{"id":525817,"date":"2022-12-12T21:58:34","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T18:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/espn-pushing-to-reunite-mike-francesa-chris-russo-on-first-take\/"},"modified":"2022-12-12T21:58:34","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T18:58:34","slug":"espn-pushing-to-reunite-mike-francesa-chris-russo-on-first-take","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/espn-pushing-to-reunite-mike-francesa-chris-russo-on-first-take\/","title":{"rendered":"#ESPN pushing to reunite Mike Francesa, Chris Russo on &#8216;First Take&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3cc639c362b\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3cc639c362b\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/espn-pushing-to-reunite-mike-francesa-chris-russo-on-first-take\/#%E2%80%9CESPN_pushing_to_reunite_Mike_Francesa_Chris_Russo_on_%E2%80%98First_Take%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;ESPN pushing to reunite Mike Francesa, Chris Russo on &#8216;First Take&#8217;&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/espn-pushing-to-reunite-mike-francesa-chris-russo-on-first-take\/#Clicker_Book_Club\" >Clicker Book Club<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1>&#8220;ESPN pushing to reunite Mike Francesa, Chris Russo on &#8216;First Take'&#8221;<\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--columnist inline-module--author\">\n<div class=\"inline-module--author__img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"76\" height=\"69\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/21318-andrew-marchand-nyp-headshot.png?w=76&amp;h=69&amp;crop=1\" class=\"attachment-nyp_columnist size-nyp_columnist\" alt=\"Andrew Marchand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/21318-andrew-marchand-nyp-headshot.png?w=152 152w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/21318-andrew-marchand-nyp-headshot.png?w=114 114w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/21318-andrew-marchand-nyp-headshot.png?w=76 76w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/21318-andrew-marchand-nyp-headshot.png?w=38 38w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/08\/21318-andrew-marchand-nyp-headshot.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 76px) 100vw, 76px\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>ESPN would like a \u201cMike &amp; the Mad Dog\u201d reunion on its air.<\/p>\n<p>ESPN wants to revive previous talks with Mike Francesa to team him with Chris (Mad Dog) Russo on \u201cFirst Take,\u201d according to sources. If it were to h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>en, it would be one show to start, but ESPN is open to expansion if it goes well.<\/p>\n<p>While Stephen A. Smith remains the undisputed star of \u201cFirst Take,\u201d the show has received a boost by Russo\u2019s energy during his appearances every Wednesday morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Russo started in February and has been a sensation, using his <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>le-threat position of opinions, long-ago historical references and mispronunciations to baffle his co-hosts. Russo has also shown deference to Smith being the leader of the program.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>ESPN and Francesa had talks about Francesa joining \u201cFirst Take\u201d right before baseball season in March, according to sources. The idea then was for producers to surprise both Smith and Russo with Francesa just showing up on set to embrace the debate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It didn\u2019t come to fruition for a variety of reasons, including the fact that Francesa was ill shortly after. There is expected to be a push to revive talks, if Francesa is willing.<\/p>\n<p>ESPN declined comment, while Francesa did not im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely return messages.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"no\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=NYPH8114814612&amp;light=true\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Since retiring twice from WFAN, Francesa, 68, has gone into podcasting with BetRivers. While Russo and Francesa have done some appearances over the years, regular spots together have never materialized.<\/p>\n<p>SiriusXM, where Mad Dog has a channel named after him, discussed pairing the duo back together, but Francesa could not reach an agreement with the company with money being one of the issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For \u201cFirst Take,\u201d Russo, 63, said on the Howard Stern Show that he is paid $10,000 per program.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/mike-mad-dog-espn.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Mike Francesa (l.) and Chris Russo (r.) at a SiriusXM Town Hall on July 6, 2017.\" class=\"wp-image-24983141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/mike-mad-dog-espn.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/mike-mad-dog-espn.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/mike-mad-dog-espn.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Mike Francesa (l.) and Chris Russo (r.) at a SiriusXM Town Hall on July 6, 2017.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Smith, 55, is the leader of \u201cFirst Take,\u201d and his position has only gone stronger as ratings have risen since Smith expelled Max Kellerman as his verbal sparring partner a year ago.\u00a0 With a variety of opposing debaters, \u201cFirst Take\u201d is up 16 percent year-over-year, averaging more than 431,840 viewers per show, according to Nielsen.<\/p>\n<p>During an August episode of the show, Smith said to Russo it would be his honor to have Francesa join the \u201cFirst Take\u201d cast. In the past, Francesa and Russo have failed to make any reunions last because, despite their public denials, they haven\u2019t always been on the best of terms, according to sources. Financial aspects have also gotten in the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When Russo left in 2008, Francesa was able to maintain their WFAN ratings advantage over ESPN New York\u2019s \u201cThe Michael Kay\u201d for a long while. However, the Kay Show eventually beat Francesa, who had famously once said that ESPN needed to bring more than \u201cpea shooters\u201d to dethrone him. The team of Kay, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg took Francesa down. Francesa stepped away from FAN for a second time in June 2020.<\/p>\n<p>If Francesa wants one more encore in the spotlight, this could be it. ESPN wants to make it happen. The final decision will likely be up to Francesa.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/stephen-a.-smith-first-take.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Stephen A. Smith (l.) looks on as Malika Andrews (c.) interviews the Warriors' Draymond Green (r.) on Dec. 10, 2022.\" class=\"wp-image-24983188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/stephen-a.-smith-first-take.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/stephen-a.-smith-first-take.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/stephen-a.-smith-first-take.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Stephen A. Smith (l.) looks on as Malika Andrews (c.) interviews the Warriors\u2019 Draymond Green (r.) on Dec. 10, 2022.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NBAE via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Clicker_Book_Club\"><\/span>Clicker Book Club<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As the World Cup comes to an end this week, Papa Clicker\u00a0thinks fans should provide time to read \u201cMessi vs Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two Goats, and the Era that Remade the World\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Game<\/a>\u201d by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg.\u00a0The book follows the careers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are in the argument for the greatest soccer player ever.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, the authors note that \u201ccontrary to public perception, Messi and Ronaldo are not antitheses, they are two expressions of the same merciless drive, a physical and psychological need for perfection. It\u2019s their similarities, not their differences, that make it so difficult to weigh up one without the other.\u201d The book does them justice, as Papa Clicker gives it 4.5 out 5 Clickers.\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/12\/12\/espn-pushing-to-reunite-mike-francesa-chris-russo-on-first-take\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;ESPN pushing to reunite Mike Francesa, Chris Russo on &#8216;First Take&#8217;&#8221; ESPN would like a \u201cMike &amp; the Mad Dog\u201d reunion on its air. ESPN wants to revive previous talks with Mike Francesa to team him with Chris (Mad Dog) Russo on \u201cFirst Take,\u201d according to sources. If it were to happen, it would be&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":525818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/mike-mad-dog-espn.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[137115,91025,2837,73881,70433,67643],"class_list":["post-525817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-12-12-22","tag-chris-russo","tag-espn","tag-mike-francesa","tag-sports-media","tag-stephen-a-smith"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=525817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/525817\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/525818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=525817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=525817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=525817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}