Mike and the Mad Dog

Johnny Vander Meer remains the only pitcher in MLB history to throw two straight no-hitters in consecutive starts. As John Means attempts to tie that feat in Queens on Tuesday, we resurface an old interview with Mike, Chris, and Vander Meer from 1996. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Then-Mets general manager Omar Minaya appeared on "Mike and the Mad Dog" on Jan. 25, 2006, just as the back pages were accusing him of showing preference toward signing Latino players. “I understand when you’re the first Hispanic general manager, there are going to be people that are going to look at everything that you do and try to analyze it or try to say, ‘He’s doing this because of that,'” Minaya said. “The fact is growing up in New York City, I never think about race. “The New York Mets, what we’re trying to do as an organization is put the best team on the field.”

Boomer Esiason and Dan Reeves were among the parade of big-name guests to wish the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show a happy 10th anniversary in November 1999. At the time, Reeves was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who were struggling a year after reaching their first Super Bowl, and Esiason was the color commentator for “Monday Night Football.”

 Derek Jeter’s best season came in 2006, when he batted .343 with 14 homers, 97 RBIs and 118 runs. But he only finished second in American League MVP voting, being edge out by Minnesota’s Justin Morneau. Mike and the Mad Dog thought Jeter should have won, and on Nov. 21, 2006, the day the results were announced, they wanted answers. What was even more perplexing for Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is how one voter put Jeter sixth on his ballot. Mike and the Mad Dog tracked down that writer, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, and put him on the spot. “To me, you take Jeter out, are the Yankees as good a team? No. Are they a playoff team? Probably still a playoff team when you look at that lineup,” Cowley said. “So I mean, I base it a lot on that, and I talk to people. You grab some guys from around the American League and tell them: ‘Which guy do you think is the MVP? Which guy do you fear the most in that lineup?’ And I heard more people say they fear A-Rod and Cano more than they fear Jeter.” “They’re not watching Yankee games,” Russo fired back. Earlier in the show, the guys talked to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger about why he voted Morneau first and Jeter second. “Everybody has their own definition of MVP,” Price said. “That’s kind of the beauty of it is that it’s open to interpretation.”

In this "Mike and the Mad Dog" clip, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo tries to call a horse race. There are only a couple of problems: Chris doesn’t have binoculars, and he’s not sure where the finish line is.

On June 11, 2007, Yankees great Bill “Moose” Skowron appeared as a guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog." He reflected on his career, including playing for the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers team that beat the Yankees in the World Series -- it wasn't the cherished memory you might expect. The six-time All-Star also told tales of his time as a Yankee.

On Jan. 25, 2006, then-Mets manager Willie Randolph appeared on "Mike and the Mad Dog" to discuss the previous season and the one that was on the horizon. Randolph talked about Aaron Heilman, Kazuo Matsui, Xavier Nady, showdowns with the Phillies and more. The Mets, of course, went on to win the NL East in 2006 and came within one game of reaching the World Series.

The day after “The Great One” ended his legendary playing career with an emotional Madison Square Garden goodbye, Wayne Gretzky was a guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog." In the April 19, 1999, interview, Gretzky, who spent the final three seasons of his 21-year career with the Blueshirts said: “I’m going to miss all of it. Going to the rink for practice. I’m going to miss the games. I’m going to miss the fans. I’m going to miss sitting around on the road talking to the writers about hockey. … But most of all, I’m going to miss my teammates.”

Eli Manning is calling it a career. In this installment of the "Best of Mike and the Mad Dog," we share an interview with Manning from Aug. 5, 2008. It was from when the guys stopped by Giants training camp. Of course, Big Blue's stunning upset of the previously unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII sixth months earlier was still a hot topic of discussion. 

In this “Mike and the Mad Dog” clip from Aug. 5, 2008, Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, interview then-Giants coach Tom Coughlin during his first training camp after winning Super Bowl XLII. As it turned out, this was the last show Mike and Chris did together before their split was announced.

As the 2006 NBA season was tipping off, then-Commissioner David Stern appeared as a guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog." In the interview, Stern, who died last week after suffering a brain hemorrhage, discussed the league's push to improve player behavior both on and off the court, the game's young superstars at the time, the Nets moving to Brooklyn and more. 

