Francesa: Alright, Dog, it's time. Knicks-76ers, a playoff battle for the ages. I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little jittery. This ain't your father's Knicks, but Philly…they're a juggernaut. Russo: Are ya kiddin' me, Mike? JITTERS? This is what Knicks fans live for! Brunson's a baller, Randle's a beast, and don't get me started on Quickley. Look, the Sixers have Embiid and Harden, superstars no doubt, but this is the Garden! It's gonna be a dogfight, a freakin' war! Francesa: Whoa, whoa, slow your roll, Dog. I know the Knicks have been surprising, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Embiid is a monster, and Harden…well, Harden's gonna get his calls. Russo: Calls, schmalls! You think Thibs cares about some flops? This Knicks team has moxie, Mike! They got that New York grit, that never-say-die attitude. Embiid's gonna get frustrated, Harden's gonna start whining, and BAM, Knicks steal one on the road. Francesa: I like the ...

INT. WFAN STUDIO - DAY MIKE FRANCESA sits behind the microphone, wearing his signature headphones and glasses. Across from him sits CHRISTOPHER "MAD DOG" RUSSO, his face flushed with excitement. MIKE FRANCESA:  It's been a crazy week in Mets land, Dog. CHRISTOPHER "MAD DOG" RUSSO:  Yeah, Mikey, it's been a wild ride with the hiring of Carlos Mendoza as the new Mets manager. MIKE FRANCESA:  Mendoza, huh? I don't know about this one, Dog. I mean, he's never been a manager before. He's been a bench coach, sure, but that's not the same thing, uhkay. CHRISTOPHER "MAD DOG" RUSSO:  Oh, come on, Mikey, don't be such a Debbie Downer. Mendoza is a smart baseball man. He's been around the game for a long time, and he knows what it takes to win. MIKE FRANCESA:  I know he's been around the game, but he's never been around the New York Mets. This is a different animal...

 Here’s a transcript from the new Mike & the Mad Dog radio pwogram: Mad Dog: Mike, I'll tell you what, the New York Mets are a mess! They've got a losing record and they're struggling to score runs. I don't see them making the playoffs this year. Mike: Hold on, Mad Dog. I agree the Mets have had a rough start, but it's still early in the 2023 season. They're dealing with injuries to some key players, including Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, and they're working to get some of their new acquisitions up to speed. Mad Dog: I hear you, but their pitching staff is a far cry from what it used to be. Without deGrom, who's the ace now? Mike: Well, they've got Marcus Stroman who's been pitching well, and they just brought up top prospect Matthew Allan. Plus, their bullpen has been solid so far. Mad Dog: Okay, but what about their offense? They're still struggling to score runs, even with some of their key players back in the lineup. Mike: Yes, thei...

... or, rather, he created the simulcast that ran from 2002-2008 on the YES Network and brought the matinee idols Chris Russo and Mike Francesa into your homes every afternoon.  You could practically feel Russo's spittle as it flung across the room and onto the multiple camera lenses in the studio in Astoria, Queens.  You could also feel the dripping sarcasm coming off Mike's aura each day and the entire-body eye roll when Ira from New Jersey called in, again, to complain about the Jets. Ahh those were the days... "Best of "Mike and the Mad Dog": A testy 1990 interview with George Steinbrenner. LISTEN:  http://bit.ly/2VAef3u #ThrowbackThursday " - WFAN Sports Network, Twitter

Congratulations to Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo who will be inducted into the RADIO HALL OF FAME on November 1, 2022.  His induction plaque will be placed behind glass so as to protect visiting onlookers from the spittle that will emanate out from it, as part of the life-like display.

 DING DING DING! Mike takes on Bob Costas https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/bob-costas-critics-mike-francesa-national-broadcast.html