Put another nail in the coffin of any future hope of a Mike and the Mad Dog reunion. After Francesa's lengthy surprise interview with Alex Rodriguez captured headlines, the sports pope fell under some criticism for being soft on A-Rod and protecting him. While other outlets and media are smashing A-Rod from pillar to post, the Yankees slugger has found refuge and shelter from Mike's On.
Of all the media analysts, rivals, and onlookers to criticize Mike Francesa for his cozy relationship with Alex Rodriguez, who would have ever thought former partner Chris Russo would join the crowd? Russo spoke out against his longtime Mike & The Mad Dog cohort saying he had been "duped" by A-Rod and that he knows Rodriguez is lying about steroid use.
Et tu, Russo?
Here's what Russo told Bob Raissman in the New York Daily News:
“I can’t understand. Mike is smarter than this, to be duped by A-Rod and fall into this trap,” Dog barked over the telephone Thursday. “This is the guy you’re going to defend — A-Rod? He knows A-Rod did steroids. What do you think, Mike’s stupid? He knows.”
“Now Mike has plenty of ratings, plenty of exposure,plenty of money and plenty of guests,” Russo said. “Does he need to coddle A-Rod to get back-page headlines after 30 years in the media business?”
“I know Mike is down on baseball. (He calls) Selig a used car salesman. Fair point. Fair opinion. I don’t have a problem with that,” Russo said. “But for Mike to go down this path constantly with A-Rod when he knows deep down A-Rod is a cheat — he knows it.”
What's interesting to note here is Russo's place in this situation. Francesa has firmly set up camp on Rodriguez's side in this whole debacle, but Russo has some allegiances as well. He just signed a nice new contract with MLB Network to be an on-air analyst. And, he's even being promoted as SiriusXM's "baseball ambassador." Bud Selig has been a regular guest on his radio show. Are we to really think Russo is playing it straight down the middle, or does he have a dog in this fight just like Francesa does?
Whatever the case, it's going to be very, very interesting to see if Francesa responds to Russo this afternoon on his radio show. A feud with Keith Olbermann is one thing, but his partner for 20 years? That could jeopardize the delicate fabric of sports and society as we know it.
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