New York Daily News

A-Rod in studio with lawyer

- BY JOHN HEALY

There is just one more week left of Mike Francesa on the WFAN airwaves and, boy, has it been quite a ride. Whether you like him or hate him, there are plenty of moments where many of us have laughed, screamed or, heck, maybe even cried while listening to the show.

Narrowing down the most memorable moments is a near impossible task. There are enough memorable Francesa moments for a March Madness style bracket and each one could contend for the Final Four.

With that being said, below are the 10 most memorable moments that this particular writer believes best demonstrat­es why Francesa has been New Yawk’s Numbah One for almost 30 years. first show, though, was probably the opening topic.

On March 19, 2002 — after they acknowledg­ed they were on TV for the first time — they decided not to open the show about Yankees or Mets spring training, March Madness or the Knicks. Nope. It was news that the New York Rangers made a trade for Pavel Bure.

Yes, hockey. The sport Francesa maybe gives 20 minutes a day in May to if the Rangers are making a deep playoff run. What a world.

This moment may not have as much to do with Francesa as it does his guest, but it certainly demonstrat­es his clout.

Alex Rodriguez, with his lawyer by his side, joined Francesa in studio minutes after he learned MLB Commission­er Bud Selig would not have to meet him face-to-face as he appealed his Biogenesis suspension. He spent 40 minutes with Francesa, but it was the opening act that was memorable when ARod complained about the “man from Milwaukee.”

“Today I just lost my mind,” he said. “I banged a table and kicked a briefcase and slammed out of the room ... what we saw today was disgusting. The fact that the man from Milwaukee that put this suspension on me with not one bit of evidence, something I didn’t do, and he doesn’t have the courage to look at me in the eye and tell me this is why I did 211 (games)? I shouldn’t serve one inning.”

A-Rod eventually served a season-long suspension, missing the entire 2014 season. celebratin­g the Sports Pope. At the third FrancesaCo­n, the guest of honor reunited with his former partner, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, which was featured in the “Mike and the Mad Dog” ESPN 30 for 30 documentar­y.

The two also got together for a live reunion show at Radio City Music Hall in 2016, which brought out all sorts of New York sports legends such as Joe Torre, Tom Coughlin and Mark Messier.

While they had brief moments appearing on each other’s shows beforehand, the live show certainly brought back memories from the 19 years they spent together which was a special treat for many fans who wished the two never split in 2008. I’ll take the ticket and I’m bringing my snowblowah,” he said. “I can do rows really fast because I’m good with my snowblowah. I love my snowblowah. I love the snowblowah. I love to do my driveway with the snowblowah. It’s one of my favorite things. Get a lot of snow and use the snowblowah. I have a great, great snowblowah.”

It’s the little things like this that his fans love.

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