Francesa Dynasty Crumbling
By Mike Silva ~ November 3rd, 2009. Filed under: Sports Media Commentary.
It appears that Mike Francesa didn’t appreciate criticism by Phil Mushnick earlier this week. Mushnick claimed in his NY Post column that Francesa made a comment about Chase Utley’s health before Game 1. When Mushnick called him out for it, Francesa denied it and said “let’s listen to the tape”. In response Mushnick brought up global commentary that Francesa and then partner Chris Russo made in the days after 9/11. Francesa responded to Mushnick on the air when he opened his show. I found on the web here.
Since I have limited my Francesa listening I can’t comment on whether Mike did or did not make an erroneous comment about Utley’s health. He has been known to throw “a little birdie told me” comments regarding things in the past. Personally that doesn’t bother me because I try to intellectualize the rumor and make decisions for myself. Those in glass houses can’t throw stones so no one at NYBD can criticize another for having a rumor mill. On the other hand, I do remember driving in the car and hearing Mike and Chris ask callers if they are loyal to Israel or the United States. I can’t remember the day, times, or who the caller was, but they 100% had that dialogue. Just apologize and move on!
Francesa went on yesterday to call critics “bitter”, said he never has got into trouble, and trumpeted his 18 hour Sunday schedule. Even more laughable is that Francesa pointed out all the individuals of Jewish faith that he works with at the station including Program Director Mark Chernoff.
Let’s get a couple of things straight. First, no one is bitter about your position in life. What rubs people the wrong way is your arrogant attitude towards callers and general uninformed manner of conducting your show. There is no way you prepare well because I have listened and probably know just as much baseball as you. You are not up to date (Remember who is Jason Hirsh?), spend five and half hours taking calls like a customer service rep, treat those callers like garbage, and lack new and diverse guests. Why can Evan Roberts get guests on his show and yours seem to be more of the paid variety?
As for your “18 hour Sunday” I know people working 12-14 hours a day Monday through Friday. They probably aren’t even getting paid 5% of what you do. They are a hell of a lot more informed about their job than you are. If you don’t like the hours give back the seven figure salary and leave the YES owned studio’s at WFAN.
Finally, how convenient that you don’t have tape about the “9/11 oath”. Why would you get in trouble? Do you think Mark Chernoff would kill the golden goose? We have been down this road before on the site. You are the only thing that stands in the way of WFAN Armageddon. The station is stale, there is mismanagement of the talent, and you guys have never established a career path that would make it enticing for future “Mike Francesa’s” to come on board. All Chernoff knows how to do is work towards his retirement and golden watch. As more of the 25-54 listeners become 54+ your show, and station, will crumble just like the newspaper industry. No young, intelligent, 30 and under sports fans are going to listen to your garbage daily. You haven’t stepped up your game and to quote your former co-host that is simply a “bad job”.
What does bother me about Francesa’s rant is his inability to accept criticism when he is wrong and blatant denial about his work ethic. This is not an indictment on his weight. I think the personal attacks on Mike are despicable. You can criticize the man’s work, but not his family, appearance, weight, etc. I think that is where Mushnick might have gone over the line in his column. As for his criticism of Francesa – right on!
The reaction by Mike is priceless. Mike and Team Chernoff thought moving to the YES owned studios was a new beginning. What it appears like, based on Francesa’s reaction, is we are heading to an expensive ship sinking. Kind of like the Titanic.
Iceberg ahead!
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
The Utley comments were one of the few moments I was listening (I’m sure he repeated it all day)
He didn’t just question Utley’s health. I believe he said there was speculation that he’s playing through multiple injuries. I know he used the word multiple. (He also said it in a way in that suggested Utley himself hadn’t said anything, that it’s mere speculation) But he was convinced this was true, and then went on to say that Utley’s power is compromised because of it.
So it’s not so much the rumor mill, as it is the zany conclusions he reaches.
I don’t know much about his 9/11 comments. I don’t care either. He’s not someone who’s opinion I ever take seriously, especially on non-sports stuff. I might as well listen to what Limbaugh or Tiger Woods has to say on the issues.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
Those studios aren’t YES owned that WFAN is in. You should probably fact check yourself there big guy.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
I have little respect for Mushnick, and he probably is lazy. Picking on Francesa is easy to do.
I just listened to that clip from the other day. He’s so out of touch with modern society. (Francesa also despises blogs btw) He probably doesn’t remember what he said because he just talks and doesn’t prepare or plan. in one ear, out his mouth, forgotten.
And I’m sure his 18 hours Sundays of doing nothing but watching and talking about football are so strenuous.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 am
and Glenn, yeah, they’re the existing CBS studios, but you don’t think YES paid all sorts of money for the cameras and setup for Francesa’s show?
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
Great job Mike. Bravo!
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Kudos Ceetar I couldn’t say it better myself.
No chance FAN and Chernoff spent the cash on that studio.
