With the possible break-up of WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog the guys over at Mike and the Mad Blog have compiled a ‘Bucket List’ for our favorite sports talk know it all’s.

The creator of the site, Andy, who happens to live in Hoboken, was able to get a plug in regarding this list on the Mike and The Mad Dog show recently. The clip can be seen here from the YES Network broadcast. Andy dropped the plug, with Russo’s blessing, after schooling Mad Dog on a Johan Santana vs. Tim Lincecum argument. Mad Dog even got a chuckle out of it.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Ask Michael Strahan to cohost a show
• Let Chris predict the ratings
• Go a week without Jon Heyman
• Invite Phil Mushnick into the studio for some tea
• Have John Sterling guest host a segment and let him play audio clips of all the incorrect things you have said over the last 19 years
• Treat people like human beings
• Come prepared
• Mike and Chris tell the audience that they have cut the caller off but are going to continue talking like he’s still there
• Admit that they should never talk about anything outside of sports because they don’t know enough about movies or the news or politics

The duo that many love to hate may be calling it quits after almost 20 successful years together in sports talk radio. Neil Best of Newsday is reporting that ‘industry sources’ say WFAN’s Mike Francesa and Chris Russo won’t make it to see their 19th anniversary, Sept 5. and that they may have already done their last show together.

Francesa had no comment about the story but Best has some quotes from Russo:

“That is news to me,” he said. “I have not heard that… That is fascinating information.”…”The only thing I can say is I am signed under contract for another year and a half. I don’t think WFAN is going to let me out of that… I wish I had leverage like that.”

Best writes that the reason for the breakup is ‘multi-faceted’ but the relationship between the two is ‘one element in the drama’.

Best has more on this story and some quotes from WFAN Operations manager Mark Chernoff… Aside from their usual disagreements I did notice something a bit unusual. Approximately two weeks ago they had a golf author on and Mike started to thumb through the book and ask questions. Chris said “oh, that’s the book you were reading yesterday, well I’m lost.” It gave me the impression that Mike purposely kept Chris in the dark about the guest and the book. Since I have no big interest in golf I did not stay tuned. But this incident stood out enough for me to remember and to tell a friend.

Willie Randolph spoke today to WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog. I usually give some quotes but I think today it would not do this justice. Now, don’t get me wrong there is nothing over the top or extreme here but Willie’s tone is definitely feisty. Even Chris Russo called him feisty towards the end of the interview. So, if you can, give it a listen. I enjoyed it. Since I’m looking to give Willie the benefit of the doubt, I may have heard more positive things than others will. Willie sounds like he has no problem telling any of his players how he feels and what he expects out of them. So, unless his critics are mostly basing their opinions on strategy, which most of the time is subjective, I don’t know what else he or anyone could do.

The link to the interview is here.

Phil Mushnick takes on Mike Francesa over his assessment, while broadcasting from Miami for the Super Bowl, that “Jackie Gleason put Miami Beach on the map”, in today's New York Post.

Monday, in Florida for Supe 41, Francesa gifted Chris Russo and
other WFAN listeners a U.S. history lesson. Miami Beach, Francesa
explained, wasn't much until Jackie Gleason, in the 1960s, made it the
home of his popular TV show.

“Jackie Gleason,” puffed Francesa, “put Miami Beach on the map.”

Russo, in the role of Grasshopper, seated at the wise man's feet,
seemed both fascinated and believing of this “fact.” Perhaps some
listeners were equally enlightened.

And then, to emphasize
both this “fact” and his wisdom - as if it might be on the final exam -
Prof. Francesa repeated it: “Jackie Gleason put Miami Beach on the
map.”

Gee, thanks, Professor Mike, except for one thing: You're full of it. Again.

Mushnick goes on to explain how Miami Beach was known for many important things well before Gleason's arrival.

Hat tip to Can't Stop The Bleeding for the link.

I love it, but honestly, calling Mike Francesa a blowhard is like calling water wet or the sky blue. We've been well aware of this for many years now, but its always fun to hear the latest brain fart that comes out of his mouth.