Al Alburquerque & Mike Francesa

[metirish]

The asshole that just keeps giving , watch both videos

Caller Wants To Discuss Tigers Pitcher, Mike Francesa Hangs Up On Him Because He Doesn�t Believe That Pitcher Exists

[Ceetar]

yeah. Love it.

He clearly isn't even watching. And that's his job..who else could get away with that?

[metirish]

Ceetar wrote: yeah. Love it. He clearly isn't even watching. And that's his job..who else could get away with that?

so true , he doesn't even give a damn , his excuse in the second video is classic arrogant Mike.

[Edgy MD]

The hard part is that he's the signature personality on the station the Mets call home. He gets exclusive interviews with Mets personnel, gets to put the feet to the fire of men who have ten times his knowledge, experience, work ethic and intellectual curiosity, if not intellectual ability. (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.)

Young Mets fans grow up exposed to him as an authoritative voice, and led to believe either that (1) arrogance as a mask of ignorance is a legitimate way to get ahead; (2) sports, especially baseball, and most especially the Mets is a stupid subject that stupid people talk about; or (3) the Mets must be a clown show, to have this jerk snorting contemptuously at them every day.

In an era of accountability where even Mookie Wilson isn't safe, how is this jerk continuing to stay in his position?

[G-Fafif]

Edgy DC wrote: In an era of accountability where even Mookie Wilson isn't safe, how is this jerk continuing to stay in his position?

Gets ratings. High ones. He isn't counterprogrammed in a meaningful fashion by the other sports station in town -- idiot MFY fan on WFAN, idiot MFY fan on WEPN.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: Edgy DC wrote: In an era of accountability where even Mookie Wilson isn't safe, how is this jerk continuing to stay in his position? Gets ratings. High ones. He isn't counterprogrammed in a meaningful fashion by the other sports station in town -- idiot MFY fan on WFAN, idiot MFY fan on WEPN.

Problem is that most people are in the "it's better than nothing category" in regards to sports radio. I'm going to flip on 660 on my drive home, because my alternative is nothing. I want to hear about sports.

It's not about the counter programming, It's about the leadership behind the scenes. Even if Kay was beating him the ratings, they wouldn't look to upgrade intelligently, they'd just long for someone 'hipper' and push the same formula of angry ranting, or stupid debates and frat-boy misogynistic antics. Look at the two guys they chose to run locally on ESPN radio over Cowherd.

[Edgy MD]

I'm certain, given 20 minutes of warning, I could produce a show that matches his ratings with Mason Reese as my host.

I don't believe the man gave them the market position. (The Mets did!) And they've got to muster the courage to believe that too.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's probably the clear strong signal of 660 AM that gave them their market share.

I used to listen to Mike and the Mad Dog too, because my drive was short and I wanted to hear any breaking news about the Mets. When my drive got longer I realized I had to just stop lest I suffer from idiocy overload.

Now I listen to NPR. It's been six years since I've heard Mike Francesa's voice, and I don't miss him, or WFAN even a little.

In the 21st Century, with AM, FM, satellite, Internet, podcasts, iPhones, etc to say there's "nothing else on" is absurd. There are countless alternatives to Mike Francesa.

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It's probably the clear strong signal of 660 AM that gave them their market share. I used to listen to Mike and the Mad Dog too, because my drive was short and I wanted to hear any breaking news about the Mets. When my drive got longer I realized I had to just stop lest I suffer from idiocy overload. Now I listen to NPR. It's been six years since I've heard Mike Francesa's voice, and I don't miss him, or WFAN even a little. In the 21st Century, with AM, FM, satellite, Internet, podcasts, iPhones, etc to say there's "nothing else on" is absurd. There are countless alternatives to Mike Francesa.

it's the short drive thing. At least for me. Music is out, don't have satellite. I'm not motivated enough for a quick drive to get an audiobook or download a podcast or plug in my iPod. And I think there are plenty of people out there driving around with just AM/FM and no smartphone or satellite subscription.

With Twitter I no longer need the breaking news, often I get in the car at 5 and Francesa is 'breaking' something I heard 40 minutes ago. But I do still enjoy the occasion interview with Terry Collins for instance.

