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What makes Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo such an effective addition to ESPN is that, unlike a majority of the “talent” on the network, he doesn’t need ESPN. ‘Mad Dog’ has been a New York sports radio icon for decades now and also hosts shows on SiriusXM and MLB Network.
This gives Russo the space to say things that others at the network perhaps wouldn’t, such as his recent torching of the Bronny James circus.
Echoing what most of the sports fans in this country seem to think — Michelle Beadle and Dan LeBatard included — Russo blasted Bronny’s NBA debut as “fake” and wondered who is enjoying it other than LeBron James.
“This might be fun for LeBron. Nobody in America cares that Bronny James played three minutes and grabbed one rebound at 11 o’clock at night in the opener and this is supposed to be a moment that America is gonna resonate with? I mean, come on, I’m being serious now,” Russo said on the Wednesday, October 23 episode of ESPN’s First Take.
“And I love the kid, we know he had the major issue at USC and LeBron’s great, he’s an all-timer. He’s always been a phenomenal player, he stays out of trouble…who doesn’t love LeBron? But to make a big deal because JJ, and I love Redick, I’m rooting for him hard here. But the idea he put him in for three minutes…and this is the greatest moment in professional sports, I mean we gotta be serious.”
In his NBA debut — the Lakers beat the Timberwolves 110-103 — Bronny James played three minutes and had just one rebound. He shot 0-for-3 from the field and 0-for-1 from three-point range.
“It just feels fake. It’s not a sports moment. To me, there’s a fakeness to it,” Russo added. “It’s great for LeBron. And if that’s the idea, fine. I’ll give you that. But from a sports fan’s perspective… a sports fan, not an old white guy like me. A sports fan. I don’t think anybody is walking about America saying, ‘Wow. Did you see that Bronny James played with his father last night?’ That is not happening. You can say that it is, but that’s a cocoon. That is not happening.”
Bronny, LeBron and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers will suit up for their second game of the season when they take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday, October 25.
“This might be fun for LeBron. Nobody in America cares that Bronny James played three minutes and grabbed one rebound at 11 o’clock at night in the opener and this is supposed to be a moment that America is gonna resonate with?” – Chris Russo pic.twitter.com/pOvfKRcose
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 23, 2024