in America was not only their interaction with each other, but the fact that they were unbiased toward local teams. You should try listening to talk radio in Boston; unless you wear blue and red around the house, you’ll turn it off for fear of getting dumber. The fact that Mike was a Giants fan made their conversations about the Yankees legendary, and you didn’t just hear standard crap. The two of them, with their differing allegiances, offered legitimate conversation on all 9 ny/nj teams, and being in Boston has made me understand how lucky I was to grow up in an area with so many teams; the daily arguing about who’s best make NY sports the best in the country, and Mike and the Mad Dog typified that.
And for those who think Mike is an arrogant jerk, you may be right, but I know that in 1995 he returned to Long Beach Catholic School on Long Island, his alma mater and where I went until I moved to Westchester in 5th grade, to play softball in a game corresponding to the schools 50th (I think 50th, maybe older) anniversary. He donated money to the school on several occasions, and as its most famous alumnus he’s been very good to it.
Also, my favorite memory of the show was when the Yankees came back to win the division (I think after the massacre in ‘06, but it may have been the year before) when Dog wore a Yankees hat on air and declared he was a Yankees fan, the result of a bet he’d made with Mike earlier that season about their playoff chances.
Art Rust, Jr. was part of my childhood baseball life. I remember being a young pre-teen and calling (201-489-WABC) and actually talking to him. He was always kind – it was a great show.
“This is Art Rust, Jr, You’re on the air…”
“Arthur George Rust, Jr…”
and yes, I too call it, at times, “The Big Ball Orchard in the Bronx.”
This was the first mainstram sports radio – and it was such a great way to enjoy sports on a new level.
Thank god no more MD
he’ll be back
But who will miss pronounce all the Yankee prospects name? and talk about the crappy Giants and slurp Lincecum. Sad day for morons everywhere their hero is gone.
yes he was a yankee hater, but most of the country is, I sure don’t want to listen to tirico and van pelt, they are a joke.
Eventhough they are entertaining radio for some fans, they are really arrogant at times.. They are soft with callers who start with first time long time (OR) great show (OR) love your show and won’t be so soft against callers who simply get to the topic.. Also the fact that if you are not agreeing to their point, they will not listen to any point (even if its 100% valid) the caller makes and cut you off the air.. The way they treated Cory Lidle tells you the kind of people they are.. When players like Arod or Jeter is on, they will kiss up and ask politically correct questions whereas they will treat players like Lidle as a nobody..even though there are some good segments and they get to interview big people (particularly during big trades and signings), they are otherwise too mundane to listen to..
Maddog is way better than Mike. yeah he hated the Yankees but listening to the dopes call up and argue with him was just hilarious. I wish it was the other way around and fatso was leaving. He gives Yankee fans a bad name. Fat know-it-alls who haven’t seen their feet in ages.
Mike and the Mad Dog show is just an indication of how desperate the area was for that format. The two guys were terrible and Russo was the worst although the portion where Mike guesses at ratings was pitiful. I’m sorry I only learned of this now I could have had a better night sleep. If only there was another story about Joe Buck taking a job in Brazil covering soccer.
Frank D.
said: August 15th, 2008 at 9:26 am
“If only there was another story about Joe Buck taking a job in Brazil covering soccer.”
Now THAT would be music to my ears!
Now that leaves the pompous, all-knowing Francesa. At least with Chris you’d get a break from Mike’s arrogant lectures.
“If only there was another story about Joe Buck taking a job in Brazil covering soccer.”
Ha!
Could that PLEASE be followed by a story of Joe Morgan moving to Nepal to “find himself… Or the Big Red Machine… Whichever comes first… Which would be the Big Red Machine, cause that was the BEST TEAM EVER… They could have beaten Jesus, Budda, Allah, Krishna and Mohammed even giving them five runs!”
goooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODBYE EVERYBODY!
i wonder how his sirius show will be, now that he’ll actually have more credible listeners/callers too? will the NY hating appeal to the whole country? or will that schtick get old quick?
This will be the end of Mike Francesa. Mr. Arrogant will bore the masses in a matter of months.
Is his deal with Sirius definite.
Also, I’m a Sirius stockholder(albeit a minor one), I don’t like the money figures that I’ve hearing. 3 million per year? Insanity. These guys at Sirius throw money around like it’s Monopoly noney.
The point about Kellerman and Kenny is that they are Pro-Yankee guys! Where else does a Yankee fan (on talk radio) hear Pro-Yankee guys! If, you are a real Yankee fan, that’s where you want to listen! You get a solid Yankee fix listening to these guys and not have to vomit listening to all (most) of the others. Of course, if you are an anti-Yankee type you would never like these guys! And most of all the media is full of anti-Yankee types! Thank goodness we have (at least) Kellerman/Kenny and John SterlinglSusy.
They were the Martin & Lewis of this generation. Mike will need to revamp the program to compete with M Kay on ESPN.
If he is to be the solo he will need someone else in the studio- guest appearences co-hosts for the show- to make it work out. Otherwise I agree with others who said it will be too boring. Mike knows his stuff and he when he speaks I listen but it can get tiresome. Russo made it lively -no question. Also, Mike will need to be more tolerant of his callers unless the caller goes way over the line.
I started a new job the day of Game 2 of the 1996 ALCS. (I left the office early from the job I was leaving to go to game 1.
)
My new job required a 90-minute drive. I attended every home playoff game that year (except for game 2, ALCS since I didn’t think it was right to call in sick on the first day on the job.)
I have distinct memories driving up the NJ Turnpike to the games, listening to Mike and the Mad Dog. And I have distinct memories of the shows following the WS win over the Braves, the “montage” and the bashing that Russo took in a good spirit.
Those were good times. Yes, Francesca is a blow-hard who has to repeat everything three times. And Russo…well…’nuff said.
But it was entertaining.
And I’ll miss some of the great liners from Mad Dog:
“I can’t disagree 110%.”
Or when he referred to then Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer as “Jose Ferrer.”
Or how he could never say “Cano” correctly.
Oh yes, it was entertaining.
Does anyone here remember listening to Michael Kay and Mike Breen amongst others in the early eighties on the Fordham radio station WFUV? The show would come on sunday nights from about 11pm to 2 or 3am if i remember correctly. It was a pretty good listen especially for fans hungry for sports talk at the time.
Tidrow:
That’a a show that runs on WFUV (Fordham University Voice) called “One on One.” It’s NY’s longest running sports talk show. It used to be on Saturday and Sunday nights, 11 PM—2 AM. Now it’s on Saturday afternoons, depending on coverage of sporting events.
Happy that I won’t have to hear that clown on WFAN or YES, now if only they would get rid of Mike Francessa also.