[Trashed]

Hey tri-state area sports fans, ever listen to WFAN's Mike and the Mad Dog show? If so do it during baseball season because that and horse racing are the only sports they know. The other broadcasters at the station are relatively good especially Steve Somers who I have talked to on occasion and his sports knowledge of ALL sports is only compared to the respectfulness he shows the people who call him and shout out any opinion. Russo and Francesca are a different animal however. As I said they know baseball and only then they just seem to take Mike Lupica's Daily News column and plagurize it. When the dynamic duo isnt doing that they bring you such earthshattering revelations as Barry Bonds cant hit as well without steriods and that the Devil Rays are a small market team. Thanx guys I was wondering about those things! Its easy to post how bad they are but if you like sports you probably like stats so here is every major sport and how much knowledge they have about them on a scale of 1-100.

BASEBALL: 81 they dont know much but at least with this one they try.
FOOTBALL: 30 everything they say on their show about football is always way off what happens on sunday. Its downright embarassing!
BASKETBALL: 55 Not too bad considering how bad the Knicks are and how poor tri-state interest is because of it.
HOCKEY: 9 They know so little of it and admit that they have no interest in the sport. (Kinda their job aint it?) It seems like Russo and Francessa are actually trying to take out the NHL at times. Oh and NYC loves the Rangers just the dopey duo doesnt.
TENNIS:78 Surprised? They love tennis! Doesnt surprise me at all...in fact Russo says he plays and picturing him in those girly shorts saying "2-Love" isnt that much of a stretch.
HORSE RACING: 70 they bet thats why. Again showing their own self interest over that of the fans who call in and tell them to change the subject.
GOLF:75 Fat Francessa and Russo play thats why. Proof of what yuppies with Brooklyn accents they are. No one watches golf on TV unless theyre bored, married or insomniacs.

Ya know whats even sadder than those scores is the fact that both of these nitwits are married and procreating. Thats all we need. The human gene pool further urinated in with young Russos and Francessas being born and growing up. Someone buy WFAN and put Howard Stern on or something...at least we can see Carmen Electra as a guest!!!

[legend]

Francesa owns horses and is pals with Parcells. Russo knows nothing about horse racing. They both follow very little hockey. Depending on the mood they are in, they can be very caustic to the callers or very patronizing.
The best guy on that staion is Joe Beningo. he does not demean the caller and he tells it like it is as a big fan of the Mets, Jets, Knicks, and Rangers. If he doesn't know something, he does not pretend that he does. He does not cowtow to owners and asks the questions a fan would. Somers is also very good, but he is a unique individual and the first one to tell you that he has a face "for Radio."

[Trashed]

Originally Posted by legend

Francesa owns horses and is pals with Parcells. Russo knows nothing about horse racing. They both follow very little hockey. Depending on the mood they are in, they can be very caustic to the callers or very patronizing.
The best guy on that staion is Joe Beningo. he does not demean the caller and he tells it like it is as a big fan of the Mets, Jets, Knicks, and Rangers. If he doesn't know something, he does not pretend that he does. He does not cowtow to owners and asks the questions a fan would. Somers is also very good, but he is a unique individual and the first one to tell you that he has a face "for Radio."

I heard Russo spouting out about that horse last year...Shorty something? Francesa owns horses eh? Well that explains a lot, he speaks his opinions like hes got his head up ones a**!! Still their knowledge of football is embarrassng despite their friendship with Tuna and yes legend they are patronizing to say the least. I also agree with you about Beningo. Hes an honest guy who wants to see the Jets in the SuperBowl (I hope they make it for his sake!) and if he doesnt know a subject at least hes sympathetic to the caller. Somers rules though! I call him sometimes and hes a gentlemans gentlemen. If he has to cut a caller off a sincere apology follows. Somers also has amazing knowledge of our 4 favorite sports Baseball, Football, Hockey and Basketball. The guy really knows when a caller calls up about the Devil's defense as to where Francesa and Russo would just offer recycled baseball opinions. Schmooze Rulez!!!

[EmpireWF]

M&MD may be a couple of jackasses, but they're entertaining. I like listening to the stories the two tell, especially Mike. He's a history buff (both sports and just general history).

Russo gets annoying a lot of the time, especially with that cackling sound he calls a laugh.

