Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio Yet

[playahaitian]

Radio host Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo at center of latest racially charged controversy

If you thought you’d be able to finish out the week without another racially charged sports story, think again. On the tail of the Donald Sterling controversy, Sirius XM sports radio host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, said some pretty awful-sounding things on the air about why he doesn’t have African American sports journalists as hosts on Mad Dog Radio.

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Ugh.

If you can’t bear to listen, the summary is as follows: Russo said there are no black radio hosts “worthy” of doing the job. He later backtracks and said that no black radio host worthy of doing the job has applied. Needless to say, perhaps, Russo’s slight rewording did little to remedy some of his listeners and, especially, social media’s outrage.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Whoa, this Mad Dog Russo audio is tough to listen to. I was never a fan of this dude, but this is really sick.</p>&mdash; Clinton Yates (@clintonyates) <a href="https://twitter.com/clintonyates/statuses/462305200725032960">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Now we have this racist comment &gt;&gt;&gt; CHRIS &quot;MAD DOG&quot; RUSSO SAYS BLACKS CAN'T CUT IT IN SPORTS RADIO <a href="http://t.co/wNNjhxcIGF">http://t.co/wNNjhxcIGF</a></p>&mdash; Antwan V. Staley (@blackredsoxfan) <a href="https://twitter.com/blackredsoxfan/statuses/462282366434566145">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Chris &quot;Mad Dog&quot; Russo feels strongly that he can't find worthy black hosts for radio. Let's help him. <a href="http://t.co/crQWGYV1Xr">http://t.co/crQWGYV1Xr</a> h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/FANalyst1">@fanalyst1</a></p>&mdash; Vince Thomas (@vincecathomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/vincecathomas/statuses/462303683834036224">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>MAD DOG'S FOOT IN MOUTH - <a href="http://t.co/qGegTLokTY">http://t.co/qGegTLokTY</a></p>&mdash; J. R Gambler (@FANalyst1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FANalyst1/statuses/462285720250773504">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Soooo, I guess I shouldn't bother w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/MadDogUnleashed">@MadDogUnleashed</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MadDogRadio&amp;src=hash">#MadDogRadio</a>?? <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CantCutIt&amp;src=hash">#CantCutIt</a></p>&mdash; Joseph Haas NFL (@Jerseyhaas) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jerseyhaas/statuses/462285507574374400">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m...black-hosts-sirius-xm-radio-article-1.1777716

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>For clarification...</p>&mdash; Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadDogUnleashed/statuses/462370646815961089">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If anybody thinks that I would not put a sports talk show host on the channel because that person is black, you don’t know Christopher Russo</p>&mdash; Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadDogUnleashed/statuses/462370735949119488">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I don’t care what your persuasion is,color,where you are from, or background. It means nothing to me. We’re always looking for good hosts</p>&mdash; Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadDogUnleashed/statuses/462371114535370753">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If you are black, white, or any other race, makes no difference. If you are good you will get the opportunity.</p>&mdash; Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadDogUnleashed/statuses/462371351991685120">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Color makes no difference, never has in my life.</p>&mdash; Chris Mad Dog Russo (@MadDogUnleashed) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadDogUnleashed/statuses/462371579310391296">May 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

It could be that—for the three hours he hosted his drive-time radio program on Sirius/XM—Chris "Mad Dog" Russo was having trouble filling the air for the required three-quarters of every hour, because he said some pretty stupid things about race and media. Russo was asked about his hiring practices—his Sirius/XM channel, Mad Dog Radio, has never had a black host—in light of the Donald Sterling fiasco. Mad Dog said there hasn't been a black host worthy of the gig.

Now, Mad Dog maybe has some points to make. The demands unique to the job—odd hours, the lack of commercials in subscription-based radio often requires hosts to talk longer than broadcast radio, and the fact that listeners actually pay to listen—all limit an already limited candidate pool. But, uh, it's still sports and entertainment and people are ready, willing, and able to do the job. This is the Saturday Night Live casting controversy on a much smaller scale. There are perfectly qualified candidates out there, one may even be hired in the coming weeks now.

Nonetheless, Russo says he hasn't seen a resume or heard a tape from a black host who could carry a radio program for 45 minutes out of every hour for three-to-four hours and mix it up with callers worthy enough of captaining a national talk show. The top three qualities Mad Dog requires, that he has not seen in a black host are:

Be entertaining;
Do an interview that's quality;
Get the phone lines going.