On June 3, 2003, the Yankees held a news conference announcing that Derek Jeter was being named team captain. Neither Mike Francesa nor Chris “Mad Dog” Russo believed it was that big of a deal. “I guess it’s noteworthy because it’s the Yankee captain, but … to me, he’s been the captain since he got here,” Francesa said. “The Yankees gotta take a chill pill,” Mad Dog said. “Nobody cares. “It doesn’t mean anything who’s the silly captain on the Yankees,” he continued. “It means nothing whatsoever.” The Yankees then called in to dispute the assertion that they were calling it a “major” news conference, and Russo started to back down from his criticism of the team. Later in the show, Russo flipped his lid after seeing all the pomp and circumstance on TV.

There's nothing better than a passionate caller. In this classic segment from "Mike and the Mad Dog" from 2002, a caller, Jerome, gets all worked up about the Yankees' Jason Giambi, who was slumping at the time.

In this “Mike and the Mad Dog” clip from March 23, 2005, Mike Francesa discusses some of his memories of Mickey Mantle, which leads to a discussion about Whitey Ford as well.

As John Minko and two of his buddies turned 50 years old, they went on a Yankees road trip to relive their youth. Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo were bewildered by some of the details.

Tim McCarver joined "Mike and the Mad Dog" before Game 4 of the 2006 World Series between the Cardinals and Tigers, reminiscing about the classic 1968 World Series between those same teams. He also discussed playing against the Yankees in the 1964 World Series, including the awe he felt catching when Mickey Mantle was at the plate. And he talked about the 2006 World Series and the Kenny Rogers pine tar controversy.

After pitcher Chien-Ming Wang sprained his right foot running the bases on June 15, 2008, in the Yankees’ 13-0 win over the then-National League Houston Astros, Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner called for the NL to “join the 21st century” and have designated hitters. Chris “Mad Dog” Russo wanted no part of that, which led to this discussion on the “Mike and the Mad Dog” show on June 18.

Before WFAN was housed in Manhattan's Hudson Square, it called Astoria, Queens, home. There were good memories there, and there were not-so-good memories. This classic "Mike and the Mad Dog" clip from Oct. 25, 2006, was recorded on a day when the newsroom was flooded, which was just one of the problems.

Joe Girardi's name has been coming up a lot as some MLB teams look for a new manager, including the Mets. Here is an interview Girardi did with "Mike and the Mad Dog" in October 2006, a year before he was hired to manage the Yankees and shortly after he was fired as the Marlins’ skipper (despite being the 2006 Manager of the Year). He was part of the TV broadcast team for the 2006 World Series and discussed the series with Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, including his take on Tony LaRussa not getting Kenny Rogers ejected for pine tar, as well as his future managerial prospects.

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is a vocal, lifelong San Francisco Giants fan. So imagine his pain in 2003 when the Giants, still looking for their first world title since leaving New York in 1957, were eliminated from the postseason for the second time by the Marlins, a team that had only been in existence for 10 years at the time. In this classic clip from Oct. 6, 2003, Russo rants to Mike Francesa about the Marlins’ NLDS win over San Francisco. “Why waste my time?” Mad Dog says. “Every single freakin’ year I get myself juiced up for this stupid team, and at 43 years of age and three kids, enough already! Let them go hurt somebody else!” Of course, the Giants have won three world championships since 2010, so all is well with Dog now on that front.

In another reunion, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was a guest on Mike Francesa’s show from Radio Row before Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012 between the Giants and Patriots. Listen as Mike and the Mad Dog catch up, talk about a wide-ranging topic of sports and laugh … A LOT!

In this clip from November 1999, Mike and Chris discuss which athletes were the best in their sports in the 20th century. They also took input from callers.

On June 3, 2003, the Islanders surprisingly fired coach Peter Laviolette after two playoff seasons. General manager Mike Milbury appeared as a phone guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog" to explain his decision. The interview became rather confrontational when Chris “Mad Dog” Russo asked Milbury: “How are you the GM? Let’s be fair. Say it the way it is: You have not done a good job here.”

