Francesa's LGBT commentaries have been alarming

There once was a time I thought there was nothing worse than when Mike Francesa pretends to talk about hockey. Just the other day, I cringed when he called Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist “Mr. Lundqvist,” because it appeared he couldn’t remember the man’s first name. But alas, I’ve found something else Francesa has no business talking about — and yet he has over the last two days, in as nauseating a fashion as possible.

And it has little to do with sports.

LGBT issues.

Thank You, Mike Silva

I wanted to take a moment to thank Mike Silva, of New York Baseball Digest, for covering my story about the WFAN tryout. Some of the responses from people have been beyond classic. "Whiner," "cry-baby," "fatso," etc. Great job guys. Keep em coming.

On that note, please frequent Mike's website. There is no better sports site out there.

Click here to visit NY Baseball Digest.

No More WFAN for KC

My audition with WFAN was a disaster, no thanks to the buffoons who designed the system for doing so.

If the Mets Played Like Their Broadcasters Broadcast, They'd Be a Superior Baseball Team

Gary, Keith and Ron

FLUSHING, Queens — Futility.

Year after year, it's the same ole' story for the New York Metropolitans Baseball Club, Inc. With the exception of 1969, 1973, 1986, 1999, 2000 and 2006 — six rather exceptional seasons — the Mets have otherwise spent 43 years on the outside of the Major League Baseball playoffs, watching, through many of those years, as their local counterparts, the Evil Bronx Empire, not only made the playoffs, but won World Series Championships.

Consider this. Since 1962, the Mets' first year in existence, the Yankees have been in the post-season in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. They won World Championships in 1962, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009 — and they have a realistic chance at winning yet another in 2010.

Could there be a more stark difference in two organizations separated by 10 geographic miles?

Readers didn't get what they wanted

Hudson Line visitors spoke out about Mike and the Mad Dog—and they didn't get what they wanted. Of those polls, 43 percent wanted Chris Russo—who left WFAN for Sirius—to remain at the FAN. Only 21 percent wanted Mike Francesa to stay. Some 31 percent wanted both Mike and Chris to go—and 6 percent said they couldn't tolerate losing either Mike or Dog. Be sure to take part in our new poll in the left sidebar.

Part of my childhood ended yesterday when Dog got out

Yesterday, part of my childhood died.

On a September day in 1989, like may others who fell quickly in love with sports radio, I was tuned into WFAN to listen to the first-ever Mike & The Mad Dog program. I had usually tuned into the Fan at that time slot because I always enjoyed Mike Francesa and Chris Russo's predecessor, Pete Franklin. But even when Pete unceremoniously left WFAN, I was still going to listen after school—to Mike, who had been in an earlier timeslot with Eddie Coleman, and Mad Dog, who was a weekend favorite of everyone who listened to the station.

So yesterday morning, when I received a text message from a buddy of mine that it was official that Mike and Chris were no more, I honestly felt like part of my childhood died. From age 14 to now 33, Mike and Chris were always a part of my life—they were always part of my daily routine. I even made a habit of listening to them when I lived in Newport, R.I., though the signal wasn't as good. 

Still—from 9th grade to this very day, two people came into my living room, car, bathroom ... wherever. They were always on. 

I have been critical of Mike often. Heck, even yesterday, as people called to say their farewells to Chris, Francesa took time to demonstrate his usual arrogance, by adamantly assuring us there would be no new partner for him on the radio. But that was inconsequential.

The bottom line is that something that had been a staple of this area for a few weeks short of 19 years was gone—never to return.

It wasn't hard to see Mike and Chris were not the same pair they once were earlier this year, when it was obvious they were angry with each other. That "chat" about whether the Yankees needed a new stadium [see Youtube] demonstrated a lot of anger on both their parts. 

It wasn't hard to see they weren't the same when Neil Best wrote a story about information he knew about Chris leaving.

It wasn't hard to see they weren't the same when in the months leading up to their 19th anniversary, there was little talk about them entering their 20th season.