[ashie62]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm certain, given 20 minutes of warning, I could produce a show that matches his ratings with Mason Reese as my host. I don't believe the man gave them the market position. (The Mets did!) And they've got to muster the courage to believe that too.

Who me?

[Edgy MD]

Tell, me you wouldn't call that guy.

> Mase, did you see that goal Cunningham scored against the Red Bulls last night?

> Fuggedaboutit! The guy has wings! WINGS!

> Would you say he has a... smorgasbord of skills?

> You're screwing with me now. Next caller!

It would be must-hear radio.

[seawolf17]

There is no bigger doosh in all of sports-talk radio.

[Vic Sage]

as someone who greeted the news of WFAN's inception as tidings of great joy, who waited up to listen to the first FAN broadcast (steve somers came on at midnight; i'm pretty sure that was their first broadcast), and who lived with it for all its ups and downs (including the a-hole from cleveland), i finally gave up on the network a few years ago, when Imus left and that schmuck Craig Carton made mornings unlistenable and Fatscessa lost his Mad Dog partner in the afternoons, who served to bite his ankle on occasion.

i still listen to Mets games once in a while, but that's it. I'll listen to Mike & Mike in the morning on ESPN... not that they're brilliant, but they are both decent unloathsome creatures which is all one can even hope for anymore. And i just stay away from ALL sportstalk the rest of the day. There is just so much other sports news to access that its just not necessary to put up with the idiot callers and cretinous hosts any more.

And my life is the better for it.

[G-Fafif]

Suzyn Waldman -- first voice, 3 o'clock update, July 1, 1987.

Jim Lampley -- first show, 3:05 until Mets Extra with Howie Rose. He never held that time slot again, but he was their biggest name, so they put him out front.

Then Mets Extra, the game, more Mets Extra...and the premiere of Captain Midnight.

It was mostly downhill from there.

[Frayed Knot]

At this point I think a cottage industry NEEDS to spring up calling Francesa inquiring about players with odd names - fictional or otherwise - if for no other reason than just to see if big Mike can sniff out the real ones.

'Hey Mike - long time, first time -- do yo think the Yanks should sign Phil Phoenix this winter?'

Edited October 6, 2011 by Guest

[Fman99]

I still listen to Russo occasionally on satellite radio on my drive home. He's obnoxious but he's at least watching the games and such.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think Boomer & Carton is the best show they've had since M&MD broke up. Boomer is a rare ex-jock superstar who doesn't come off as a douche, an idiot, or a bore. You can tell he's proud of his achievements but can still take a joke.

Carton is a bit of a third-rate Howard Stern but mostly harmless and plays well as the regular guy to Boomer's jock. Their show is really awful when it's just Carton, so there's something to the chemistry.

Francessa is a bore most of the time anymore. This Albequerque call is the first interesting thing that's happened on his show all year.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

At this point I think a cottage industry NEEDS to spring up calling Francesa inquiring about players with odd names - fictional or otherwise - if for no other reason than just to see if big Mike can sniff out the real ones. 'Hey Mike - long time, first time -- do yo think the Yanks should sign Phil Phoenix this winter?'

He did something similar to the Alburquerque thing a couple of years ago, IIRC (just after the Mad Dog break). On that occasion, though, it was an actual MFY pitcher name on which he biffed.

Whether that was in response to a spate of ACTUAL prank calls, or merely something of a hot-air-fueled "preemptive strike," I dunno.

OE: Jason Hirsh, picked up at the trade deadline during the 2009 pennant run.

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[Vic Sage]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I think Boomer & Carton is the best show they've had since M&MD broke up. Boomer is a rare ex-jock superstar who doesn't come off as a douche, an idiot, or a bore. You can tell he's proud of his achievements but can still take a joke. Carton is a bit of a third-rate Howard Stern but mostly harmless and plays well as the regular guy to Boomer's jock. Their show is really awful when it's just Carton, so there's something to the chemistry. Francessa is a bore most of the time anymore. This Albequerque call is the first interesting thing that's happened on his show all year.

i like Boomer ok, but Carton is the single worst human being on radio. He actually drove me away from FAN in the morning. Not even Imus was able to do that till then.