In 2007, WFAN’s John Minko was rejected for a press pass to see his alma mater, Butler, play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo. Mike and the Mad Dog were flabbergasted. “If they don’t get Minko a pass, they are dead as far as I’m concerned,” said Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. Listen to this classic clips as the guys try to get the Mink Man into the game.

In 2007, WFAN’s John Minko was rejected for a press pass to see his alma mater, Butler, play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo. Mike and the Mad Dog were flabbergasted. “If they don’t get Minko a pass, they are dead as far as I’m concerned,” said Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. Listen to this classic clips as the guys try to get the Mink Man into the game.

In 2007, WFAN’s John Minko was rejected for a press pass to see his alma mater, Butler, play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo. Mike and the Mad Dog were flabbergasted. “If they don’t get Minko a pass, they are dead as far as I’m concerned,” said Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. Listen to this classic clips as the guys try to get the Mink Man into the game.

On Oct. 13, 2005, with the Yankees fresh off an ALDS defeat at the hands of the Angels, reporters were gathered in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse waiting to interview players clearing out their lockers. It was slow going throughout the day, and there was no food on hand for the media. “You would make so many friends if you sent a couple of pizzas over to the Yankee clubhouse,” WFAN reporter Sweeny Murti told Mike and the Mad Dog. And Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo did just that, sending over eight pies and sodas.

On Oct. 13, 2005, with the Yankees fresh off an ALDS defeat at the hands of the Angels, reporters were gathered in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse waiting to interview players clearing out their lockers. It was slow going throughout the day, and there was no food on hand for the media. “You would make so many friends if you sent a couple of pizzas over to the Yankee clubhouse,” WFAN reporter Sweeny Murti told Mike and the Mad Dog. And Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo did just that, sending over eight pies and sodas.

Yankees great Bobby Murcer was a guest on "Mike and the Mad Dog" on June 16, 2003. The player-turned-broadcaster talked about how his former team was doing at the time. The Bronx Bombers had a strong team in 2003, but days earlier they were the victims of a no-hitter by six different Astros pitchers. “When Joe (Torre) speaks, that team certainly listens,” Murcer said. “There’s no doubt about that. But I think truly all of the ballclub was embarrassed. That’s the first time ever that anybody, any team has even been no-hit with six different pitchers. I think they were embarrassed.” To listen to the interview, click on the audio player above.

On Oct. 16, 2009, a little more than a year after Mike and the Mad Dog's 19-year on-air run ended, Chris Russo appeared as a guest on Mike Francesa’s WFAN show, which was on location from the ALCS at Yankee Stadium.

In Game 2 of the 2006 World Series, Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers was caught on camera with a foreign substance on his pitching hand. The next day, Oct. 23, Mike and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo discussed the potential ramifications, including how Major League Baseball should deal with similar situations.

In this "Mike and the Mad Dog" clip from April 1, 2005, Anthony in Queens asks Mike Francesa and Chris Russo about their earliest baseball memories and which sport they prefer, baseball or football?

In this “Mike and the Mad Dog” clip from Oct. 24, 2006, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo turns movie critic after seeing the film “Flags of Our Fathers.”

The hot topic of conversation on the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show on Oct. 20, 2006, was the Mets’ heartbreaking loss the night before to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. The Cardinals took the seven-game series and went on to win the World Series. Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo opened their show by breaking down Game 7. Then-Mets general manager Omar Minaya called in to discuss the tough loss. Of course, Mets fans were devastated, none more than “Mr. Met,” WFAN sports anchor Bob Heussler, whom Mike and Chris treated with much compassion. Or maybe they weren’t really that compassionate and tried to needle him about the loss. You decide.

Broadcasting live from Yankee Stadium before the 2008 All-Star Game, Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo stayed later than their show was scheduled to end to speak with then-Commissioner Bud Selig. As it turned out, it was the second-to-last show Mike and Chris did together before their show ended. To listen to the segment from July 15, 2008, click on the audio player below.