Bill Simmons over at ESPN dedicated an entire column to them this past week, he loves them, it was hilarious.

As far as them not going in depth into any other sports besides baseball, it's pretty routine to have them talk about the Yanks/Mets all 12 months of the year. Usually the Giants/Jets get airtime during football season.

The Knicks barely get any talk. The Nets even less. NHL only is talked about a few times a month. It's all about the callers, which the majority want to talk baseball so they do.

I agree though, the best hosts on WFAN are Beningo and Somers.

[Trashed]

Chris Russo once spent 45 minutes talking about seeing Bruce Springsteen at MSG the previous night. Im not exaggerating in the slightest gentlemen. While I love to hear "Born to Run" as much as the next guy I tune to FAN for a thing known as sports. This is what replaces other sports than baseball? BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN? Oh theyre entertaining alright. Its always entertaining watching guys who dont deserve their jobs screw them up!

[EmpireWF]

lol...but Trashed, you listened to them for those 45 minutes that he spent talking about Springsteen.

[Trashed]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

lol...but Trashed, you listened to them for those 45 minutes that he spent talking about Springsteen.

Actually I was driving to New Haven, CT from the Bronx to visit someone and I was flipping channels when Russo forsook the sporting world and did about a 45 minute monologue on "The Boss." Hey, I saw the Springsteen play the Meadowlands and he was awesome but dont go on and on and on about him on your sports show. Horse racing is even funnier with the dopey duo. Ive heard callers call in and ask how long theyre gonna talk about it and to change the subject but Fatso just cuts them off. And youre right about Russo's laugh. They like to brag how tough they are growing up in NYC but ive seen guys with laughs like that get their head stuck in a mailbox after a friday night's drinking. Give Gentleman Steve Somers their slot. As I said the man's knowledge of sports is simply staggering, hes got a charming charisma and hes always polite to the callers.

[Trashed]

One more thing about these 2 lowlifes and then I gotta spread my views on other more worthy subject which would be just about anything. Remember when Peyton Manning was about to break Marino's TD pass record 2 years ago? Tennis Shorts Russo said that the record "wasnt a big deal" and then went on to say "I don't even know the record for touchdown passes in a season." This is not an exagerration or lying...if im lying may I be forced to have to listen to my overweight girlfriend complain about her useless, boring job for 7 staight days without food or water while her disciplineless children run around screaming for me to spend the little money I have buying them toys. Russo didnt know Marino's record for throwing 48 TD passes in his MVP year of 1985.. Thats kind of important wouldnt you say? With this in mind all I have to say is CASE CLOSED!!!

[EmpireWF]

Not to defnd them or anything but a couple of things...

-Russo I believe is from Florida as well. At least I know that's where he began his radio career, in Jacksonville. He's a San Fran Giants fan due to his father being one (who then went to being a Yankee fan I believe). He does love to knock both the Yanks and Mets though.

-Both dudes don't love Peyton Manning so I could see where they would downplay that amazing TD season a few years ago. He's good and all but their point is for him to win the big game in the playoffs.

One of the great things about the show is the interviews. A few years ago, Russo had Isiah Thomas on and the interview basically resorted to a bit of a shouting match with Thomas trying to defend himself. Russo was against him being hired from the start (for some reason, didn't think Layden was that bad b/c "he did nothing").

The two also had Fred Wilpon on towards the end of the 2003 season. The fanbase was up in arms over the July trades and the team under Howe was playing badly. Wilpon came on and had a long interview with the two talking about everything and anything. The end of the year is when Howe was fired and Minaya was brought in.

If you listen to them too long (I could never listen to an entire day's worth of their broadcast), you'll get pissed off about something.

To change the subject a bit, Beningo is my favorite host. Before he became the mid-day guy I remember listening to him in the middle of the night just kill himself and the Knicks/Rangers/Mets/Jets over their poor play. Great radio and adding to the fact that the guy is simply a fan. He won a contest and eventually got his own show on the station.

[Trashed]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

-Both dudes don't love Peyton Manning so I could see where they would downplay that amazing TD season a few years ago. He's good and all but their point is for him to win the big game in the playoffs.