After the show, Russo went on Twitter to explain himself.

At least he probably got the phone lines going, anyway.

http://deadspin.com/chris-russo-just-hasnt-found-a-black-host-worthy-of-m-1571250450

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

RADIO LEGEND CHRIS "MAD DOG" RUSSO SAYS BLACKS CAN'T CUT IT IN SPORTS RADIO

http://www.theshadowleague.com/arti...usso-says-blacks-can-t-cut-it-in-sports-radio

Just days after Donald Sterling was exposed as a racist on secretly-recorded audio produced by TMZ , long-time NY talk radio legend and current Sirius XM host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo had what many are now calling his own “Donald Sterling/Al Campanis moment.”

Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis’ four decades of MLB service came to an abrupt end with a statement he made on April 6, 1987 on ABC’s “Nightline.” Author Roger Kahn asked why there were so few blacks running ballclubs, 40 years after Robinson's historic moment in 1947. Campanis responded with an answer that has become one of the most memorable, racially degrading and revealing moments in sports TV history: "I truly believe that they may not have some of the necessities to be, let's say, a field manager, or perhaps a general manager."

When Ted Koppel gave Campanis a chance to save his ass, Campanis asked, "Why are black men or black people not good swimmers? Because they don't have the buoyancy."

The Dodgers, acting to dampen a swelling storm of criticism, particularly from the black community, fired Campanis two days after he made those remarks. He’s not the first and we know knew he wouldn’t be the last.

Now, Russo’s time to answer the “bigot bell” is swiftly approaching.

In a YouTube post provided by The Warrior Report, Howard Kinsel calls into Mad Dog's show and poses a question to Russo about his failure to have African-American sports journalists as hosts. In a stunning admission, Russo proudly acknowledges that fact and blatantly says that there are no qualified blacks worthy or capable of coming on his show and enlightening his paid listeners. The caller and subsequent caller were both flabbergasted by Russo’s ignorance, pompousness and insistence on reiterating that blacks basically can’t cut the mustard in his business.

Take a listen to this clip and when you finish spitting up your 40oz and touching up on your Ebonics, get back with me.

This is beyond absurd, and once again these racist and outdated beliefs are coming from a white man who is an icon in his business and has been in the game for decades, with the power to hire people for positions and influence careers. He flat out told his listening audience that it’s too hard for a brother to sit in a chair and speak for four hours with no commercial breaks, and entertain people. Like black minds are not deep, creative, witty and eloquently expressive. With an attitude like that it’s no wonder the shows at the stations Russo has worked at in the past never had any black producers, program directors or co-hosts.

Sterling’s situation has definitely opened up people’s eyes to the reality of the deep-rooted racism that still exists in this country. Bigots aren’t as open with their beliefs as years ago, but Sterling’s mishap shows that there are still race issues in this country and it’s more systematically oppressive. It manifests itself in the form of blacks getting dissed for housing and denied job opportunities and an ability to provide for their families and make a decent living. These practices extend to high-profile gigs like hosting radio shows. The coveted and powerful ability to impress ideas and spread culture and influence young minds.

Russo exhibited a rotten radio culture, and the emphatic and agitated way that he dismissed the intelligence, talent and abilities of every black person in the world was sickening. He had the audacity to say that there aren’t a lot of black guys who know enough about sports to hold down a national radio show. Attitudes like Russo’s are why you can’t find many African-American males doing sports talk radio on a national scale. I personally know 10 guys off the top of the dome, including myself who could handle an opportunity like that quite effectively. According to Russo, pleasing the sponsors and fans because it “is” paid radio, and keeping the phone lines buzzing, is a task that is beyond the capacity of a black man. Actually, to be fair, he cleared that up by making himself look more obnoxious and rephrasing to include all ethnicities.

Kind of hypocritical as well on Russo’s part for several reasons. Before WFAN gave him his shot at the bright lights, he was a nobody, toiling on local radio in Florida. Somebody gave him a chance. He’s seemed to have forgotten that. Here’s a guy who looks as if he never played a sport in his life. A hard day of calisthenics for this guy would be lifting lattés. Yet he has made millions in his career by yelling into a microphone, mostly criticizing everyone from sports fans to players to management and saying some of the most insane things you have ever heard. In his years at WFAN, he was considered the antagonist and out of town hater in his historically successful two-decade career as co-host of the award-winning Mike and The Mad Dog sports radio show with Mike Francesa.

