Mike And The Mad Dog Break Up: Popular Sports Radio Duo Over At WFAN

NEW YORK — Chris Russo has left WFAN-AM, breaking up the sports talk giant's "Mike and the Mad Dog" show two weeks short of its 19th anniversary.

Mike Francesa will become the solo host of the afternoon drive program, and WFAN announced Thursday night that it had signed him to a multiyear contract. Terms were not released.

"Mike and Chris pioneered the genre more than 18 years ago and have shaped the sports talk format into what it is today," WFAN operations director Mark Chernoff said in a statement. "We wish Chris nothing but the best and look forward to all that Mike will do in a role in which he has excelled at for years."

"Mike and the Mad Dog" started broadcasting in September 1989. According to winter 2008 data from Arbitron, the show had more than 659,000 cumulative listeners over the course of a week.

Francesa has been with WFAN since 1987.

Comments

[jbgnyc]

I discovered Mike & Mad Dog on cable. I found them knowledgable and fun. and during the past horrible Bush years a wonderful break from cable news. I think Francesa's take on the Yankees spot on. I will miss them as a team, but look forward to watching Mike solo. As for those who feel either or both are blowhards and windbags, what sport talk shows aren't at some point?

[NYCforObama]

Mark Chernoff
WFAN-AM Program Director
Infinity Broadcasting
Kaufman Astoria Studios
34-12 36th Street
Astoria, NY 11106 September 24, 2001

Dear Mr. Chernoff:

Since September 12th, ADL offices in the tri-state area have been flooded with calls complaining about comments made by "Mike and the Mad Dog" show hosts Mike Francesa and Chris Russo. The complaints focus on the hosts suggesting the motive behind the World Trade Center attack is U.S. support for the State of Israel or, more importantly, suggesting a divided loyalty for American Jews between our country and Israel.

We have reached out to you asking for a response to these complaints in order to better inform our constituents about this matter. At this point, we need more than a casual explanation for the comments made by the hosts. The calls continue to come in on a daily basis describing the hosts' continual injection of Israel in connection with the World Trade Center tragedy.

We understand that WFAN is a station whose focus is the sports world. At this time we suggest it would be appropriate for Mr. Francesa and Mr. Russo to be instructed that their listeners tune in to hear an analysis of the game rather than unfounded presumptions about a horrific act of terrorism.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Abraham H. Foxman
National Director
Anti-Defamation League

cc: Lee Davis,
WFAN General Manager
Chris Carlin,
Producer, "Mike and the Mad Dog"

[Americatortures]

How did these two hateful,ego-maniacal putzes ever last so long in the same studio?? I'm sure Imus has a spot for Russo next to one of his cowboy hats on that back shelf!!

[EleanorV]

Scroll down to LISTEN : Mike & Dog farewell audio:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spmike0816,0,1366719.story
They will be missed. Sure you got mad at them, tired of them but they were always there. They were part of your life from 1-5, part of your car...the fabric on the walls, you computer..wherever. They will NEVER be replaced. They had more shtick than you can imagine and that''s what make them Fatso and Froot Loops given those names by D. Imus. I've listened for 20 years like a lot of others and cried like all the others. Its sad but I wish them well. They were the GOLD standard of sports talk radio. I'll miss Chris saying "Mikey......., When Dog picked the Bills to score 49 pts. in SB 25, football Fridays. I just lost two friends I never new.

[pottery]

I lived in New Jersey for several years and Mike and the Maad Dog was one of my favorite things about living there as a sports lover. Even when they had become terse or tense, they never failed to be informative and entertaining. And of course, I loved the Mad Dog. He and I were both probably the only S.F. Giants fans in the New York area.

I hope he's going national. I might get to call him and talk sports!

