Future of 'Mike and the Mad Dog' still in limbo
Here is the latest on the proposed merger of XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, which if it goes through would provide a broad array of sports programming choices for subscribers - likely at a premium if you want all that both services have to offer.
Will one of Sirius' offerings be Chris Russo, currently of WFAN?
That continues to be the most likely landing place for Russo if the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show breaks up this summer. (Sirius people haven't returned my calls or e-mails for a month now. Hmm.)
And Russo continues to be the more likely of the two co-hosts to depart.
Memo to everyone in cyberspace who has doubted my original story of June 22 on this subject: If I was 77 percent sure then that the show would be over soon, I am 88 percent sure now.
Stay tuned . . .
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Comments (18)
Great news Best. I have said it many times complimenting my partner. "I will never work with a partner again." He didn't seem to take is a compliment but whatever. -handwave-
Hey Neil if Mike is the one upset and angry why is Chris the one reported to be leaving? Based on Russo's original comments about this story wouldn't him leaving make him into a huge phony?
If I were you I would temper your raise of % points because if you turn out to be wrong about all this you're just digging a deeper, more embarrassing, albeit humorous (for the reader at least) hole for yourself.
Love the blog and glad you decided to keep up with it. Tradition and rules are only for those who are afraid of the competition of change
here is my problem, this continues to simply read like the Mike to MSG post that you wrote as more speculation. How did the Mike to MSG post work out? Are there sources inside WFAN? Sources at SIRUS? Nope, they've haven't returned your calls. It just feels like you are feeding the story but with nothing that seems substantial. You think that Mike and Chris are not going to stay together and one of them is going to go to Sirus, well that's not really going out on the limb is it? How about getting a quote from Mike or Chris or someone within WFAN?
The MSG thing was informed speculation.
The story that Mike and Chris probably are breaking up and Chris probably is going to Sirius is based on actual reporting from actual sources.
I guess we'll see.
Back to my Fred Wilpon story.
Neil, is there any truth to the rumor that Sterling and Waldman will be given their walking papers by WCBS/NY Yankees at the end of the year and that one of the current YES guys will come over into the radio booth to be paired with a newcomer? Sterling will stay with YES for various Yankee related narration work and Waldman will either be eased out entirely are also added to YES for some other type of work.
Well, Russo knows Steve Cohen(VP of Sports) from when Cohen worked at WFAN. Also, Ackerman, Recco, and Malusis all do updates there and Steve Torre is a host.
So it adds up.
Bob Mantz
Is it True: don't know! interesting . . .
I believe Suzyn is in the second year of a 5 year contract. I'm not sure about John, but they are both great and great together. I can't listen to anyone on YES, so if they put any of them on radio, I won't listen.
Neil,
If Russo goes to satellite, what am I going to do? His essential stupidity, latent racism, and child-like nature makes him
a natural for the FAN.
Thanks for your complicity in all the hate-filled speech!
Sincerely,
Mr Chernoff
Is the 88% level of confidence some type of hint? August 8?
Neil. Given "That continues to be the most likely landing place for Russo if the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show breaks up this summer. (Sirius people haven't returned my calls or e-mails for a month now. Hmm.)"
this implies the other guy (mike) is the instigator of breaking them up (which means Chris will need somewhere to 'land' if he opts not to stay solo at WFAN).. did u mean to imply that, or did u mean Chris might go to Sirius which would cause the breakup of the show as we know it??
and if chris leaves, do u think mike would agree to host solo @ WFAN (with obviously a major pay bump)? he's often said he'd never work with another partner.
If Mike and Dog break up, just have Carlin do all 24 hours on WFAN. Then he could afford sunblock at Yankee stadium for his noggin.
Dave: Not sure there is an "instigator." I think both guys have good opportunities elsewhere, and maybe they think it's been a long run but enough is enough.
I am 99% certain that you will blog about this again in the next few weeks.
Well, if this is what happens, it will be a big mistake on Russo's part..why? Because the man knows very little about sports..he shouts and yells to mask his ignorance on som many fronts.
Nobody will listen...the man has no credibility or expertise in any sport. Period.
neil, you've been called out on mf.com who says that their sources at wfan believe that you have been played and used for contract purposes. do you have a timeline of when we will know this information? can you get any kind of quotes from inside wfan?
Neil, again I ask you, won't CBS radio throw an insane amount of money at them to keep them around. AND LET US NOT FORGET, RUSSO HAS A CONTRACT. WHY LET HIM OUT?
Because he can announce a deal with Sirius effective in Oct. of '09, then have WFAN conclude they don't want a lame duck and they will let him out of his contract.