LAWST & FOUND
Mike same old self in return to WFAN
He’s back. After four months of semi-retirement, the Sports Pope was resurrected and Mike Francesa returned to his chair in the WFAN studio named for him Tuesday afternoon.
No matter the circumstances or the optics that contributed to moving Francesa back behind a microphone weekdays from 3-6:30 p.m., the hype surrounding the debut of “Mike’s On” was ubiquitous, proving that no matter how far out of joint people’s noses may be to have him back, Francesa brings buzz unlike anyone else. His first words on air? “Come on, Mink, hurry up,” Francesa said, interrupting John Miko’s 3 p.m. update that was knocked back a minute because it seemed “CMB” took a late call to end their show.
With little pomp, and palpable distaste, the shortened early afternoon show threw it to Francesa after a month-long feud. A caller phoned into Chris Carlin, Maggie Gray and Bart Scott’s show earlier to congratulate Francesa and called them clowns. Later, another caller wondered why the Knicks haven’t interviewed Mike to be their next head coach.
“I do know they couldn’t afford him,” Carlin said, also admitting the three had a sit-down with Francesa before their show to clear the air. Carlin said during the show the CMB crew and Francesa are all on the “same page.”
The page was certainly turned— forward or backward?—when Francesa came on for his reprise.
When he signed off in December, Francesa ended with, “I will miss you. I thank you, and from the bottom of my heart, I love you. Goodbye.”
Tuesday afternoon, he opened the new “Mike’s On” by interrupting Minko, followed by a long-awaited monologue that merely skimmed the soap opera that led to his return.
“It’s nice to be back,” Francesa said. “A little surprising to be back, and in case you might have seen a little notice about it the last couple of days, I am back. We’ll get into all that. I’m sure some of you, as you call in through the day, might have a couple of questions. If you do, we’ll answer them then. I’m not going to sit here and give you the litany of what happened because some of it is none of your business.”
And then it was right on to the Yankees and a series of sponsored Casamigos Tequila ad reads.
Francesa was not aware of Matt Harvey’s reported late-night antics in California, and even managed the gall to complain on his “first” day.
“This is the first nice day we’ve had ever this spring,” he said, “and it’s the first day I have to be here.” Well, he didn’t have to be there. In the hours leading into Tuesday’s return, social media lit up with old clips of memorable Francesa moments. “Mongo Nation” was out in force, treating the event like the return of a king. Twitter users shared photos of their calendars with the 3:00 hour blocked off for “Mike’s On.”
WFAN posted video of Francesa, in a pinstriped suit and sunglasses, walking into the building (Mark Chernoff held the door for him) and a little over an hour before the show started, Francesa posted a video on his new @mikeson Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts from “the studio that is kind of weirdly named after me. You can see the plaque there on the wall.”
Francesa said he felt funny returning to WFAN, but after 10 minutes, it was like old times. He also declined to talk about other shows on the air or take shots.
Day One guests included Alex Rodriguez (see below), Villanova head coach Jay Wright, Eli Manning and Jets GM Mike Maccagnan.
Francesa, who reportedly has a 2½-year contract, came out of his first break to discuss his GETTY doing shows the way we always have.”
He even took an angry call asking why he retired in the first place if he knew he was going to come back to WFAN. Francesa said he returned because it was necessary to make his app happen. He also said there were other offers that remain on the table with “other stations.”
“You know what? I missed doing the show,” Francesa said. “I admit it.”