Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Stern, post: 356300, member: 527"] What you don't know how to Google? I am no Mike Francesa homer, but facts are facts. ESPN NY has been awful in ratings for years. They did switch to an FM feed recently and got a small bump but are still light years behind WFAN and Francesa. Oh yeah, Michael Kay is about to be fired its so bad. Here are a few links that prove Francesa's ratings went up AFTER Mad Dog Russo left and he has won more awards and is more popular now than ever. And that Kay's job is in jeopardy with his radio show [url]http://www.talkers.com/2012-talkers-heavy-hundred-of-sports-talk/[/url] (Francesa ranked #1 in 2012 in Talker Magazine (radio industry insider publication) sports radio show host) [url]http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/wfan-mike-francesa-in-running-for-marconi-awards_b64516[/url] (Francesa might win a Marconi next week) [url]http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/07/its_official_mike_francesa_win.html[/url] [url]http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-06-30/news/32486896_1_francesa-russo-xm[/url] [url]http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/neil-best/francesa-still-top-dog-three-years-later-1.2924569[/url] [url]http://www.bobsblitz.com/2012/06/michael-kay-show-could-be-in-for.html[/url] [url]http://www.bobsblitz.com/2012/06/3-more-radio-industry-insiders-comment.html[/url] [url]http://paullebowitz.com/blog/?p=5130[/url] [url]http://www.talkers.com/2012/07/16/a-tribute-to-mike-francesa/[/url] (excerpt below) [SIZE=12px][FONT=arial][COLOR=#333333][I]But nothing lasts forever. When SiriusXM came knocking at Russo’s door in 2008, they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. In truth, by then, both men were eager to see if they could succeed solo as mightily as they had as a team. Some doubted that Mike could carry the burden alone, speculating that he needed Russo’s zaniness to leaven his approach. Management was proceeding cautiously – an immediate new co-host could not be what Russo was for fear of masquerading as a pale imitation. To introduce a whole new dynamic – a woman, an intellectual, a true comedian or maybe a retired sports figure – could be equally perilous.[/I][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=12px][FONT=arial][COLOR=#333333][I]But while trying to figure things out, a pleasant phenomenon occurred. [B]Mike thrived on his own. His radio persona grew into its full spectrum; rather than play Russo’s intelligent straight man, his own sense of humor blossomed. He was able to hold forth on pop culture – music, movies, television and politics – using the audience as his foil. The ratings thrived.[/B][/I][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE] [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?