Last week, we posted Mike and the Mad Dog’s review of Chris Carlin’s wedding. They weren’t as kind when they discussed the wedding plans of another of their onetime producers, Marc Malusis. They weren’t crazy about the hourslong gap between the ceremony and reception, and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo wasn’t a fan of Malusis’ honeymoon plans, either.

In this classic "Mike and the Mad Dog" clip, the guys discuss attending Chris Carlin's wedding. Carlin was the show's producer at the time.

Alex Rodriguez made a surprise appearance on the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show on March 5, 2002, from Legends Field in Tampa, Florida. A-Rod was still a Texas Ranger at the time, and he talked about how he almost became a New York Met, as well as other baseball-related matters.

Back in 2005, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo brought his kids to the WFAN studios, and when he wasn't paying attention, they managed to disrupt a live Brooklyn Nets game broadcast. Listen and Russo and Mike Francesa discuss the incident in this March 25, 2005, episode of "Mike and the Mad Dog."

On March 30, 2016, Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo got together for a big reunion show at Radio City Music Hall. Here's the opening segment. 

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo saw Billy Joel in concert, which led to a discussion about his music, which of his songs are Mike's and the Chris' favorites and ticket pricing in this Jan. 27, 2006, clip.

Mike and the Mad Dog interview Yankees great Don Mattingly on June 9, 2008.

Mike and the Mad Dog interview Yankees great Don Mattingly on June 9, 2008.

On June 2, 2008, former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent stopped by the Mike and the Mad Dog show to promote his book “We Would Have Played for Nothing.” Of course, steroids in baseball was a hot topic then. Vincent said he believed baseball’s union heads were partly to blame for the problem because they fought against a ban on performance-enhancing drugs. But Vincent said he, too, was somewhat at fault. “I wish we’d known more when steroids came along,” he said. “I thought it was a football problem. “We were wrong. We didn’t realize that there are thousands of different compounds called steroids. It’s not like cocaine. There’s just so many different drugs pitchers can take and hitters.” Chris “Mad Dog” Russo asked Vincent how he came to choose the 11 baseball stars from the 1950s and ’60s to interview for his book. Vincent also spoke about interviewing Larry Doby, the American League’s first black player, and Ralph Houk, a war hero, player and longtime manager. Vincent also talked about his time working for future President George Bush in the Texas oil fields and how he wishes he could have remained commissioner for more than three years.

After Chris “Mad Dog” Russo got married, Mike Francesa, John Minko and others offered a critique of the wedding. The food didn’t draw rave reviews. “I tell you, Dog, if a pizza man had stumbled in there, he’d never have to work again,” Francesa joked.

Mike and the Mad Dog chat with the Jets head coach in this Jan. 15, 2003, clip.

Mike and the Mad Dog chat with the Jets head coach in this Jan. 15, 2003, clip.

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was rather jubilant a day after the Yankees were eliminated by the Angels in the 2005 American League Division Series. Mike Francesa was not.  This classic clip from Mike & the Mad Dog includes a “missive from General George.”

Then-Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens appeared on Mike and the Mad Dog’s show on June 16, 2003, just days after winning his 300th career game. “I had some emotions out there on the mound, and I think just the fact that it had come and we had gotten it there at home and just huge the ovations and everything, it was just tremendous,” Clemens said.

Before there was a new Yankee Stadium, there was this classic argument between Mike and the Mad Dog about whether there should be a new Yankee Stadium. Chris “Mad Dog” Russo believed a new venue wasn’t needed because the Yankees were still packing the house and making money hand over fist. Mike Francesa, a longtime Yankees fan, disagreed. “I personally felt that they need a new stadium because I think it is cramped, I think underneath it is cramped, they don’t have any of the modern amenities that Camden Yards has, they don’t have any of the modern amenities that any of these wonderful new ballparks have that I think are very fan friendly,” Francesa said. At one point, the argument became a debate about how long it takes to use the restroom at Yankee Stadium.

In this clip from Jan. 15, 2003, Mike and the Mad Dog talk about then-board op Marc “Moose” Malusis’ long-distance relationship and the show’s upcoming road trip to Super Bowl XXXVII (that was the one when the Buccaneers blew out the Raiders).