[KarateKid]

Wrong. I am also a fan of the S.F. Giants. I moved to Chicago in 1998 to work for the Tribune Co. and I was the only Giants fan at Wrigley Field, and my ticket was provided courtesy of the owners of the Cubs. You can imagine my chagrin that night. I am sure Mad Dog will surface somewhere. WFAN will never be the same.

[Americatortures]

National??? in which nation?? Paraguay???

[Heathnyy5]

I have listened to Mike and the Dog for nearly my entire life, and I'm pretty sad the duo is breaking up. They are the best sports talk show in the country, and they really sort of started the genre that is so huge now. While I do think WFAN made the right choice (Francessa is the far more knowledgeable of the two) it will be upsetting to see Chris Russo ply his trade somewhere else.

Although their simulcast exposed them to the country as a whole, they really were a special part of the NYC Metro area, and I believe we were lucky to have them. While they could be annoying (especially Russo) at times, the show was always interesting and never dull for a moment.

I look forward to Mike's new show, and hope to listen to whatever Chris will be doing as well (the rumor is that he's going to Sirius). It is too bad they couldn't work out their differences (it was rumored earlier in the year that they were headed for a breakup), but we'll see how it plays out from here. It will be very odd to no longer have Chris opening the show with his trademark greeting, but all good things come to an end sometime.

[marymansour]

Isn't Mike Francesca part of the Mike and Mike sports hours on early morning television?

[joselopez]

Did Chris get another job, or were they fed up with heach other? Have to admit I haven't listened in more than six months.

[Americatortures]

BINGO! Stale is as stale sounds!!

[frankobeans]

mike greenberg and mike golic

[Heathnyy5]

No, Mike and Mike is a different radio show, one on ESPN that was heavily influenced by Mike and the Mad Dog, and never close to as good. Mike and Mike is hosted by Mike Greenberg (a sports anchor) and Mike Golic (a retired pro football player). Neither Mike Francessa nor Chris Russo were professional athletes.

Mike and the Mad Dog was far from a perfect show and both Francessa and Russo can be arrogant and downright unlikable at times, but overall I like them both (though Francessa more) and as I said, I grew up with the show. I almost think of it as a soundtrack to parts of my life as a child, on special days when I got to go to my dad's office. I mentioned that to them when I called in once, but all I think it did was make them feel old.

[KISSman]

I always liked these two together. They may have talked WAY too much about baseball and even though they could be annoying at times (especially Russo), I think they were a great team and they will be missed.

When it comes to pure sports talk, I do enjoy listening to Mike more so I'm glad that he's the one that's staying.

[CountryBeforeParty]

At the heart of it all, New York is still a baseball town first. Not surprising that baseball is talked about the most.

[bas1311]

Ever try watching or listening to Mike and Mike in the Morning? The whole thing is repetitive. They barely talk about sports and care more for silly joking about whose team is better than they do about talking real sports. At least Mike and the Mad Dog know and talk sports(at least most of the time).

[RedwoodBark]

Couldn't agree more. They're just corporate shills, devoid of personality and too busy selling #&@% to ever even talk about sports.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

TOTALLY agree. If you watch/listen for 30 minutes you've essentially heard their entire show. It amazes me that ESPN keeps them in that prime slot. It must be profitable - I can't believe ESPN is actually paying those two for showing up and blabbering all morning.

[baldingeagle]

Good riddance. Francesa is an arrogant ass. Russo is an affable ignoramus. What always shocked me is how little effort these guys put out. They never did an pre-production work. They had no set pieces. They couldn't write a lick. They'd just show up, put on the headsets, and prattle on. For that, they made millions. I am shocked to read that they only reach 659,000 cumulative weekly. Amazing how much money you can make for reaching so few.

[CountryBeforeParty]

Meanwhile these guys are the pioneers for how sports radio is done today. What other hacks you may listen to probably uses M&MD as their guide.

Shows how little you know

[UnknownSoldier]

Jim Rome's radio show has been around almost as long as these two fools, and his show is so much more entertaining.

