Francesa Unhappy With N.Y. Media's Coverage Of Russo's Leave

Francesa Blasts N.Y. Media For Coverage Of "Mike & Mad Dog" Split

WFAN-AM's Mike Francesa yesterday went on a 23-minute rant during his "Mike'd Up" show "in response to slights and perceived slights over the past month in the wake of his breakup with [Sirius XM Radio's] Chris Russo," according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. Francesa said of the media's coverage of the split, "Not one person has asked my opinion or has asked to do an interview with me about any part of what happened. ... It did amaze me that in all the media not one person wanted to ask me what I thought about it or my side of the story. Not one." Francesa added, "I hope you don't get your information from the newspapers, because the stuff that has been written during this time about me has been so wrong. ... Stuff about me being jealous and irate about things like that is just totally ridiculous." Francesa, on personalities in the N.Y. media: "Most of them, they're not in love with me and they'd rather see me fall on my head, which I understand. ... But what I can't deal with is a guy like [N.Y. Daily News columnist Bob] Raissman, who, listen, he's been [Russo's] guy for 20 years. ... All he's done is attack and attack and attack and the attacks are to attack me and make [Russo] look good, which is his prerogative." Francesa also said business "isn't bad on this show," as the show "never lost a sponsor, not one, since the change." Francesa added there are "three outlets right now bidding to simulcast this show for five years -- three. And YES is one of them" (NEWSDAY.com, 9/16).

DIFFERENT AGENDAS: Russo's Sirius XM satellite radio show "Mad Dog Unleashed" debuted against "Mike'd Up" Monday, and in Las Vegas, Steve Carp writes it was "hard to tell the difference between the two shows as both hosts were fielding calls on the Mets' bullpen imploding, the Yankees missing the playoffs and the Jets' loss to New England." However, Russo "tried to steer things outside the Big Apple, taking dead aim at NFL referee Ed Hochuli" for his role in the outcome of Sunday's Chragers-Broncos (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/17).