Christopher Russo Biography
Chris Russo (Christopher Michael Russo) famously known as Mad Dog is an American sports radio personality popular as the former co-host of the Mike and the Mad Dog sports radio show with Mike Francesa. The program was broadcast on WFAN in New York City and simulcasted on the YES Network.
He joined Sirius XM Radio in August 2008 and operates his own channel, Mad Dog Sports Radio. Russo also hosts an afternoon radio show, Mad Dog Unleashed, on SiriusXM Ch. 82 Mad Dog Sports Radio. He also joined MLB Network on March 31, 2014, and hosts his own program, High Heat, and as of 2021, co-hosts alongside Alanna Rizzo. Chris frequently appears on ESPN’s First Take and was then inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame on November 1, 2022.
Christopher Russo Education
Russo joined Darrow School in New Lebanon, New York, where he studied before graduating. He then enrolled at Rollins College near Orlando, Florida, where he graduated with a degree in history. Russo also spent one spring at the Cranleigh School south of London, England (his mother is English) and one semester at the University of Sydney in Australia studying Australian history and literature.
Christopher Russo Career
Russo started working for WKIS in Orlando, Florida between 1984 and 1987 and WMCA in New York City between 1987 and 1988. Within his career at WKIS, when it became evident that the people of Central Florida were having difficulty understanding his accent, the station sent him to see a speech therapist twice a week. Russo earned the ”Mad Dog” nickname from New York Daily News Sports TV and Radio critic Bob Raissman, who said Chris’s approach to radio reminded him of former professional wrestler Maurice Vachon, who was also known as ”Mad Dog.”
Mike and the Mad Dog
He then joined WFAN in December 1988 as an overnight, weekend, and fill-in host. Former WFAN Morning Show Host Don Imus brought Russo on board the Imus in the Morning show as the sports reporter and later assisted in promoting his nickname. By early 1989, Russo’s work on Imus led to him getting his own regular weekend show on Saturday Mornings. After Pete Franklin’s drive-time Show from 3 pm to 7 pm was not renewed by WFAN station management, WFAN paired up Russo with Mike Francesa, who was the co-host of the mid-morning show. The show was dubbed Mike and the Mad Dog and officially launched on September 5, 1989, at 3 PM Eastern Time.
Chris then came to a mutual agreement with WFAN to release him out of the remainder of his deal on August 14, 2008. He insisted it was solely a personal decision, and he later phoned Mike on the show to say an emotional goodbye on August 15, 2008. He then joined Francesa for a one-hour reunion show at Yankee Stadium on October 16, 2009, where they were scheduled to broadcast in adjacent booths. Mike later in the day joined Russo on his Sirius XM show. Chris then joined Francesa for a Mike and the Mad Dog reunion at Radio City Music Hall on March 30, 2016.
Mad Dog Unleashed
Chris signed a five-year deal with Sirius XM Radio to headline a new sports talk channel titled Mad Dog Radio on both Sirius and XM satellite radio on August 19, 2008. He hosts the channel’s anchor show, Mad Dog Unleashed, live from Sirius’s New York studios every weekday afternoon. Chris brought abroad long-time WINS anchor Steve Torre as the new program director of ”Mad Dog Radio” and hired Bill Zimmerman as the executive producer of his show. The show started airing daily on Sirius Channel 123 and XM Channel 144 on September 15, 2008. The program now airs on Sirius and XM Channel 82. His five-year deal with Sirius XM was worth around $3 million per year and he operates the channel himself and hires the on-air staff.
On July 9, 2009, he reacted to his station being rated outside the Top 100 stations on satellite radio by berating his whole staff, which included bringing on nighttime host Andy Gresh on an in-person dress-down. He concluded by firing his program director, Steve Torre. Steve was later re-hired and it is unknown if the incident was legitimate or a radio skit. Russo then revealed on August 28, 2013, that he had been signed by Sirius XM for three more years commencing in September 2013.
High Heat
His Sirius XM contract also included daily hosting of an MLB Network TV show, High Heat, which started on March 31, 2014 (and was simulcast on MLB Network Radio. Russo then signed a new three-year deal in September 2016. He renewed his deal for 4 more years, in April 2019. He revealed on February 15, 2021, that the show’s producer Bruce Schein, who appeared daily on-air, had been let go by MLB Network,
Christopher Russo Age
Christopher Michael Russo is 63 years old and was born on October 18, 1959, in Syosset, New York, U.S. He celebrates his birthday on the 18th of October every year and his zodiac sign is Libra.
Christopher Russo Height
Russo stands at an approximate height of 6 feet 0 inches (Approx. 1.83 meters) tall.
Christopher Russo Family
Russo was born in Syosset, New York, to Anthony Michael ”Tony” (1931-2013) and Vera ”Molly” Russo, from Flushing, Queens and England respectively. He is the only child of his parents and does not have any siblings.
Christopher Russo Wife
Russo is married to his supportive wife Jeanne Lavelle, whom he married on May 6, 1995. The couple is happily married with four children; namely Timmy Russo, Kiera Russo, Colin Russo, and Patrick Russo. They reside in New Canaan, Connecticut all together.
Christopher Russo’s Net Worth
Russo has an estimated net worth of approximately $22 Million which he has earned through being a sports radio personality.
Christopher Russo Salary
Russo earns an annual salary of around $3 million as per some sources.