As far as the 659k listeners I'm shocked it is that high. Mike and Chris both have right wing leaning tendencies, which means they show their stupdity on a daily basis.

Both Chris and Mike both bashed OJ relentlessly about killing his wife. Mike had some very mean things to say about his wife when they were going thru their divorce, and Chris although still married has openly "joked" about killing his wife.

Did I mention they were stupid

[lmab]

Yeah...and GWB has paved the way for McCain ......So What? Bush even got elected president once.

[Americatortures]

Old News!!

[katandmoon]

This is news?! I've never heard of either of these people.

[derekc06]

whoa wait a second.... KATANDMOON has NOT heard of this... WHY IS THIS ON HUFFPOST PEOPLE?

clearly it isn't worthy to print if KATANDMOON hasn't heard of it...

i, personally, only read articles regarding subjects previously known to KATANDMOON... i dunno about the rest of you simpletons....

[robotfog]

we are all simpletons in the eyes of god. Except those who don't believe in god. they are merely simpletons in the eyes of their spouses.

[lisakaz2]

If you ever lived in around NYC you probably know who these guys are. And if you have even a passing interest in baseball anywhere in the country, you probably know also.

[Americatortures]

What's next....a thread devoted to my waiter at the Boca Diner getting a splinter???

[UnknownSoldier]

Both of these men were are dreadful individuals. When I was younger and stupid I thought these guys really knew sports and had something to add. Then I got older and wiser and realized that they both were blowhards, and that NY athletes really didn't like them much them. Funny how Jim Rome and Dan Patrick were able to get athletes to call in voluntarily and have a relaxing conversation about sports on the radio. Mike and the Mad Dog had to PAY athletes to talk with them.

The joke is fans call in and complain about the athlete's salaries, yet these two yo-yo's make millions off the same fans, and they have no talent whatSOever

[lisakaz2]

Funny that Imus sorta brought 'em together and named the show and when Imus gone they split up. Guess it was bound to happen.

[CountryBeforeParty]

You would be 100% wrong. Imus went to that station many years after they formed as a team.

[99hockeyman]

Wrong again. Imus was there when the station moved over from 1050 on the dial. They bought the WNBC frequency. Imus(Billy Sol Hargus) was the first thing that was on the air after the move. That was in 1987-88. Mike and Chris did not start until much later. Do some research.

[lisakaz2]

As hockeyman says, you're wrong. I don't have to do research. I LIVED in the area and listened to Imus. Russo was a guest sports guy on the show. He gave Chris the name "mad dog." Imus also liked calling the duo "Fatso and Fruit Loops."

[Americatortures]

As you sound like a family member of one on these gavoones,are you???

[Damnstraight]

While both of these guys can often be clueless and annoying together they make a pretty entertaining pair even when they are spouting total nonsense. Listening to mike by himself is like taking ambien.

[Eric8869]

Who cares? Sports takes up too much time from our national dialogue anyway. Why in a half hour news broadcast is 10 minutes devoted to sports. Millionaires playing a game. It's stupid.

[dicktracyson]

YOU ARE AN IDIOT!

[Eric8869]

says the dude with the caps lock on

[glesslib]

Sports is what people talk about so that they can communicate with another human being without really having any personal interaction. Every woman knows that.

[pizzmoe]

Glesslib, I love sports but you are absolutely right

[Eric8869]

Right - talk about sports. Do a fist pump with each other. God forbid male friends should be intimate with each other and actually talk about their problems.

[charlietuna11]

although im a yankee fan i much preferred mad dog. i find mike arrogant and rude . he consistantly talks down to people he disagrees with.my only criticism of dog is he to often agrees with mike. the show will have at the very least, one less listener..

[Angelus2007]

I agree, I loved the Mad Dog. If I had to hear Mike name drop Bill Parcells one more time and talk about how great Parcells is, I would go nuts. Too bad we won't be hearing..."Hey Mikey" any more.