He is a living insult to all the other inarticulate, boorish, sexist, jock-sniffing triangle players in the world. i don't get the tolerance for him from people i otherwise respect.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Vic Sage wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I think Boomer & Carton is the best show they've had since M&MD broke up. Boomer is a rare ex-jock superstar who doesn't come off as a douche, an idiot, or a bore. You can tell he's proud of his achievements but can still take a joke. Carton is a bit of a third-rate Howard Stern but mostly harmless and plays well as the regular guy to Boomer's jock. Their show is really awful when it's just Carton, so there's something to the chemistry. Francessa is a bore most of the time anymore. This Albequerque call is the first interesting thing that's happened on his show all year. i like Boomer ok, but Carton is the single worst human being on radio. He actually drove me away from FAN in the morning. Not even Imus was able to do that till then. He is a living insult to all the other inarticulate, boorish, sexist, jock-sniffing triangle players in the world. i don't get the tolerance for him from people i otherwise respect.

Ow! What can I say, I think Mike & Mike are boring and I no longer fantasize about a naked Shelly Sonstein.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Kwik Kwiz:

Name the rocker pictured here with Shelli Sonstein

[Frayed Knot]

- I don't even know who Shelli Sonstein is


- I'm with Vic on Carton. Boomer I could take or leave.


- I'll flick to Mike & Mike on occasion but usually only for short spans. The two personalities are unobjectionable enough but after too many stints of, we interrupt this football talk for some football talk, I click it off. The most descriptive thing I think you can say about the show is that it has both all the strengths and weaknesses of being part of the ESPN orb.


- That Francesa/Hirsch thing is so classic because the only option his ego allows him to consider it the one where if he hasn't heard of the player he must not exist. The only surprising part is that he didn't try to blame his lack of Hirsh knowledge on someone else.

Edited October 6, 2011 by Guest

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Shelli has done traffic and weather mornings with Jim Kerr for 30+ years on WPLJ, then WNEW ... now Q104.3

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Kwik Kwiz: Name the rocker pictured here with Shelli Sonstein

Helllo Bob Seger!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

He saw that face and he lost all control.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Funny how the night moves... look just like the middle-school-first-date moves.

I'm with Vic one hundred percent on Carton.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: He saw that face and he lost all control.

She had points of her own, sitting way up high.

[Guest attgig]

Frayed Knot wrote: - That Francesa/Hirsch thing is so classic because the only option his ego allows him to consider it the one where if he hasn't heard of the player he must not exist. The only surprising part is that he didn't try to blame his lack of Hirsh knowledge on someone else.

yup. and he did blame it on the yankees for "not announcing it"

[Frayed Knot]

Vic Sage wrote: ... but Carton is the single worst human being on radio.

Not as long as Sid Rosenberg is still alive he isn't.

[stevejrogers]

attgig wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: - That Francesa/Hirsch thing is so classic because the only option his ego allows him to consider it the one where if he hasn't heard of the player he must not exist. The only surprising part is that he didn't try to blame his lack of Hirsh knowledge on someone else. yup. and he did blame it on the yankees for "not announcing it"

The thing that amazes me is that people still call up these radio shows looking for information. Okay that was for an opinion, but occasionally someone will call to settle bets or something.

At this point I'd trust Wikipedia more for bet settling or answer to something more than I would with a sports radio host.

Most impressive lack of knowledge or laziness to do a little research on the matter though is still a 1050 update guy filling in a quickie couple of hours local shift in 2007 before a Sunday Night Met/Yankee game declared it as a stone cold fact that Orlando Hernandez was facing the Yankees for the very first time that night. Which thanks to a caller mentioning a multi HR game ARod had as a Ranger against El Duque turned into a facing everyone in the Yankee lineup except for ARod for the first time.

Of course a simple call to either team's research department, or a look at Baseball-Reference.com's player splits would have seen that Hernandez faced the Yankees several times as a White Sox and oh yeah, the year before as a Met!