Mike Francesa
Encyclopedia
Michael Patrick "Mike" Francesa, Jr. (born March 20, 1954) is an 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.
in 1982 as a researcher, focusing primarily on college sports. 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 and acquired such a reputation that The New Yorker
termed him "Brent Musburger
’s brain."
When he was a studio analyst at CBS Sports, he said the most common complaint he heard was about his New York accent.
ESPN
tried to lure Francesa as its studio expert on college football, college basketball and NFL in 1991, but he declined the offer.
Francesa announced on the radio that he quit CBS on April 1, 1993 before the 1993 Final Four began.
Because of his initial success as a weekend and fill-in host, he was teamed with local New York City host Ed Coleman 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 Pete Franklin
in the afternoon drive time
period between 3 and 7 p.m. Station management decided to team the knowledgeable, but somewhat dry Francesa with the young and vibrant Chris Russo
. 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 MSNBC
and later via video Webcast on NBCSports.com. The NFL Now became a syndicated program again when WBZ-FM
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 CBS Radio Network
and Westwood One
. Francesa regularly contributed to the Imus in the Morning
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: Francesa 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. September 8, 2008 officially marked the kickoff of Francesa's new WFAN program, which he announced on air would be called Mike'd Up
, the same name as his former weekly television program on WNBC.
on MSG Network
between August 30, 1991 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."
In 1990, Francesa began hosting a talk show following Knicks
and Rangers
games at Madison Square Garden
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.
Francesa auditioned for the Monday Night Football
job in 2000 that eventually went to Dennis Miller
.
In 2003, Francesa began hosting an 11:30 PM Sunday Night Sports Show on WNBC-TV in New York City entitled Mike'd Up: The Francesa Sports Final
. Taking a live hand-off from the end of the WNBC-TV local news, Francesa then launches into in-depth analysis of the weekend games -- with a focus geared towards the 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 Bruce Beck
usually filled in when Francesa had the summer off.
However, on July 15, 2011, it was reported in the New York Post
and Newsday
that Francesa would end his tenure as host of the Sunday night program, effective immediately, citing his wish to spend more time with his family. Bruce Beck is continuing to host the program, but its future is still uncertain.
. He is the second son of Michael Francesa, Sr., who abandoned the family when Francesa was eight years old. He has an older brother, John and a younger brother, Marty, who committed suicide on November 27, 1990. He attended Maria Regina High School, now Kellenberg
, in Uniondale
, and graduated from St. John's University
in 1977 (transferring there after one year at the University of South Florida
), majoring in communications and athletic administration. He first married Kate in 1983 but divorced in the 1990s.
Currently a resident of Manhasset, New York
. Francesa married his current wife, Rose (whom he usually refers to as Roe), on July 14, 2000 and they have three children, fraternal twins Emily Grace and Jack Patrick, born on January 17, 2005 and Harrison James, born on November 20, 2006.
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" 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. He also admitted to going to the hospital to get an angioplasty
done. Francesa had emergency knee surgery on August 31, 2006 to repair his shattered kneecap when he played golf the day before in Westhampton Beach, New York
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio talk show
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. He is primarily known in his former role co-hosting the popular Mike and the Mad Dog
Mike and the Mad Dog
Mike and the Mad Dog was an afternoon drive sports radio program based out of WFAN in New York City that featured Mike Francesa and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo talking sports and taking phone calls from listeners. From 2002 onwards the show was simulcasted on the YES Network...
show on WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Francesa now hosts his own show, Mike'd Up: Francesa on the FAN
Mike'd Up
Mike'd Up: Francesa on the Fan is the continuation of the show Mike and The Mad Dog based out of WFAN in New York City that features Mike Francesa. The show is simulcast on the YES Network, under a different title, The Mike Francesa Show...
, during the afternoon drive slot formerly occupied by Mike and the Mad Dog.
CBS Sports
Francesa started his career by spending six years at College and Pro Football Newsweekly. He was hired by CBS SportsCBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
in 1982 as a researcher, focusing primarily on college sports. 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 and acquired such a reputation that The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
termed him "Brent Musburger
Brent Musburger
Brent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a...
’s brain."
When he was a studio analyst at CBS Sports, he said the most common complaint he heard was about his New York accent.
ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
tried to lure Francesa as its studio expert on college football, college basketball and NFL in 1991, but he declined the offer.
Francesa announced on the radio that he quit CBS on April 1, 1993 before the 1993 Final Four began.