Football fans listen to FAN as well especially during the football season. All NFL fans were caught up in that record being broken. Russo certainly knows the hit, home run, stolen base records so he should kind of know something about the most TD passes in season. Not only did he not know that critical piece of football info he downplayed it saying its not important. Manning winning the big game in the playoffs? What does that have to do with Marino throwing 48 TD passes in 1985???? He didnt know Dan Marino threw 48 TD passes in 1985. There is no defending him for that. There is no way to ease off that burden in Russo. Whats next? Some caller bringing up John Elway and Chris Russo saying who's that? Jesus Christ!!!

[MJHMarc]

I always thought that sports commentators had a laptop or some kind of handbook on thier hand at all times. If you ever listened to a baseball game, they bring up some really odd facts about each player which I am sure that they didn't memorize. I have done a few broadcasts myself and I use the sports teams' media guides or sometimes my computer. You cannot go on the air without any knowledge on hand, unless you run a talk show or something of that matter.

[ThePundit]

Mike and the Dog have by far the best show on radio. Sure, some days you want to punch right thorugh the radio when Francessa shouts down his callers. And Russo is a just a sports fan who colleted baseball cards. But this is a column I wrote a year ago as to why they're so successful.

MIKE AND THE MAD DOG: UNRIVALED IN SPORTS TALK RADIO

Mike Francessa and Chris Russo are celebrating their fifteenth year of hosting The Mike and the Mad Dog Show on WFAN radio. No other sports talk show, either on WFAN or competing stations has come close to duplicating their success. What characteristics does Mike and the Mad Dog have that other shows are missing?

It’s simply structure, pace, personality, and chemistry.

When the show kicks off on weekdays at 1:04 PM, Russo and Francessa discuss whatever the hot topic is at that moment. If the Jets blew a big game the day before, that’s what they talk about. Shortly after their opening dialogue, they take calls only on that subject. If a caller tries to bring up anything else, they’re dismissed.

All other topics, perhaps a less meaningful Giant game, are put off until later in the show. At that time, the Giant game will be the only topic discussed. After that, Francessa and Russo might “go around the NFL” with a quick paced, back and forth analysis of other NFL games. This structure gives Mike and the Mad Dog a regularity and smoothness that other shows lack.

Additionally, Francessa and Russo’s dialogue delivery is well timed and orchestrated. Typically, Russo is the one who sets up Francessa. Russo often brings up a topic, gives his opinion and then concedes to Francessa who gives his opinion. A brisk, concise and interesting back and forth then ensues. On other talk shows, the hosts have no defined roles. It’s simply two people having a haphazard conversation which makes for bad radio.

Perhaps the most unnoticed thing which makes Mike and the Dog superior to other broadcasts is how long callers are kept on the line. Russo and Francessa rarely tell callers they’re being cut off. They just cut the call off, have the last word, and quickly move on to the next call. This makes for a dynamic, fast paced show and keeps Russo and Francessa in tight control. Even when it seems that a caller has had the last word by perhaps saying “thanks” and hanging up, Russo will add a customary “You get back to us” which keeps him, and not the caller, in control.

Other hosts often keep inane callers on the line indefinitely until they’ve gotten every idiotic point off their chest. This may be the polite thing to do, but it results in a lethargic show that causes listeners to tune out.

Of course, no talk show can be successful without charismatic personalities of the hosts.

Russo, who has been a radio talk show host his whole career, is a rabid sports fan who has great general knowledge of sports. Rarely does Russo give an “X’s and O’s” type breakdown of a sporting event. His analysis is typically limited to generalizations, intuition and intangibles. For example, Russo might have no other reason for picking a team to lose, other than the fact that he “doesn’t trust them in a big spot.”

But his technical analysis of sports is not what draws listeners to Russo. He has in-depth knowledge of sports history and has a mind-boggling grasp of possible playoff scenarios in various sports that is second to no one.

Perhaps Russo’s greatest asset is that he is not afraid to give a very forceful opinion, with a cadence that makes him a compelling listen. There’s nothing like Russo shouting that some athlete “has no guts!”

Russo often talks about his routine at home, how he’ll get all his errands done, and bathe his kids so he can be left alone to watch sporting events. Consequently, many listeners see Russo as an extension of themselves, just a regular guy who loves sports.

Conversely, Francessa, who worked for CBS television before hosting Mike and The Mad Dog, has a wealth of sources throughout the sports world and is more technically knowledgeable about sports than Russo. Those who prefer Francessa to Russo feel they will get a more informed and intelligent opinion from Francessa.

