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Sunday, November 17, 2024
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Chris Russo Shocked to Learn He Wouldn’t Interview Roger Goodell on ‘First Take’

On Wednesday’s edition of First Take on ESPN, featured commentator Stephen A. Smith spent nearly half of the show interviewing National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell after an eventful Week 1 around the league. Broadcasting live from ESPN’s South Seaport Studios in New York City, Goodell spoke about topics including the Jim Trotter lawsuit and debate between grass and turf. After the interview, First Take host Molly Qerim commended Smith for the job that he did, acknowledging that she can sometimes be a harsh critic.

Qerim’s remark came during the “What Are You Mad About!?” segment of the show, which takes place every Wednesday when Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo joins the program. Throughout the 10-minute aside, the “Mad Dog” conveys what perturbed him in the last week, discussing topics from the New York Giants to Smith’s recruitment and collaboration with Shannon Sharpe. Not being able to be part of the interview with Goodell, however, disappointed Russo considering that he had not conversed with the Commissioner in almost eight years. While he did not mention this source of discontent on ESPN, he ensured to discuss it on his Mad Dog’s Daily Bite radio segment on SiriusXM

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“I sat down and came in and they said, ‘Chris, what are you doing?’ ‘What do you mean what am I doing?,’” Russo recalled. “These are not even producers; these are floor tech guys. ‘Chris, scoot over.’ ‘I’ll scoot over, where is Roger going to sit?’ ‘No, scoot.’ ‘Alright, I’ll give him enough room. I’m not going to bite him.’ ‘No Chris, scoot out.’”

It was at that moment where Russo recognized that he would not be part of the interview, which was promoted over the last week during First Take. Moreover, he has since discovered that Smith will also be interviewing Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. with Dominque Foxworth and will not be joining First Take for its Friday show from Boulder, Colo. Russo has interviewed Manfred in the past and currently hosts an afternoon baseball program, High Heat, on the league-owned MLB Network. Although he was present on site at the US Open earlier in the month, he seems annoyed that Smith has not included him in additional opportunities.

“That’s a kick in the you know what right there,” Russo said.

Before Goodell left the set, he made sure to converse with his public relations staff to see if it would be possible to have the Commissioner make an appearance on his radio program. Russo shared that he was told that they would try, which could be something to watch for down the road.

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