WFAN
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. 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. Because of the positive reviews, Francesa began to guest-host other shows.Pete Franklin
Pete Franklin , nicknamed "The King" and "Pigskin Pete", was an American sports talk radio host who worked in Cleveland, New York and San Francisco...
in the afternoon drive time
Drive time
Drive time is the daypart analog to prime time for radio broadcasting. It consists of the morning hours when listeners wake up, get ready, and/or head to work or school, and the afternoon hours when they are heading home and before their evening meal. These are the periods where the number of...
period between 3 and 7 p.m. Station management decided to team the knowledgeable, but somewhat dry Francesa with the young and vibrant Chris Russo
Chris Russo
Christopher Michael Russo , known as the "Mad Dog," is an American sports radio personality who is best known as the former co-host of the widely popular Mike and the Mad Dog sports radio show with Mike Francesa, which was broadcast on WFAN in New York City and simulcast on the YES Network...
. 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 MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and later via video Webcast on NBCSports.com. The NFL Now became a syndicated program again when WBZ-FM
WBZ-FM
WBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their...
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 CBS Radio Network
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
and Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
. Francesa regularly contributed to the Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
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: Francesa 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. September 8, 2008 officially marked the kickoff of Francesa's new WFAN program, which he announced on air would be called Mike'd Up
Mike'd Up
Mike'd Up: Francesa on the Fan is the continuation of the show Mike and The Mad Dog based out of WFAN in New York City that features Mike Francesa. The show is simulcast on the YES Network, under a different title, The Mike Francesa Show...
, the same name as his former weekly television program on WNBC.
Other projects
Francesa hosted Around the NFL with Bill ParcellsBill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
on MSG Network
MSG Network
The MSG Network, now shortened to simply MSG, is a regional cable television and radio network serving the Mid-Atlantic United States. It is focused on New York City sports teams...
between August 30, 1991 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."
In 1990, Francesa began hosting a talk show following Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
games at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
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.
Francesa auditioned for the Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
job in 2000 that eventually went to Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
.
In 2003, Francesa began hosting an 11:30 PM Sunday Night Sports Show on WNBC-TV in New York City entitled Mike'd Up: The Francesa Sports Final
Mike'd Up: The Francesa Sports Final
Mike'd Up: The Francesa Sports Final was Mike Francesa's Sunday evening sports talk show on WNBC. On July 19, 2011, Francesa announced on WFAN that he will end the show so he can spend more time with his family.- Program format :...
. Taking a live hand-off from the end of the WNBC-TV local news, Francesa then launches into in-depth analysis of the weekend games -- with a focus geared towards the 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 Bruce Beck
Bruce Beck
Bruce Beck is the weekday Sports anchor at WNBC-TV. He is currently in his twelfth year with News 4 New York. He also files numerous sports reports for the station's various newscasts....
usually filled in when Francesa had the summer off.
However, on July 15, 2011, it was reported in the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
and Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
that Francesa would end his tenure as host of the Sunday night program, effective immediately, citing his wish to spend more time with his family. Bruce Beck is continuing to host the program, but its future is still uncertain.
Personal
Francesa was born and raised in Long Beach, New YorkLong Beach, New York
Long Beach is a city in Nassau County, New York. Just south of Long Island, it is located on Long Beach Barrier Island, which is the westernmost of the outer barrier islands off Long Island's South Shore. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 33,275...
. He is the second son of Michael Francesa, Sr., who abandoned the family when Francesa was eight years old. He has an older brother, John and a younger brother, Marty, who committed suicide on November 27, 1990. He attended Maria Regina High School, now Kellenberg
Kellenberg Memorial High School
Kellenberg Memorial High School is a Roman Catholic college-preparatory school in Uniondale, Long Island, New York. Kellenberg is the second Marianist school on Long Island and prides itself on high academic standards combined with a strong focus on faith....
, in Uniondale
Uniondale, New York
Uniondale is a hamlet as well as a suburb of New York City in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead. The population was 24,759 at the 2010 United States Census.-Geography:...
, and graduated from St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
in 1977 (transferring there after one year at the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
), majoring in communications and athletic administration. He first married Kate in 1983 but divorced in the 1990s.
Currently a resident of Manhasset, New York
Manhasset, New York
Manhasset is a hamlet and neighborhood in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 8,080....
. Francesa married his current wife, Rose (whom he usually refers to as Roe), on July 14, 2000 and they have three children, fraternal twins Emily Grace and Jack Patrick, born on January 17, 2005 and Harrison James, born on November 20, 2006.
Health
Francesa has also had a number of health problems. He had reconstructive surgery on both of his knees. He participated in junior varsityJunior varsity
Primarily in North America, junior varsity or JV players are the members of a team who are not the main players in a competition , usually at the high school and college levels in the United States and Canada. The main players comprise the varsity team...
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" 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. He also admitted to going to the hospital to get an angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
done. Francesa had emergency knee surgery on August 31, 2006 to repair his shattered kneecap when he played golf the day before in Westhampton Beach, New York
Westhampton Beach, New York
Westhampton Beach is an Incorporated Village in the town of Southampton, Suffolk County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,902.-History:...
.