Chris "Mad Dog" Russo excelling in recurring "First Take" role

One month into his new role as Stephen A. Smith's "regular Wednesday morning debate partner" on ESPN’s "First Take," SiriusXM's Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has "proven to be a goldmine of social media buzz," according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. Smith said, "It’s exactly what I knew would happen. He's 'Mad Dog.'" Following his former co-host Max Kellerman's departure, Smith sought a "new dynamic with rotating debating partners" joining him and moderator Molly Qerim. Ratings have "improved under the new format," for which Smith "credited his array of co-hosts." When Russo came on in January for an "apparent one-off discussion" on Baseball HOF voting, "fireworks ensued, and Smith saw his opening." ESPN "soon signed" Russo to a one-year contract that began in late February. It is "too soon to assess the ratings impact after three shows," but last week’s was the "highest-rated yet with Russo" (NEWSDAY, 3/16).