Mike and the Mad Dog

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).

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani was a guest on Mike and the Mad Dog’s show on June 16, 2003 during an on-location broadcast from Yogi Berra’s annual charity golf tournament in Montclair, New Jersey.

Francesa asked Giuliani about becoming known as “America’s Mayor” following 9/11.

“At the time, I didn’t realize that,” Giuliani said. “As it was going on, you were so busy. There was no way to know who you were actually talking to. And now when I talk to people who watched it on television, which makes up most of America, there are a lot of experiences that I didn’t have. They were sitting there watching it happen, and I was sort of in the middle of it.”
Giuliani talked in further detail about the morning of Sept. 11.

Radio icon Don Imus called into Mike and the Mad Dog’s 10th anniversary show on Nov. 18, 1999.

“It wasn’t my idea to put you two together. I forget whose idea it was, but whoever’s idea it was … it was a great idea,” said Imus, who worked with Mike and the Mad Dog at WFAN. “I hate to say this, it’s head and shoulders the best sports talk show, maybe even the best talk show in the country.”

In a lengthy interview with Mike and the Mad Dog on June 25, 1990, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner began by revealing he was scrapping his usual blueprint and instead playing and developing young players.

The Bronx Bombers were 25-42 at the time and in need of a shakeup.

“I didn’t think you could do that in New York,” the Boss said. ” … I felt that you had to be up there in New York every year. These are the toughest fans in the world here. They’re the most knowledgeable. They’re the toughest. I’m sure you know that from some of the calls you get. They know what they’re doing. This is a mentally tough city, and it has to be. You fight for cabs, you fight for a restaurant table, you fight for everything. That’s a good way to have it. I didn’t think I could come with the Toronto or Cleveland excuse that we’re going to go and develop the young players.”

He also discussed the failed tenure of manager Dallas Green, some of his differences with Dave Winfield, instability within the organization and his hiring and firing of Billy Martin five times.

At one point, the interview turned a little testy.

“George, do you think you’ve run this team into the ground?” Mike Francesa asks him.

After Chris “Mad Dog” Russo reintroduces the Boss — “George Steinbrenner joining us here on the FAN” — Steinbrenner asks: “Where am I joining you? … Oh, the FAN! It sounds like I’m joining you in a ring.”

It all ended on Aug. 15, 2008.

That was the day Mike Francesa opened the show confirming that after 19 years Mike and the Mad Dog were going their separate ways.

Tony, Chris Russo's father, then called in to the show.

“This show will be thought of for the rest of my life, and I want to wish you the best of luck to your family and to your friends,” he told Francesa. “One thing I want to ask you: Can I call you at any time?”

“You’re killing me, Tony,” Francesa responded. “Yes, yes, any time, Tony.”

It all ended on Aug. 15, 2008.

That was the day Mike Francesa opened the show confirming that after 19 years Mike and the Mad Dog were going their separate ways.

“We started this program on Sept. 5, 1989,” Francesa said. “It was a shotgun wedding, as everyone may remember, if you’re old enough. It was almost a quicky divorce. We did not get along very well in the beginning. The show was considered to be a colossal misjudgment the first couple of weeks. Within nine months, it was the toast of the town. And fortunately, for Dog and myself, it has remained that for these many years.

“This is a very sad ocassion.”

Then Chris “Mad Dog” Russo called in to say goodbye. He said the move had nothing to do with his working relationship with Francesa.

“I’m 48. It’s time for a little change for me personally. I think this will both do us a little good. I think you’ll do very well,” Mad Dog told Francesa. “I can tell you’re challenged, looking forward to it. … I think that I just need a little challenge in my life, a little something different.”

Then an emotional listener, Tony, called in.

“This show will be thought of for the rest of my life, and I want to wish you the best of luck to your family and to your friends,” he told Francesa. “One thing I want to ask you: Can I call you at any time?”

