It
just goes to show you can get nostalgic for anything, including the most
meatheaded sports radio call-in show of all time. Of course, some of the
sentimental feelings New Yorkers hold for WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog show probably stem from the fact the show
coincided with some great New York sports seasons, including the Ranger’s 1994
Stanley Cup and the Yankees’ World Series victories of 1996, 1998, 1999, and
2000. Longtime listeners can revisit their bombast and ill-informed commentary
when Daniel H. Forer’s Mike and the Mad
Dog airs on ESPN as part of the 30
for 30 series, following its world premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.
Even
though they became the voice of New York City sports fandom, both Mike Francesa
and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo originally hailed from Long Island. Those living outside
of New York might know Russo from his Letterman appearances. They were unlikely
radio stars, but they were the first to really speak for the knucklehead fan in
the street. What started as WFAN’s last ditch effort to save its failing all
sports talk format, became widely imitated, most likely including “Bulldog”
Briscoe on the Frasier TV show.
Forer
chronicles their rise to prominence and their inevitable falling out. He also
tries to parse the truth of their controversial broadcasts in the days immediately
following the September 11th terrorist attacks, in which the
co-hosts allegedly questioned Jewish Americans’ dual loyalties to Israel and
America, but Forer was unable to find the conveniently missing tapes (many have
tried before him).
Pop
culture nostalgia is bizarrely enticing. When they were a team, Mike and the
Mad Dog were part of the City’s white noise, but it just doesn’t seem right
that they aren’t together anymore. Even if you weren’t a fan, Forer’s concise history
of sports talk radio is totally fascinating. You really get a texture of the
show from the participating talking heads, including former co-workers like Yankees
commentator Suzyn Waldman and sports figures, such as NBA Commish David Stern and
the slightly controversial Alex Rodriguez.
