Early Career and the Birth of Mike & The Mad Dog
Mike Francesa, born on March 20, 1954, emerged as a prominent figure in American sports radio, best known for his impactful program, Mike and the Mad Dog. This legendary show, launched in 1989 alongside Chris Russo, transformed the sports-talk landscape on WFAN in New York City. Over the years, their dynamic rapport attracted a vast listener base, firmly establishing it as one of the most successful sports-talk radio programs in American history. For me, the show was never the same after Russo left and it became sort of a lazy edition of what it once was. Francesa would get on his soap box, complain, be rude to callers and be mostly angry but it lasted many years.
The Mike Francesa Retirement and Subsequent Returns
In 2017, Francesa made the decision to retire from his show, Mike’s On: Francesa on the Fan, which had taken over the afternoon-drive slot formerly occupied by his renowned collaboration with Russo. Despite this retirement, his connection with the audience led to a series of comebacks; on April 27, 2018, he reclaimed a shorter afternoon show slot at WFAN, later transitioning to a half-hour evening segment starting January 2020. His involvement with the network persisted, adapting to the evolving media landscape. Francesa’s following has mostly disappeared like most of the early WFAN hosts, but he still is around. What followed Mike’s show since he left has been pretty bad including today’s afternoon show, Evan and Tiki. Tiki is decent but Evan is like listening to a childish Hyena who laughs at everything and is unlistenable.
The Current Chapter: Podcasting and a Much Smaller Influence
As of 2020, Francesa has shifted focus to podcasting, launching the Mike Francesa Podcast with the Betrivers Network. This move has allowed him to maintain his presence within the sports community while dedicating valuable time to his family. The legacy of Mike Francesa continues to evolve, yet his foundational impact on sports radio echoes throughout the industry, influencing both aspiring hosts and devoted fans alike. But don’t get it twisted, Francesa is mostly forgotten and is only visible if you happen to bump into his podcast while surfing through Youtube. Francesa’s days of being on the back pages of New York papers for his commentary are long over.