Slam Dance! Mike Francesa and Mad Dog's rips give WFAN's 'CMB' some needed buzz

Judging by their own actions, Chris (Mad Dog) Russo and Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa are so insecure they don’t realize their radio legacy is secured.

It’s hard to imagine ESPN’s “30 for 30” will ever again do a documentary based on any New York sports radio Gasbags. And it’s hard imagining any combination of sports blabbermouths generating the kind of ratings and revenue FranDog once did.

Yet even knowing how high they set the bar, they went on MLB Network and took totally uncalled for cheap shots at FAN’s new afternoon drive team, known as “CMB” (Chris Carlin, Maggie Gray, Bart Scott), suggesting the trio would not be long for the gig. FranDog wondered who would be next out the door of the FANCave.

By no means is this the first time one of the fellas dumped on, or lashed out, at a member of FAN’s new team. This latest diss-down is nothing new. Last November, a little over a month before “CMB” would hit the air, Russo ripped the suits that hired them for making Scott part of the team, a move Doggie said he “can’t deal” with. He lowered the boom on Scott.

At the time, Russo ripped Scott for “urinating on the New York media” when he played for the Jets. Obviously, Russo had an axe to grind before he even heard “CMB’ perform. Has either Russo or Francesa even listened to the “CMB” show? While Carlin, according to what Russo said on the air, has texted him (it makes sense Carlin would have texted Francesa too, right?) to express his displeasure (wonder what Carlin said?) all of the WFAN pushback has come from morning mouth Norman Julius Esiason, who called what FranDog said “classless.”

Esiason’s outrage is comical. Long ago, he disqualified himself from calling anyone else “classless.” He spent a decade listening and laughing as his former partner Craig Carton maligned others, including Francesa, in a variety of off-color ways. Esiason took great pleasure in this. How can he now consider himself the go-to guy when it comes to defining class or classlessness?

Still, when sifting through all this verbal rubble and who said what about who, there is only one conclusion to make: Russo and Francesa, despite their low blows and cheap shots at “CMB,” have once again done their alma mater,WFAN, a tremendous favor. By inciting this “controversy” they have Valley of the Stupid residents, callers, and the media, talking about FAN in general and “CMB” in particular.

On ESPN-98.7, we have heard callers to “The Michael Kay Show” mention “that other show” on FAN. And on their new WABC-AM morning show, Bernie McGuirk and Sidiot Rosenberg, have chimed in on the “controversy.” They have no skin in the game but have given “CMB” major publicity. Dino Costa, on his 970-AM overnight soiree, has done the same.

Get it? Before Francesa and Russo uttered what they considered a joke, throwaway line, albeit mean-spirited and totally gratuitous, “CMB” created little to no buzz. Thanks to FranDog, there’s much static, even mystique, surrounding “CMB.” There’s a new big buzz that should get listeners to tune in and give the show a shot.

All involved should thank Russo and Francesa for this.

TWILIGHT ZONE

As if there already isn’t enough statistics, graphics, the bottom-screen scroll, and in-game commercial logos and messages cluttering the TV screen during a baseball game, the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network presents its Pitchcast Virtual Strike Zone.

Those tuning in have seen the thin box that shows where a pitch crosses home plate and the speed of the pitch. YES production brainiacs, according to MLB sources, were required by Fox, the majority owner of YES, to use the virtual strike zone as are all Fox-owned regional sports networks that air baseball.

The box adds absolutely nothing to the telecast, unless you are someone who is into maximum clutter. If you don’t like the “box,” the guy to complain to is Michael Connelly, senior vp/ executive producer Fox Sports Networks. We have not heard the Yankee voices say much about the virtual strike zone. Does that mean they dig it?

SOUNDS OF SILENCE

While there’s been much talk surrounding John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling’s LOUD Giancarlo Stanton home run call, Suzyn (Ma Pinstripe) Waldman has quietly gone about her business in the Yankees WFAN radio booth. “Quietly” is the operative word.

Ma has the ability to go from a whisper to a scream in a moment’s notice. But listeners know she hasn’t been doing any screaming lately. Waldman said she had been doing some extra travelling prior to the season, became rundown, and lost a good part of her voice. Give Ma plenty of credit for playing “hurt” in bad weather. It’s limited her to issuing soft-spoken analysis.

“I guess my body is telling me I was doing too much,” she said. “Hopefully it’s just inflamed chords.”

Waldman was scheduled to see a throat doctor on Friday.

CASH IS MONEY

Considering his acquisitions, and ability to rebuild the Yankees on the fly, it’s been a good stretch for Brian Cashman.

But one of his greatest attributes, his ability to act, has gone largely unnoticed.

There’s no doubt Cashman, even in a cameo, is the star of YES’ nine-person booth commercial. While the concept (it takes nine voices to cover a big team) is flawed, the execution of the spot is superb. Cashman is at his deadpan best. Wonder how long he rehearsed?

Anyway, watching Cashman inspired the following question: If he was GM of YES’ booth would he approve of hiring, and paying, nine voices? Or like other booths would he subscribe to the less is more philosophy?

TWIT STORM?

Keith Hernandez is now on Twitter. This could be very dangerous for SNY’s Mets analyst. Hernandez has so far used Twitter to, among other things, promote his commercial endeavors, talk baseball, show a video of SNY’s Mets crew eating and drinking together. That’s safe stuff. What happens when Hernandez, a loose cannon in the booth, gets even looser on Twitter? Good luck and best wishes to all involved.…..We don’t think it’s a reach to suggest Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, ESPN’s draft gurus, do not like each other. Their body language on the recent mock draft show provided further evidence….If Rob Manfred was truly concerned about ALL baseball fans, he would have allowed the home markets (NY-Philly) to air the Facebook game on “free” TV. Instead he took the extra money Facebook paid for exclusivity and shafted Mets and Phillies fans, as well as others who will be Facebooked this season ….The baseball media has rolled out the red carpet for both Mickey Callaway and Aaron Boone. They must not be bothered by their sleep inducing postgame press conferences.

* * *

DUDE OF THE WEEK: GIANCARLO STANTON

For the way he reacted to questions after striking out five times, and being booed by Yankee fans, Tuesday. When he arrived from Miami, there was concern over how Stanton would handle New York and the media pressure that comes with it. Stanton passed his first test, embracing the heat. “You put up a performance like that, you should get some boos,” he said. “..,.I was awful today.” Can’t be more candid than that, right? Stanton showed he’s not going to be someone who runs and hides when things go bad. Good for him.

DWEEB OF THE WEEK: CANELO ALVAREZ

He’s a superstar boxer. He is now the sport’s top pay-per-view attraction. He’s a guy adored by millions of fans. And now Alvarez wrecks boxing’s most anticipated fight (a rematch with Gennady Golovkin) by eating tainted meat and failing a mandatory drug test. C’mon man. A high performance athlete like Alvarez must do better. He should know better too. This is a major disappointment.

DOUBLE TALK

What Manny Machado said: “My future is looking pretty good.”

What Manny Machado meant to say: “The owners can mess around with other free agents. They won’t mess around with me. I’m getting my money.”

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