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| '''Michael Patrick "Mike" Francesa, Jr.''' (born March 20, 1954) is a pompous, heavy-set ] ] host and ] ]. He is primarily known in his former role co-hosting the popular '']'' show on ] in ]. Francesa now hosts his own show, '']'', during the afternoon drive slot formerly occupied by ''Mike and the Mad Dog'' |
'''Michael Patrick "Mike" Francesa, Jr.''' (born March 20, 1954) is a pompous, heavy-set ] ] host and ] ]. He is primarily known in his former role co-hosting the popular '']'' show on ] in ]. Francesa now hosts his own show, '']'', during the afternoon drive slot formerly occupied by ''Mike and the Mad Dog''. | ||
| ==Carreah== | |||
| ===CBS Spawts=== | |||
| Francesa started his career by spending six years at ''College and Pro Football Newsweekly''. He was hired by ] in 1982 as a researcher, focusing primarily on college sports.<ref name="fran901">Shane Fitzgerald (1990-03-30), CBS' Francesa first worked behind scenes, ''Rocky Mountain News''.</ref> In CBS Sports, he was initially a behind-the-scenes, statistic-wielding editorial assistant, but network executives were so impressed by his knowledge that he was made a studio analyst for college basketball and football<ref>Charles Siebert (1990-08-19), The Sportscasters, ''The New York Times Magazine''.</ref> and acquired such a reputation that '']'' termed him "]’s brain."<ref name="paumgarten">{{cite web | url=http://www.mikefrancesa.com/wordpress/?p=73 | title=The boys: what Mike and the Mad Dog talk about when they talk about sports | publisher=''The New Yorker'' | author=Nick Paumgarten | date=2004-08-30}}</ref> | |||
| When he was a studio analyst at CBS Sports, he said the most common complaint he heard was about his ].<ref>Jack Craig (1990-03-30), CBS' Francesser is plainly a success basketball, football expert defies network standards for appearance, accent, ''The Boston Globe''.</ref> In the ], for instance, viewers disliked his New York arrogance. He made no attempt to disguise it and said defiantly, "Hey, I'm a New York guy. I wear it as a badge."<ref name="mike93">Steve Zipay (1993-04-01), Mr. Sports Tawk Some national viewers don't like Mike Francesa's accent and attitude. Hey, I'm a New York guy,' the sportscaster says defiantly. `I wear it as a badge,' ''Newsday''</ref> | |||
| ] tried to lure Francesa as its studio expert on college football, college basketball and NFL in 1991, but he declined the offer.<ref>News wire (1991-04-14), Sports People: Television; Francesa declines offer, ''The New York Times''.</ref> | |||
| Francesa announced on the radio that he quit CBS on April 1, 1993<ref>Richard Sandomir (1993-04-03), Final Four: it's prime time, bay-bee!, ''The New York Times''.</ref> before the ] began.<ref>Richard Sandomir (1996-04-02), CBS wins on court and falls flat off it, ''The New York Times''.</ref> | |||
| ===WFAN=== | |||
| {{see also|Mike and the Mad Dog|Mike'd Up}} | |||
| When WFAN was launched in 1987, Francesa thought he would be good at radio and applied for a host job, but the station management was looking for top-shelf types, rather than someone with no experience and he was only offered a producer's job, which he rejected.<ref name="mike93" /> With his then-wife Kate's encouragement, Francesa continued to pursue WFAN. Finally WFAN gave him a job as a weekend host talking college football and basketball in August 1987.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sportsline.com/cbssports/story/10230568 | title=Sports radio 66AM WFAN marks 20th anniversary | publisher=''CBS Sportsline.com'' | accessdate=2007-06-28}}</ref> Because of the positive reviews, Francesa began to guest-host other shows.<ref name="fran901" /> | |||
| Because of his initial success as a weekend and fill-in host, he was teamed with local New York City host ] and the duo had a popular show on the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. slot. In 1989, WFAN was looking for hosts to replace the controversial ] in the afternoon ] period between 3 and 7 p.m. Station management decided to team the knowledgeable, but somewhat dry Francesa with the young and vibrant ]. While Francesa's brand of sports commentating was considered hard-hitting and serious, Russo's was lighter, unconventional, and more entertaining. The show was dubbed ''Mike and the Mad Dog''. The show quickly gained popularity and was a staple of the New York sports scene from 1989-2008. | |||