Those who don’t like Francessa don’t dispute his sports knowledge. What they can’t stand is his real or perceived arrogance. Unlike Russo, Francessa will rarely admit when he has made a wrong prediction, yet he constantly reminds his audience when he’s right about something. Many Francessa detractors also feel that he doesn’t hold his long time friend, Bill Parcells up to the same scrutiny to which he holds other coaches. Just the fact that he constantly refers to Parcells as “Bill” is enough to drive some listeners batty.

Russo and Francessa are akin to Laurel and Hardy and play off each other beautifully. Russo is Laurel, the silly one, and Francessa is Hardy, the more serious of the two. If Russo starts getting too outrageous, Francessa is there to reign in him. If Francessa is obnoxiously shouting down a caller because of a differing opinion, Russo acts as a peacemaker, acknowledging that the caller may have had a point. Other radio personalities just don’t have the chemistry that Russo and Francessa exhibit.

How actually influential are Francessa and Russo? Many fans watch sports happenings and wonder: “What will Mike and the Dog’s take be on this tomorrow?”

Furthermore, Francessa and Russo actually induced the Mets to acquire Mike Piazza from the Dodgers. And New England Patriot offensive coordinator Charlie Weis believes the reason he was denied a head coaching job in the NFL was due Francessa’s on-air criticism of his leadership ability. Is that true? No one really knows. But that fact that we’re even considering it as a possibility tells you something about the influence they do exert.

No matter what you feel about Russo and Francessa, whether you love them or hate them, one thing is certain. At 1:04 PM on weekdays, there are a hell of a lot of radios tuned in to them.
July 2005
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[Trashed]

There are a hell of a lot of peoples radios tuned into them. George W. Bush also won 2 elections by peoples votes...now we have our phones tapped and gas costs almost as much as the cars that hold them. I didnt write a long column why a fat fake tough guy and a cackling tennis shorts wearer are or arent the best, I only offered one fact. One very important fact. In the heat of Peyton Manning's TD pass record Mr. Cackles DIDN'T KNOW DAN MARINO THREW 48 TOUCHDOWN PASSES!!! You can say what you want like those 2 losers or not but that fact shows that they do not deserve to be sportscasters. That is the equivalent of a plumber not knowing what a wrench is. What if they didn't know Roger Maris' 61 home run record during McGwire's breaking of that record? As for their influence? Sure they have loads of it...but so does Tom Cruise by going on talk shows and making a complete a$$ of himself! Yes the public likes them but I dont think much of the public personally. The reason is the PUBLIC doesnt think in most cases!!! This is one of them. Seeing that Pundit is a mod on this site and I must I respect him, I have to conclude that I dont have much leeway to argue here. I'll be damned if im going to take any type of stand over wastes of lives like Mr. Tennis Shorts and Mr. High Cholesterol! The facts speak for themselves...Chris Russo didnt know about Dan Marino's most famous season. Light Saber Dueling with a sites moderator never is a good idea so in short i've proven my case just like when I explained to my nephew that theres no such thing as The Boogeyman when he was too afraid to sleep by opening the closet and turning the light on. You guys can trumpet the doofy duo's greatness if you choose but me? I'm gonna have to give this subject a CASE CLOSED!!!

[Trashed]

Man! This is what my life deteriorated into at age 34? Spreading the bad word about 2 moronic sportscasters? I guess thats what happens when you're at the mercy of a single mom with 3 brat kids and it's a prison that you chose willingly (the worst kind.) I'm the Al Bundy of the new millennium...funny, in high school I always wanted to be Gene Simmons of KISS.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by Trashed

You can say what you want like those 2 losers or not but that fact shows that they do not deserve to be sportscasters.)

1) As Clint Eastwood said in Unforgiven: "Deserves got nothing to do with it." They're on because their ratings are high and they bring in a ton of advertising revenue. You proved my point Trashed. You say you hate them and maybe you do. But you still listen to them and think enough of them to write about them. Otherwise, you would just turn the radio off or not even turn it on. If you hate them that much, don't listen. If enough people do that, their ratings will plummet and then maybe they'll be off the air. Try Michael Kay instead. I bet you can't do it. You'll still tune in.

2) I never said I liked them. I just analyzed why their show is better than others. I've called and gotten into it with Francessa, where he's obnoxiously shouted me down.