Sports-talk heavyweight Mike Francesa needs a new dog.
Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo has broken his WFAN leash after nearly 19 years in the studio with Francesa, the station’s director confirmed yesterday. He had one year left on his contract.
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“They mutually agreed” to go their separate ways, said Mark Chernoff, the station’s vice president of programming.
“Mike has signed a long-term, multi-year deal. [Chris] is leaving.”
Chernoff said the show, which was two weeks shy of its 19th anniversary, “had run its course.”
There will be no farewell show.
Francesa will host the show alone today, and will address the split, Chernoff said. He will continue alone in the prime drive-time slot in the short term.
Chernoff could not confirm rumors that Russo will relocate his raspy radio voice to satellite giant Sirius, which sources said will pay him $3 million a year..
The station would not provide a specific reason for the split, though on-air feuds between the two have reportedly strained their relationship.
“We’ve all enjoyed having them on the air, rough times and the great times,” Chernoff said. “I like both of the guys.”
Russo has had a love-hate relationship with listeners, tormenting Yankees fans recently by wearing a Tampa Bay Rays cap and professing his love for the first-place team.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of emotion, one way or another,” Chernoff said.
Additional reporting by Phil Mushnick