As expected, the 20-year relationship between Mike Francesca and Chris (Mad Dog) Russo as hosts of the Mike and the Mad Dog show has come to an end. WFAN announced on Thursday that Russo has left the station.
Francesca is staying on board to serve as the sole host of the popular afternoon show.
Although there has been rumors about a strained relationship between the pair, Russo told the New York Daily Newsthat
this had no impact on his decision to leave. He has been linked to
Sirius/XM radio, with rumors indicating that he has been already
offered a multi-year contract that will pay him an estimated the
$2.5-3-million per year.
Although many fans find Russo annoying, the program has been a constant in the New York sports arena for so long. Will the FAN ever be the same again without arguments like the one below? What do you think of the move?
Tyler Hissey recently graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a degree in business administratio n. In addition to this blog, he covers Major League Baseball, focusing on the Tampa Bay Rays, for the up-and-coming sports network Scout.com, and his work there is frequently syndicated on Foxsports.com . To access his work, go to RaysDigest.co m.
In addition to his writing, he is a frequent guest on the Sports Cafe with Sean Duade on Sarasota FM 1220, where he serves as an MLB contributor.
Prior to working at Scout, Hissey covered the Rays and Cincinnati Reds for MVN.com, better known as the Most Valuable Network. Before his brief stint with MVN, he wrote over 30 sports articles as a lead columnist at WeTalkSports. com, a role which he filled during the summer of 2006.
A Dean's List student at Eckerd, he was also nominated for the college's Writing Excellence Award during the 2006-2007 school year.
To reach him, send an email to TylerHissey@g mail.com.