For the first time in over a decade, Mike Francesa and Chris Russo — the legendary duo behind Mike & the Mad Dog — return to the stage together for an unforgettable conversation about their careers, their decades covering New York sports, and the stories behind one of the most influential sports radio partnerships of all time. Their last major onstage reunion was the epic Mike & the Mad Dog show at Radio City Music Hall in March 2016.
And the timing couldn’t be better. Just one night after Selection Sunday, Mike and Chris will react to the NCAA Tournament field, debate the biggest bracket storylines and snubs, and weigh in on the teams and players poised to make March Madness memorable. They’ll also tackle the latest in New York sports — from Yankees and Mets spring training and the baseball offseason to the Giants and Jets, the Knicks and the playoff picture, and the biggest headlines and debates shaping the sports world.
Expect candid opinions, behind-the-scenes stories, plenty of debate, and the unmistakable chemistry that made Mike & the Mad Dog legendary. This is a rare opportunity to see Mike Francesa and Chris Russo together on stage — and to hear what they have to say when the biggest stories in sports are happening right now.
Mike Francesa was born and raised in Long Beach, New York. The St. John’s University graduate started working at CBS Sports in 1982 as a researcher. He would ultimately prove to be an invaluable sports analyst, laying the foundation for his more than 30-year radio career.
When WFAN-AM debuted in 1987, Francesa joined the lineup and quickly began dominating the New York sports scene. In 1989, he teamed up with Christopher Russo to create Mike and the Mad Dog, the program that launched a sports talk radio revolution. Due to the duo’s impact, ESPN chronicled their accomplishments in the 30 for 30 documentary series.
In 2008, Francesa ventured alone on WFAN-AM and took the program to even greater heights, earning numerous awards and accolades. He’s the only sportscaster to win the National Association of Broadcasters’ prestigious Marconi Award for “Large Market Personality of the Year” twice. In 2017, he announced his retirement, only to return to WFAN-AM in 2018, which dominated news headlines for an entire week.
Throughout his radio career, he has worked in film and television and has lent his support to charities and causes like Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund, St. Francis Hospital, SIDS, World Hunger Year and the Connecticut Sports Foundation.
Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo
SiriusXM Host, ESPN’s “First Take” Contributor
Renowned sports talk personality Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo headlines SiriusXM’s sports talk channel Mad Dog Sports Radio, where he hosts its anchor program, Mad Dog Unleashed, live every weekday afternoon. Russo also serves as SiriusXM’s “baseball ambassador,” hosting shows and specials and appearing regularly on the channel to comment on MLB news and issues. Russo joined SiriusXM Radio in 2008.
In 2014, he joined MLB Network to host his first TV-based baseball talk show, High Heat with Christopher Russo, which features Russo’s signature energetic delivery and passionate opinions on all 30 Major League Baseball clubs, plus interviews with players, club personnel, baseball writers and broadcasters. He also makes appearances on ESPN’s First Take each Wednesday.
In 2022, Russo was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Known for having helped popularize the sports talk radio format across the country, Russo is a fan favorite for his feisty, unflinchingly candid approach to talking sports, and the unrestrained, rapid-fire delivery earned him the nickname “Mad Dog.” Russo joined SiriusXM after nearly 20 years in New York hosting the popular Mike and the Mad Dog show.
Russo is the author of two books – The Mad Dog 100: The Greatest Sports Arguments of All Time and The Mad Dog Hall of Fame: The Ultimate Top-Ten Rankings of The Best In Sports.
