Chris “Mad Dog” Russo isn’t holding back on what he considers a “bad look” for both Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and FOX Sports. The Mad Dog Radio host on SiriusXM ripped lead play-by-play voice Joe Davis for serving as emcee during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium following the team’s championship win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Russo argued that Davis — who calls national games for FOX, including the World Series — shouldn’t have been the one publicly hosting the team’s festivities given his dual role as the Dodgers’ television voice throughout the regular season.
“When you’re a national broadcaster and you’re the voice of the sport on a big stage. When you did a million playoff games, and then in one of the crippling losses that a franchise is going to have in the history of the sport. That’s as bad a loss as you’re ever going to have,” Russo said. “The body’s not even cold yet. And I got Joe Davis at Dodger Stadium doing a freaking Dodger parade. Oh, my God, that’s bad. I’m sorry. I don’t care what you say … that would piss me off if I’m a Blue Jays fan.”
Russo continued by saying that the optics reflected poorly not only on Davis but also on baseball’s biggest broadcast partner, and the Dodgers themselves. He suggested that when a national play-by-play voice becomes tied to one team’s victory celebration, it undercuts the perception of impartiality that national coverage is supposed to uphold.
“If you’re a Blue Jay fan, you’re vomiting right now,” Russo said. “That is bad. I don’t care what you say. You could say I’m being hard. That’s ridiculous. Chris, what’s the big deal? He does the games. Nonsense. He’s the voice of the World Series — supposed to be right down the middle. Obviously, he’s rooting his a** off for the Dodgers in the World Series. And everybody who I spoke to hated the idea.”
Davis, who succeeded Joe Buck as FOX’s lead baseball voice in 2022, has balanced his Dodgers role with national assignments throughout the season. However, Russo believes that distinction should matter more in moments that involve championship outcomes.
“The Dodgers should have done a favor,” Russo added. “Hey Joe, you know what? You’re the voice of the team. We just won a classic. Why don’t you lay low here? We’ll get somebody else to do this. You’re the voice of baseball in postseason play. You can’t be doing our parade waxing poetic about us at the Blue Jays’ expense. Wrong.”
While Davis has not responded publicly, Russo’s critique highlights an ongoing debate in sports media: how broadcasters can balance local loyalties with the national objectivity their network roles demand.
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