After 19 years on the air, the Mike and the Mad Dog show is broadcasting for the last time today, and apparently it’s going to be reincarnated as a Francesa solo act. I guess we can all look forward to the day when we’re only being talked down to by Mike Francesa instead of being beaten over the head with our sporting ignorance by Chris Russo as well. Sweet.
I gotta admit though, in the last few years I kinda warmed to the show. Sure, it catered exclusively to the 45-and-older demographic, and yeah, it would piss me off when they would spend an entire show talking about some random Pete Maravich biography right in the middle of MLB Hot Stove season or — speaking on behalf of Giants’ fans here — a day after an Eli Manning 2-INT, 1 FUM, 10-for-26 performance. But in a day where local sports stations import their hosts from Timbuktu, Mike and the Mad Dog still brought that requisite New York, know-it-all attitude to the airwaves in a way that other local hosts just can’t pull off, whether it be because they aren’t big enough a-holes (Steve Sommers) or simply don’t know sh*t about the sports they are covering to do the job with even a modicum of competence (do I have to spell it out for you, Stephen A. Smith?). So thanks for filling that niche, Mike and the Mad Dog. You’ll be missed… sort of.
And now on to some happy news: THE RICHIE SEXSON ERA IS OVER!!! No more three-pitch strike-outs with runners in scoring position (well, unless A-rod’s up)!!! And oh yeah, Melky’s going to the minors!!! I guess I got my wish… and not a moment too soon.
August 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Deaths really do come in 3s. Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac, and Mike and the Mad Dog. Oh, and thousands of Georgians.