Shaquille O’Neal never dunked on either Mike Francesa or Chris Russo, but he might have played a small part in breaking up a powerhouse radio duo.
Former “Mike and the Mad Dog” producer Sal Licata, who was working for the show at the end of its run in the summer of 2008, said one of the final straws in the often-tense relationship between the iconic co-hosts had to do with the trade of Shaq to the Suns in February 2008.
“I think there was an issue over the Phoenix Suns’ ‘Over’ win total,” Licata said on the Awful Announcing podcast. “That Mike was on one side of it, Dog [Russo] was on another side of it, and they were fighting because they had the same bet together. And Shaq got traded to the Suns.
Mike Francesa (left) and Chris Russo of ‘Mike and the Mad Dog’ get together for a SiriusXM Town Hall hosted by Chazz Palminteri at SiriusXM Studios on Thursday, July 6, 2017, in New York City. Getty Images for SiriusXM
“I remember that being a little bit of an issue. I’m not saying that is the straw that broke the camel’s back or whatever, but that was a little bit of an issue.”
Licata explained that Russo thought O’Neal landing in Phoenix was a boost for the Suns’ win total, while Francesa thought the deal was going to lower the win total.
It sounds like a foolish debate.
“I know it sounds crazy,” Licata admitted. “But I’m telling you the truth. Now there was obviously other stuff at play. I don’t think it was all that. But that definitely caused some tension between the two.”
It was Heat executive — and former Knicks coach — Pat Riley who traded O’Neal to the Suns.
Riley is part of the “Mike and the Mad Dog” fabric because he was a regular guest on the show before playoff games in the 1990s, and then the program ripped into him for faxing in his resignation to leave for the Heat after the 1995 playoffs.
Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal runs up the court against the Sacramento Kings on, April 3, 2009, in Phoenix. AP
Russo left to start his own SiriusXM radio channel, while Francesa remained at WFAN through 2020.
For what it’s worth, the Suns finished 55-27 but were bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
O’Neal was an All-Star during his first full season with the Suns in 2009.
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