Glenn, sounds like you are a FAN insider. Email me and set me straight. I will be glad to address it keeping you anonymous and apologize. Personally there is no way to fact check because i don’t believe Chernoff or FAN. I can only go by what I hear, see, and provide my opinion.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
these anti fan especially anti francessa rants are getting tiresome. we get it. u hate the big bad #1 leader
November 4th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Francessa’s arrogant but so is Mushnick with the way he always tries to make himself the victim. Phil needs to get on a tv/radio show because it’s eating him up that he’s being left out in the cold..
November 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
They took the cameras from the old studio in Queens and moved everything to the new studio. YES does not own one piece of the WFAN studio. WFAN paid for the setup on the Francesa show.
November 6th, 2009 at 6:18 am
So Glenn
I am curoius, if YES didn’t pay for anything why is their name all over the backdrop? Honestly, I wouldn’t want YES to have that big of a presence without some $$.
This sounds like a backward business deal IMO
November 6th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Listen guy I am a 20 year old undergrad at UCONN and have listened to Francesa religiously since I was 10 years old. He is undoubetedly the best and most knowledgable radio/tv personality that I have listened to. Anyone that dislikes his style probably “coddled” or “babyed” through out their development. What does Francesa have to be Mr. Nice Guy? Sure Francesa is brash and at times over the top, but that does not detract in the least from my enjoyment. He runs a show a certain way and why should he change? The ratings do not lie, Francesa is a monster and is here to say. Also, to say that no one under the age of 30 likes him is a gross over generalization. Many of my fellow New York area compadres tune into Wfan Online routinely to get Francesa, instead of all the New England Sports Show garbage that are force – fed to us at UCONN. Have fun listening to the snooze fest that is Michael Kay on 1050 and save us all the trouble bashing Francesa.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Brendan aka 20 yr old diehard Francesa fan
I respect your opinion, but if Francesa is the most knowledgeable sports personality you have listened to you need to start to read more of the great independent coverage on the net. I have experienced miles better than Francesa at Amazin Avenue, RAB, SNY, and with our contributors here at NYBD. Just my two cents.
Even though I am not the biggest SABR guy, I still think their discourse on a bad day is better than some of current Francesa.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Fair enough Mike, you listed a bunch of alternatives which I give you credit for. How ever, you listed no main stream personalities who are better. Blogs do not garner national interest or the audience that Francesa can And what on SNY is better than Francesa?The only reason I came across your site is because I wanted to find out more regarding the Mushnick/Francesa battle and your site came up. I knew upon reading your title “Francesa Dynasty Crumbling” that you were just going to ramble on and whine about how Francesa is being cranky/tired/old news. Personally I feel bashing someone from the comfort of your laptop is weak. You brought nothing new that Mushnick and Raismann do not talk about every week. And I put my name as “20 year old die hard”to get it through your head that there are plenty of young adults who love Francesa. Hopefully you realize that now.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Brandon Tierney is one mainstream that is better, Evan Roberts is miles better.
Francesa is solid at football (and in talking to hardcore football fans that is dubious). I think he gets by on reputation and continues to take the lazy way out. The lack of NBA and NHL on the station is a joke.
As much as I challenge the advanced metrics on this site I applaud the debate and the attempt by individuals to advance the game. You would never see Francesa take that approach.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Other than being younger Roberts and Tierney have nothing on Mike. What do you mean Tierney and Roberts are better?They have to talk about Hockey and NBA more because they have to appeal to a different audience than Francesa’s. Mike never talks hockey because he openly admits he does not follow it and admits it is not his area of expertise. If the New York Market was so devastated by the lack of Hockey Coverage on the program maybe Mike’s show would not be #1. Mike does know the NBA and has a solid basketball background but the NBA in New York has been irrelevant for years and thankfully has a taken much needed backseat to the NFL and MLB in recent years.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Are we really gonna go back 8 years ago to what someone said in the wake of 9/11? Those months following the attack were very stressful and strange days. I don’t know exactly what he said, but I don’t really care.
As for the Utley thing, I was heard the entire program that day, and all Mike did was make a comment to the Philly radio broadcaster that there was speculation out there that Utley was hurting and that it was limiting his power production. I believe the way he put it was “there’s this theory out there that Utley is hurting…” and went on from there. He never claimed to have inside information.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Hey, great site and article! Some good comments too. Just really wanted to throw in my 2 cents (which is probably what it is worth). I’ve listened to the FAN for years and I tend to agree that the programming is getting a bit stale, although the alternative on 1050 isn’t the best either. I must say that I find it almost unbearable listening to Francesa. Not only does he treat his callers like garbage but he really comes across as an arrogant ass. He constantly makes comments that he ends up denying later and he seems to be quite full of himself. A perfect example is how he kept stating that he would not attend the Yankees parade because it was “not about him”. Since when would a Yankees parade be about him? I saw a comment above saying that anyone that does not like his style was probably coddled or babied throughout their development. Really? Is that your take on this? Ok, tough guy, I guess you’ve got things figured out. While there is no denying his knowledge and the ratings (which will stay the same until a more viable alternative is out there) Francesa will always be an arrogant and shallow sports host who does not respect any opinions other than his own. That is a fact.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:50 am
i totally agree with everything the 20 yr old francesa fan said. Mike silva got owned.