In August 1989, WFAN (which was owned at the time by Emmis Communications) was looking for hosts to replace the controversial Crazy Pete Franklin in the afternoon drive time period. The show debuted on September 5, and quickly became the toast of the New York sports scene.

The mild-mannered Francesa and the loud, offensively entertaining and pugnacious Russo were the perfect opposites. They played a flawless game of good cop, bad cop, all the way to the bank. Mike and the Mad Dog was No. 1 in the market among men between 25 and 54, which notched a 6.9 share in 2007. According to New York magazine, Francesa made $1.4 million and Russo made $1.3 million in 2005.

When Russo’s head got too big, by 2008 the relationship between the two stars disintegrated to a point of no return. On August 14, 2008, Russo reached a mutual agreement with WFAN to let him out of the remainder of his contract. Russo insisted it was solely a personal decision and said, "This has nothing to do with Mike and I hating each other...

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On August 19, 2008, Russo signed a five-year contract worth about $3 million per year with Sirius XM to host an afternoon show called Mad Dog Unleashed and headline a new sports talk channel called Mad Dog Radio on both Sirius and XM satellite radio. Russo said there was nothing WFAN could have done to keep him. The opportunity to have his own show and channel was something he couldn’t pass up. Russo’s big mouth and cruel intentions may have ended the best gig he ever had and now it may have set the stage for his exit from the game. You can’t have guys with those views on black people clogging up hours of air space and presenting perspective for “all sports fans” from a very narrow-minded and bigoted view point.

Russo is part of what most would consider the most successful and prolific radio sports talk duo in history. If his opinions reflect the opinions of the upper-tier of the sports radio power structure, then it’s no wonder African-American males have a harder time breaking into big-time sports broadcasting entities as Don Cheadle would getting an invite to Donald Sterling’s 81st birthday party.

Let’s be fair. Russo isn’t just a racist; it’s safe to say he’s an all-around creep at times. On July 9, 2009, during a ten minute rant, Russo reacting to his station being ranked outside the Top 100 stations on satellite radio, flipped on his entire staff, which included bringing on nighttime host Andy Gresh for an in-person tongue-lashing. Russo concluded his rant by firing his program director, Steve Torre. Torre was later rehired and it's unknown if this rant was legitimate or a radio skit. Either way, it’s another example of the sick inner-workings of sports radio’s Rush Limbaugh.

There’s no place in journalism for twisted leaders and closet hood-rockers disguised as respected media personalities. That game Russo is kicking is washed up and played out.

The Jemele Hill’s, Michael Smith’s and Stephen A. Smith’s and Bomani Jones’ and O.G’s such as Jim Brown and David Aldridge and Gus Johnson and TSL’s own Rob Parker, have been putting in work for years in radio, television and print media, clawing. Even with obviously stellar production they’ve had to scratch their way through a maze of hypocrisy, subtle discrimination and blatant devaluing of black talent, just to get to the prominent position they are in.

People like 54-year-old “Mad Dog,” who automatically eliminate blacks as potential job candidates, not only come off as racists, but also curmudgeonous, jealous, fearful fading stars, trying to hold onto the old days. Well Internet and Digital Media companies such as The Shadow League and Heritage Sports Radio Network as well as the Warrior Report, will continue to push for what is right in journalism and pursue the goals of equal representation in ideas and perspectives especially in pro sports where the relationships between predominantly black athletes and a predominantly white ownership and media have created tensions, misunderstandings, gross misrepresentations and mistrust between the parties over the years.

If it’s a new day in The NBA, it should be a new day in radio and the voices that cover these pro leagues. All entities should be equally held to the same standards. First MLB Network should disassociate itself with Russo, who recently started hosting a daily show called “High Heat” where he discusses everything MLB. Sirius radio is privately funded and people personally subscribe to Russo’s show and he’s under contract, so I guess he has to be bought out. He hasn’t necessarily been killing the ratings but a media giant like Russo probably gets another racist rant or two before people really start reacting. Like Sterling, he’s been at it for so long that it’s just “Mad Dog being Mad Dog.”

Sounds more like a sad, sorry puppy to me. He needs to go.​

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

funny as shit.

you slip up and say something that came natural
and then your prepared statements are what we're supposed to believe...