Yes, it was rather easy to see they were on a path to different places. And boy did it come sooner than most could have dreamed. And, as usual, CBS Radio did a horrendous job by enforcing its rule that an outgoing personality—ask Don Imus about this—doesn't get a last horrah show. Instead, Chris spent seven minutes or so on the air with Mike—from a telephone at his place {or hotel ... wherever it is he's staying] on the Jersey Shore.

Months ago, I took a shot in the dark and wrote a column on this site saying I thought the jingles would have to be changed. But I honestly thought that was because of Mike's arrogance—and I really thought he'd have been the one to go. Instead, it's Chris.

Like many fans of the show, I'll miss the show. I'll miss the malaprops Chris speaks on a regular basis. I'll miss Dog poking fun of the Yankees. I'll miss Mike and Chris screaming at each other. 

I'll miss something that was more a part of my life than almost anything else I can think of. In those 19 years, friends came and go. Relatives died. Friends moved away. Hell, I even lost my cat, Metsy, who was named after—well you get the idea.

But now comes the fun part: Watching whether Mike can handle this show alone. Ask me, the answer is no way in hell. But there's a lot of talent out there—and without writing it, it doesn't take a brilliant person to know who I'd like to see paired up with Mike come September or sometime thereafter. I can hope.

But until that time, I say thank you to Mike and Chris for together being a part of my life for nearly two decades. You set the standard by which every sports talk radio host should follow. You set the format that truly works—and that fans demand. Good luck, Chris Russo. Wherever you go, you will do well.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand WFAN will never, ever be the same without you.

Be sure to post comments about Mike and Dog's split. Have a favorite moment? A favorite Chris Malaprop?  Mine is when Chris would call "Mets Extra With Howie Rose," Mets and Howe Extra....mmmmmmmMets Extra and Howie Rose...

Intriguing day on WFAN with Chris Russo out

No doubt, you know by now Mike and the Mad Dog are no more. Today, Mike Francesa had one of the best shows in his career, fielding calls from listeners for most of the 5 1/2 hour show. The opening from Mike was very nice, too. Here it is below. If you haven't heard it yet, and if you're a fan of the show, you'll definitely want to listen to this.

Mike and the Mad Dog are done

The Mike and the Mad Dog radio program is over.

WFAN radio announced lst night that Christopher "Mad Dog" Russon has been released from his contract at the radio station, which was set to expire in April. As of now, WFAN says Mike Francesa, the other half of the Mike and the Mad Dog Show, will fly solo from 1 to 6:30 p.m.

Of course, it is m hope that Mark Chernoff sees the importance here of losing one big name—and does the right thing by bringing the best sports radio talent out there back to New York in Sid Rosenberg. (Disclosure: I am the Webmaster for Sid Rosenberg, so I do, indeed, have a bias here). We'll see what happens.

In the meantime, our good friend Bob Mantz Jr. has a briefing on this story.  Click here to read it.

Carton continues to show why he doesn't belong on WFAN

Craig Carton really has a way with his interviewees. Check out this spot with Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. About half-way through the interview, have a listen to the comment/question Carton asks Minaya about Carlos Delgado. Of course, he's got some legitimate concerns — but seriously, is it necessary to take it to this level? Have a listen and you decide.

Interesting interview with Francesa from '07

Here's a great interview of Mike Francesa from 2007. In it, he hints about his interesting relationship with Chris Russo. If you're into the Mike and the Mad Dog Saga, this is one you won't want to miss.

And here's what I'd say was the beginning of the bad blood between Mike and Dog

Here's Dog's response a few days before Mike's about Neil Best's story ...

A little late on my part ... but good nonetheless: Francesa explains situation with show, Dog

Here's the video from YES (Youtube). Excellent spot out of Mike.

Excellent call to Chris Russo from Bob Mantz

Here's a great call to Chris Russo from Jersey's own Bob Mantz. He calls out Russo on being critical of Johan Santana's under-performing season based on his contract — and then makes a great comparison to Russo's $1.3 million contract and his ratings. See for yourself.

Could Mike and the Mad Dog be divorcing?

Newsday's Neil Best reports in today's edition that the Mike and the Mad Dog radio program, on WFAN, could be history. Best suggests radio insiders say the two, who have had serious on-air friction lately, could have already done their last show together. Click here for the whole story.