Categories: News

Mike Francesa and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo Hold Reunion At Radio City Music Hall

In an event 7 1/2 years in the making, iconic radio duo Mike Francesa and Chris Russo held a Mike and The Mad Dog reunion show at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Wednesday.

Mike Francesa and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo Hold Reunion

The reunion was held to benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and raised $1.1 million in total.

“I think we could read the phone book and half these fans would get a kick out of it,” Russo said before taking the stage at Radio City Music Hall. “We have a ready-made audience. I mean, I’m not doing this in front of Queen Elizabeth. From that standpoint, I think we’ll be OK.”

The partners for 19 years on WFAN Radio received strong applause from the moment they took the stage for the three-hour special. Russo opened with his classic, “Good afternoon, everybody!”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Francesa and Russo spoke with former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and former Yankees manager Joe Torre, along with former managers Mark Messier, John Starks, Bobby Valentine and Jeff Van Gundy. The shtick remained the same as they shared their extreme opinions. Russo also yelled at free-agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was in the audience, to re-sign with the New York Jets.

Francesa also talked about how the industry in which he and Russo worked has garnered much more respect over the years.

“When we started, sports talk show was at the bottom. No one respected the job,” Francesa said. “Now kids go to school to become a sports talk show host. Now being a sports talk show host is a really good job.”

“Sports talk creates a bond. … I didn’t realize how many 35-, 40-year-olds are so into this,” Russo then added. “Twenty years ago, they were 10, but they listened to it with their fathers. So they have a bond with their father while listening to Mike and me.”

Caption: NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 9: Chris Russo (L) and Mike Francesa attend Joe Torre’s Safe at Home 5th Annual Gala on November 9, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

Paul George Exits With Knee Injury As 76ers Fall To 2-12 In Loss To Grizzlies

With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback…

9 hours ago

VIDEO: Nike Pays Tribute to Rafael Nadal With 30-Foot Projection In Front of Eiffel Tower

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tny--EWynOQ Nike paid tribute to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a 10-meter-tall animated display…

1 day ago

VIDEO: Rafael Nadal Gets Emotional Tribute as He Retires From Tennis

https://youtu.be/dtJoJz9hC48 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid a heartfelt goodbye to his devoted Spanish fans as he brought…

1 day ago

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Fencer Eli Dershwitz Explains The Art Of Fencing

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DQ9Rxhnuer4 U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing…

2 days ago

Two Bears Offensive Linemen Return To Practice, Caleb Williams Desperate For Blocking

Two offensive linemen for the Chicago Bears returned to practice, a massive step in the…

3 days ago

VIDEO: UFC Heavyweight Champion Performs Viral Trump Dance In New York

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s2g9t_33Myw President-elect Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Jon…

4 days ago