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

His and Hers
Michael Smith and Jemele Hill weigh in on Chris Russo's recent rant about the lack of quality African-American sports radio hosts.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=10887271

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[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

funny as shit.

you slip up and say something that came natural
and then your prepared statements are what we're supposed to believe...

Bills when you get a chance listen to that podcast...

cuz sounded EXACTLY like what YOU would write/say!!!

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

The 2012 Associated Press Sports Editors
Racial and Gender Report Card

http://www.tidesport.org/RGRC/2012/2012_APSE_RGRC.pdf

“It is understood that the size of America's newspapers has been shrinking for the past several years.
One of the few organizations that has been able to increase its hires has been ESPN.”

“Nonetheless, it remains important to have voices from different backgrounds in the media. This report shows that in 2012, 90.9 percent of the sports editors, 86.6 percent of the assistant sports editors, 83.9
percent of our columnists, 86.3 percent of our reporters and 86 percent of our copy editors/designers were white. In the 2010 report, those numbers for the same positions were 96.9, 85.4, 85.6, 85.6, and 90.1 respectively.

“The percentages of males in those positions this year are 90.4, 82.8, 90.2, 88.3, and 80.4. In 2010, the percentages were 93.9, 89.6, 90.1, 89.5, and 83.8, respectively.
​

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

Bills when you get a chance listen to that podcast...

cuz sounded EXACTLY like what YOU would write/say!!!

i'll listen shortly

 

[stretchwallz]

Firstly when you have an environment where you have white host and 10 white callers in a row complaining about "athletes" code word for blacks and the discussion is framed by white ideas...it does not create any incentive for a black person to want to enter the field. Secondly black people have a perspective that differs from the general CAC and the advertisers, a perspective they don't care to hear. The 2 live stews were successful and they were fired without a solid reason in ATL...it's deliberate. I work in broadcasting for 18 years and the sports and talk branches have an enormous problem with black thought and won't put it on air unless he's a "new" black type

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

i'll listen shortly

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

Last May, Chris (Mad Dog) Russo said he was unable to find a black host “who is worthy of doing a national (sports) talk (radio) show.” It appears his, and the people running SiriusXM’s “Mad Dog Radio” channel, search is over.
Stephen A. Smith will soon leave ESPN-98.7 FM and take his verbal stylings to SXM’s “MDR,” where he will host his own show, according to satellite radio sources. Smith currently co-hosts a 1 p.m.-3 p.m. program with Ryan Ruocco on 98.7.

The sources said there was no consideration of pairing SAS with Russo. Smith’s new show will probably air from 1 p.m.-3 p.m., which will put him in direct competition with Ruocco on ESPN 98.7. Smith would serve as a lead-in to Russo’s “Mad Dog Unleashed” soiree and force SXM to juggle its current “MDR” lineup.

On one level, Smith’s apparent decision to move to SXM is surprising. It was only two weeks ago when Smith, on the air, suggested his radio days were numbered. “Ryan Ruocco can have the show,” SAS said at the time. “I have enough on my plate (with TV opportunities).

Still, the idea of Smith working freestyle in the uncensored world of satellite radio is fascinating. SAS has gone right up to the line, and sometimes crossed it, as he did on Friday on ESPN’s “First Take” when he went on a rant concerning Ray Rice’s two-game suspension and implied some women should be blamed for domestic violence.

How much further will he push it working without a seatbelt on “MDR?”
Smith’s departure from ESPN-98.7 will leave a void. Not only is he the station’s only black voice hosting a daily show, Smith also has built a loyal core of listeners. His partnership with Ruocco jelled slowly but ultimately produced a compelling, and often controversial, sound.
Smith’s NBA insights and inside look at the league, particularly the Knicks, are a key ingredient of a show that will be missed.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/r...eading-sirius-article-1.1881187#ixzz38d6nYTnJ

 

[BDR]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

SAS leaving bspn? Nawwww really?

 

[playahaitian]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

SAS leaving bspn? Nawwww really?

i cannot believe it.

dude was so humbled when they didn't renew his contract last time

 

[THE DRIZZY]

Re: Cacs Cacing: Chris Russo Just Hasn't Found A Black Host "Worthy" Of Mad Dog Radio

They just looking for an Uncle Ruckus type to apply.