With Stephen A. Smith not in studio, fellow First Take regular Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo took it upon himself to call the shots on the popular ESPN program.
Russo began appearing on “First Take” in 2022 on Wednesdays and has since gained familiarity with the crew. This week, he posted a new set of “First Take” rules when he’s hosting the show much to the chagrin of Smith.
Smith must have thought he was hosting the show when it began with regular presenter Molly Querim absent. “Molly is off for the rest of this week so that means I’m here ok and you know how I am,” Smith said before he was interrupted.
“No no no no no,” Russo interjected.
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While Smith looked stunned, Russo set the scene. “I am the guy, I am Mr ESPN bet, I am the guy. You saw that little commercial where I go into that deli… [I’m a] local legend. You got it, First Take is in the house,” he said to a chorus of laughter.
Russo then laid down a set of rules for when he hosts the show. A graphic flashed across the screen reading: “1. No interruptions, I’m the boss. 2. If you are not in studio… be quicker with your responses. 3. No eating from 10am-Noon ET. 4. No mention of LeBron or Bronny James.“
First Take has attracted criticism over the years for harping on star-driven narratives and stories at the expense of accurately covering the sports landscape in its entirety.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has been a New York radio staple for a generation
Smith & company figures to cover all things LeBron James and Bronny James ad nauseam this season. The Lakers father-son duo made their professional debut alongside each other in the team’s second preseason game against the Phoenix Suns.
“It doesn’t feel real. I’m still kind of getting used to that, but it’s pretty cool for both of us and especially for our family,” James said postgame.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s definitely, a moment that I will never forget. For a father, it means everything.” The pair played four minutes alongside each other against the Suns.
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ESPN Insider Shams Charania reported that the Lakers are expecting to play the duo together on opening night. “We’re going to be seeing history very, very soon,” Charania said.
Other popular topics Stephen A Smith is known for discussing: the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Yankees, his New York Knicks, and other popular teams.
Russo earned his “Mad Dog” reputation through his years as a talk-show radio host on networks like WFAN and Sirius XM in New York. He also hosts a daily show on MLB Network called “High Heat.”
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