| Francesa also hosts a weekly radio show called ''The NFL Now'', which has originated from WFAN since 1987. It eventually became syndicated and at one time was simulcast on ] and later via video Webcast on NBCSports.com. The NFL Now became a syndicated program again when ] in Boston started airing the show, a few weeks after the station's launch. Francesa on the FAN can be seen on the YES Network. | |||
| He does the nightly "Sportstime" commentary on the ] and ]. Francesa regularly contributed to the '']'' program with his views on sports while it aired on WFAN and Westwood One. | |||
| Francesa's trademark intro to a show he is hosting by himself is "From the studios of WFAN in New York and simulcast across the country on the YES Network this is Mike'd Up: Francesar on the FAN." | |||
| On August 14, 2008, it was announced that Chris "Mad Dog" Russo decided to leave WFAN, and thus ended the ''Mike and the Mad Dog'' show two weeks shy of its 19th anniversary scenario. This ended two months of speculation of whether the show was going to make it to a 20th season. At the same time, Francesa signed a five-year deal to stay at WFAN.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/saturday/news/ny-spbest165803061aug16,0,5196711.story | title=Russo, late of WFAN's Mike and the Mad Dog, calls in | publisher=''Newsday'' | author=Neil Best | date=2008-08-16}}</ref> September 8, 2008 officially marked the kickoff of Francesa's new WFAN program, which he announced on air would be called '']'', the same name as his weekly television program on WNBC. On the air he enjoys describing touchdown drives with a "bink bink bink -- boom" reference.<ref>Mike Francess, September 2, 2008, ]</ref> He's also not a fan of the ]. <ref>http://db.tt/Cn0Al6Q</ref> | |||
| In September 2010, Francesa got into a heated argument with WFAN New York Jets beat reporter, Peter Schwartz, wherein he accused Schwartz of not using his noogin. <ref>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/842584/MikePetaUseYaNoogin092310.mp3</ref> | |||
| In October 2010, Francesa complained of hearing reverbing in his helmet. <ref>http://db.tt/FARQWPp</ref> | |||
| Mike is not an Anti-semite...he grew up on the streets in Long Island and has a rabbi. | |||
| ===Other projects=== | |||
| Francesa hosted ''Around the NFL'' with ] on ] between August 30, 1991<ref>Richard Sandomir (1991-08-30), Parcells on airwaves: coach in him lingers, ''The New York Times''.</ref> and April 16, 1992. When the show was cancelled, Francesa said, "I was disappointed. I wanted to do a second year, but it's a very expensive show to produce."<ref>Richard Sandomir (1992-04-17), The young McDonough plays ball with CBS, ''The New York Times''.</ref> | |||
| In 1990, Francesa began hosting a talk show following ] and ] games at ] called ''Live from the Play By Play''. The Play By Play is a restaurant in Madison Square Garden. The show featured sports and entertainment figures in a "late night" talk style program. | |||
| In 1998, Francesa began a website called mikesports.com, but the project was abandoned and is no longer online.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} | |||
| Francesa auditioned for the ] job in 2000 that eventually went to ].<ref name="mnf">{{cite web | url=http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-spwatch195422516oct19,0,6438837,print.column | title=Strange but true: 'MNF' really did talk to Francesa | publisher=''Newsday.com'' | author=Neil Best | date=2007-10-18}}</ref> | |||
| In 2003, Francesa began hosting an 11:30 PM Sunday Night Sports Show on ] in New York City entitled ''Mike'd Up''. He takes a live hand-off from the end of the Channel 4 local news and then launches into in-depth analysis of the weekend games of New York area teams. He also interviews notable athletes, coaches, and sportswriters. The show was intended to span the length of the NFL season, but proved so successful that WNBC extended the show to run year-round. Weekend sports anchor ] usually fills in when Francesa has the summer off. | |||
| In 2010, Jawn Maine was worthless to 'em. | |||
| Mike has an Asian doctor. | |||
| ==Personal== | |||
