Past reunions of Mike and the Mad Dog have been put on hold in the past, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has now gone on the record promising he’ll bring Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo together on First Take.
While appearing on The Howard Stern Show Wednesday to promote his book Straight Shooter, Smith was asked about the New York radio icons, and how his relationship has grown with Russo after Mad Dog joined First Take as a regular contributor.
“My respect for both of them is profound,” Smith said. “They are pioneers in this business. And when I brought Mad Dog on my show First Take, the bosses didn’t think they could get him. I picked up the phone and in like two seconds he was like, ‘I’m in. I’m there for you.’ I love the guy. This guy and Mike Francesa started sports talk radio. They made sports talk radio what it is. And guess what else I’m gonna do, Howard? I’m gonna bring them both in soon for an appearance on First Take.”
In December, Francesa admitted a report from Andrew Marchand of The New York Post linking an on-screen reunion with his longtime partner “had a lot of truth to it“.
“They did ask me to do it,” Francesa said on his podcast at the time. “It was — as far as I knew — a one time thing. That was my understanding at the time. We haven’t discussed it since last April, maybe May.”
The former WFAN personality added his discussions with First Take were not centered around joining the show on a permanent basis, but strictly as a one-time reunion with his former partner. Francesa declined the opportunity to surprise Russo, saying “I was a little leery of surprising anyone. I felt better if they knew about it.”
