Sad news out of New York today. It appears the occasionally controversial and wildly successful Mike and The Mad Dog of WFAN have likely graced the airwaves for the last time together. Via Neil Best of Newsday....
Barring a change of heart, the partnership between Mike Francesa and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo is not expected to survive to see its 19th anniversary Sept. 5, industry sources with knowledge of the situation said.The two are absolutely out of their minds but that's kind of what makes the show special. Everytime I'm driving through or near NYC I always listen to their show until I lose the signal. I just can't change the channel for some reason. It's a shame to lose them, and WFAN would most likely feel the brunt of a change in ratings, but if they're feuding it might be time to break them up.
They may have already done their final show together; their next scheduled broadcast is not until July 11.
It is not clear which host would remain on WFAN, only that it would not be both of them. One factor appears to be a fraying of their personal relationship in recent months.
Reached on vacation Saturday night, Francesa flatly said, "No comment."
Russo, meanwhile, denied knowledge of a potential breakup, and said that his contract, including a no-compete clause, runs through October of 2009.
'Mike and the Mad Dog' radio show could be history (Newsday)
It's time for the Chicago love couple of Jay Mariotti and WSCR's Mike North to come to New York as the replacement for Mike and the Mad Dog.
ReplyDeleteI'm torn as a Mets fan and a follower of New York sports in general. I think it's a sham that the largest sports talk station in NY has a Yankees fan and a SF Giants fan as its 2 main hosts, and both openly cheer against the Mets.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I still do listen to the show. If one of them stays, I really hope it is Russo. The other will probably head over to 1050 ESPN Radio.
In case we never get to hear it again: 'aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA GOOD AFTAHNOON EVERYBODY! HOW AH YOU TODAY?'
ReplyDeleteAA,
ReplyDeleteyou're in DC right? You can probably get WFAN in your car. I'm in Northeast MD and I can get WFAN more clearly than 980.
I can't see it happening. There's too much money on the table for these guys. No way WFAN will let them walk without throwing a barrel of cash at these guys.
ReplyDeleteAA --- You'll get over this. Just a couple of ill-informed, megalomaniacal, strident loudmouths breaking up. Oh, Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo.
ReplyDeleteGrow up, for God's sake.....
I'm pretty sure you can listen online.
ReplyDeleteEither way, this is heavenly news for New Yorkers. These guys are the biggest clowns, who know NOTHING of any sport outside of New York.
When I moved to NY I listened for a week and realized they knew nothing about non-NY sports teams.
Good to see them part. But IF they do keep one, please let it be Russo.
These guys are the biggest clowns, who know NOTHING of any sport outside of New York.
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ, because this separation gives Mike Francesa a chance to follow his man crush a little closer.
man, i grew up with these guys. what a treat its been to listen to these guys do their thing between 130 and 6. i remember my dad used to make fun of russo's intro when i was 7 or 8 and laughing on end. its a sad day for wfan. and for those of you who dont know about wfan, what a station it is. please look up steve somers, a comedic genius and loyal mets fan
ReplyDeleteThat's the first and last time I'll ever see or hear the words 'genius' and Mets fan' used in the same sentence.
ReplyDeleteWhile I like neither you have to understand how bad the on-air talent at the station is right now. Mark Chernoff has ruined the station's programming in so many ways it's quite stupefying. Somers can be good but a little grating, Joe Benigno belongs on the over-night circuit since he is so cranky and whining in the mid-day, Evan Roberts is a disaster who only go the job because of his parents' influence, and don't get me started on the weekend crew.
ReplyDeleteGranted they did not deserve a 5+ hour show nor their salaries but they are so important to that station I just cannot see it.
Chris is addressing the issue right now on air and says the reports are false. He keeps referring to the contract he has with that station and says he's going nowhere.
ReplyDeleteI would like to hear some fresh voices at that time slot. 19 years is a good run. Russo is unprepared most of the time and the other one is so biased that I listen to them less and less. I have the station on non -stop from Boomer in the AM through Joe B and then I will listen to a little Mike and Mad Dog before switching to 1050.
ReplyDeleteI guess this is the year of change.
Thanks for the memories, insights and flubs.
WFAN needs to move Beningo and Roberts into the drive time slot if this holds up. Those guys are the future of NY sports talk since they know what they are talking about and they aren't assholes like Francessa.
ReplyDeleteIf that's true, that is too bad. Love em or hate em, they are (and were) fun to listen to.
ReplyDeleteBetter Mike & the Mad Dog than the back benchers in Bristol.
Evan Roberts is a back bencher if there ever was one. What does he know outside the NYC metropolitan area? Benigno is a clown as well.
I like Boomer and Carton.
Are Evan's parents Steve & Cokie Roberts? Influence of parents? That is a strong possibility.
ReplyDeleteTo the first anonymous commenter:
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that Neither Mike and Mad Dog are Mets fans, it's hardly accurate to say the station is a "sham" given that the 3 other main shows on the station (Boomer and Carton, Beningo and Roberts, and Steve Somers) are comprised entirely of Mets fans, and the station airs 162 Mets games a year. I don't think calling that a sham is anything close to fair.
I for one, have always enjoyed Mike and the Mad Dog, and hope reports of their demise are, if not greatly exaggerated, at the very least preliminary.
Whoops, misread the signatures - the initial part of that message is in response to Drew, not Anonymous.
ReplyDeletenyjer please,
ReplyDeleteBenigno is a Jets fan who's Napleonic complex on everything has worn thin tremendously. Roberts is a HS graduate who is a total brat, misogynist, booger-eating, WWE-loving pig who knows nothing about sports. Evan's mother isn't Cokie but some songwriter who actually got him his first job with a Mets kid-themed show and model himself after Don Imus so you know what kind of kid he is now.
I like Boomer and Carton though but they could not possibly bring in the sponsors or guest Imus had.
Best pulled this article out of nothing... they both take a lot of time off over the summer every year and rumors like this do tend to pop up.... they're not going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, who cares if they are breaking up? If you listen to their show, they cut off everyone who calls in, they have all three newspapers and computers in front of them providing their stats, and they openly bash the mets and steadfastly defend the yankees. My biggest problem with them though is that on their program what they say goes. They rarely admit that a caller is rite and they are quick to bash willie and provoke answers when there is a controversy with someone else but now that it is their own they say no comment? Well i have a comment for them...It has been 19 years and you two millionaires cant get along? are you kidding me? you owe it to the millions that listen to you to explain whats goin on? you saw athletes are overpaid, what about you two getting two million dollars a year to talk on the dam radio for 5 hours? Give it a rest you overpaid overratted babies.
ReplyDeleteThe have become unlistenable in the last couple of years.
ReplyDeleteNext.
Look, they are like a train wreck. You'd prefer not to hear them, but you can't stop listening.
ReplyDeleteFrancesa is a Parcells groupie & a pompous ass. You have to kiss up to him just so he won't hang up on you.
Russo actually knows baseball, but that's about it.
But, be careful what you wish for, as it would be hard to replace the entertainment value of these guys.
I tried my best to get Chris to admit either way that they are splitting up...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1PQTXGd9T8
bob
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/36796-the-imperial-mike-francesa-returns-to-mike-and-the-mad-dog-friday-july-11th
ReplyDelete