| Francesa was born and raised in ].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-hometown_mike,0,2342693.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation | title=Long Island history: Mike Francesa and Chris Russo | publisher=''Newsday'' | author=Steve Zipay | accessdate=2006-10-12 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060813124035/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-hometown_mike,0,2342693.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2006-08-13}}</ref> He is the second son of Michael Francesa, Sr., who abandoned the family when Francesa was eight years old.<ref name="paumgarten" /> He has an older brother, John and a younger brother, Marty, who committed suicide on November 27, 1990.<ref name="mike93" /> He attended Maria Regina High School, now ], in ],<ref name="kellenberg">Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, ''Mike and the Mad Dog'' on WFAN. (2007-01-24)</ref> and graduated from ] in 1977 (transferring there after one year at the ]), majoring in communications and athletic administration. He first married Kate in 1983<ref>Larry Schwartz (1991-09-01), Behind the Mike, ''The Bergen Record''.</ref> but divorced in the 1990s. | |||
| Currently a resident of ]. Francesa married his current wife, Rose (whom he usually refers to as Roe), on July 14, 2000<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cache.zoominfo.com/cachedpage/?archive_id=0&page_id=613328834&page_url=%2f%2fwww.newsday.com%2fentertainment%2ftv%2fny-p2two3682479feb24%2c0%2c7322840.story%3fcoll%3dny-entertainment-headlines&page_last_updated=2%2f24%2f2004+12%3a03%3a57+AM | title=Mike and the Mad Dog make nice | publisher=''Newsday'' | author=Jeff Pearlman | date=2004-02-24}}</ref> and they have three children, ] Emily Grace and Jack Patrick, born on January 17, 2005<ref name="zipay0904">Steve Zipay (2004-09-09), Francesa roster to add 2 in February, ''Newsday''.</ref><ref>Steve Zipay (2005-01-19), Brief: Francesa father, ''Newsday''.</ref> and Harrison James, born on November 20, 2006.<ref>Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, ''Mike and the Mad Dog'' on WFAN.</ref> | |||
| It has been confirmed since roughly 1988 that Mike Francesa is not a fan of veal. Mike has commented that he never has the veal, he only has the chicken. <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwDCqmPHth8</ref> | |||
| Francesa idolizes Mickey Mantle, whom he has called "a floored man." He also met Secretariat. <ref>http://db.tt/IjOlLx1</ref> | |||
| He likes egg rolls and LOVES not likes Diet Coke | |||
| Francesa is a practitioner of an obscure, centuries-old religion known as McLoothism. | |||
| ==Health== | |||
| Francesa has also had a number of health problems. He had reconstructive surgery on both of his knees. He participated in ] high school baseball, but was cut. He frequently refers to his "baseball career" on the air, garnering him some derision because of the use of the word "career" <ref name="paumgarten" /> in reference to his high school playing days. | |||
| During the first week of June 2006, Francesa missed a few days on the radio for what was termed as 'personal reasons'. Soon after returning, on the June 8, 2006 show, he revealed that following medical tests, he needed to change his diet due to his weight struggles.<ref>Phil Mushnick (2006-06-12), Luis lite, ''New York Post''.</ref> He also admitted to going to the hospital to get an ] done. Francesa had emergency knee surgery on August 31, 2006 to repair his shattered kneecap when he played golf the day before in ].<ref>Phil Simms interview, ''Imus in the Morning'' on WFAN, (2006-09-07)</ref><ref>Mike Francesa, ''Mike and the Mad Dog'' on WFAN, (2006-09-08)</ref> | |||
| Mike is also fat. | |||
Revision as of 23:15, 18 October 2010
| Mike Franceser | |
|---|---|
 Franceser at the 2008 annual Bar A show in Belmaw, New Jersey | |
| Career | |
| Show | Mike'd Up: Franceser on the FAN |
| Station(s) | WFAN, New Yawk City |
| Time slot | 1 – 6:30 p.m., Monday-Friday |
| Show | NFL Now |
| Station(s) | WFAN & YES Network, New Yawk City |
| Time slot | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Sunday (during the NFL season) |
| Style | Spawts radio |
| Country |  United States |
Michael Patrick "Mike" Francesa, Jr. (born March 20, 1954) is a pompous, heavy-set American radio talk show host and television commentator. He is primarily known in his former role co-hosting the popular Mike and the Mad Dog show on WFAN in New York City. Francesa now hosts his own show, Mike'd Up: Francesa on the FAN, during the afternoon drive slot formerly occupied by Mike and the Mad Dog.