“You’re killing me, Tony,” Francesa responded. “Yes, yes, any time, Tony.”

Mark Mason, the former WFAN program director who teamed Francesa with Russo in 1989, then called into the show.

“I think everybody’s got this a little wrong,” Mason said. “I think you guys are to be congratulated. I think it’s a celebration. I can’t think of the last time anything this great has been on the air for nearly two decades. And it’s a remarkable thing in the history of broadcasting.

“Look, everybody has their ups and downs. The thing that made you guys great in my mind was your passion, your love for broadcasting and your love for sports.”

It all ended on Aug. 15, 2008.

That was the day Mike Francesa opened the show confirming that after 19 years Mike and the Mad Dog were going their separate ways.

“We started this program on Sept. 5, 1989,” Francesa said. “It was a shotgun wedding, as everyone may remember, if you’re old enough. It was almost a quicky divorce. We did not get along very well in the beginning. The show was considered to be a colossal misjudgment the first couple of weeks. Within nine months, it was the toast of the town. And fortunately, for Dog and myself, it has remained that for these many years.

“This is a very sad ocassion.”

Then Chris “Mad Dog” Russo called in to say goodbye. He said the move had nothing to do with his working relationship with Francesa.

“I’m 48. It’s time for a little change for me personally. I think this will both do us a little good. I think you’ll do very well,” Mad Dog told Francesa. “I can tell you’re challenged, looking forward to it. … I think that I just need a little challenge in my life, a little something different.”

Then an emotional listener, Tony, called in.

“This show will be thought of for the rest of my life, and I want to wish you the best of luck to your family and to your friends,” he told Francesa. “One thing I want to ask you: Can I call you at any time?”

“You’re killing me, Tony,” Francesa responded. “Yes, yes, any time, Tony.”

Mark Mason, the former WFAN program director who teamed Francesa with Russo in 1989, then called into the show.

“I think everybody’s got this a little wrong,” Mason said. “I think you guys are to be congratulated. I think it’s a celebration. I can’t think of the last time anything this great has been on the air for nearly two decades. And it’s a remarkable thing in the history of broadcasting.

“Look, everybody has their ups and downs. The thing that made you guys great in my mind was your passion, your love for broadcasting and your love for sports.”

The lovable, quotable Yogi Berra was a guest on Mike and the Mad Dog’s show on June 16, 2003.

The Yankees great talked about catching Don Larsen’s perfect game, hitting two homers in Game 7 of the 1956 World Series, playing alongside fellow legends Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle and more.

He also discussed his museum in Little Falls, New Jersey, adding that a broadcast center for college students was being built there at the time.

“Maybe we could use you guys to come over and teach them,” Berra told Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.

“We’re the wrong guys to do that, Yogi!” Mad Dog joked.

“It’s like you teaching hitting to somebody, OK?” Francesa added. “Don’t learn to do it like me. You can’t take the pitch off the ground and hit it into the right-field seats.”

Then-Yankees manager Joe Torre called in during Mike & the Mad Dog’s 10th anniversary special On Nov. 18, 1999.

The Yankees were just coming off winning their third world title in four years.

“When you win it once, it’s sort of like an Academy Award — you’re always an Academy Award winner,” Torre said. “When you do it the second time, it’s, ‘Wow!’ And then the third time, I haven’t figured out an adjective for it yet.”

John Madden called into Mike and the Mad Dog’s 10th anniversary show on Nov. 18, 1999, and had some high praise for the WFAN hosts.

“Any time I’m in New York … I’m always listening to you guys, and you’re the best,” the broadcaster and former NFL coach said. “I remember when you started, they said, ‘Heck, this will never work.’ And then it worked, and then they said, ‘Oh, yeah, well, heck, it’ll work, it’ll never last.’ And then you go 10 years and you say, ‘Wow, these guys are amazing!’

“There’s just the way you do it and the knowledge, and the passion that you have for sports is just the greatest.”