30 for 30

Philip Jeff Frye

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Was the racial aspect that the show dwelled upon so much really what the whole series was about to everyone not in Boston or LA?
There was definitely talk about the racial stuff elsewhere but as a Celtics fan who was not from New England and was too young to have noticed the busing controversies, I thought it was mostly hot air blown by people looking to make something out of nothing. Sure the Celtics had white guys, but they had Parish and Maxwell and DJ too. The Celtics had a black coach and the Lakers a white coach. And was there a more hated Laker than Rambis? It was hardly Kentucky vs. Texas Western.
 

Kliq

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There was definitely talk about the racial stuff elsewhere but as a Celtics fan who was not from New England and was too young to have noticed the busing controversies, I thought it was mostly hot air blown by people looking to make something out of nothing. Sure the Celtics had white guys, but they had Parish and Maxwell and DJ too. The Celtics had a black coach and the Lakers a white coach. And was there a more hated Laker than Rambis? It was hardly Kentucky vs. Texas Western.
Ironically I'm pretty sure Riley was a star for that Kentucky team.
 

CantKeepmedown

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LOL....seems like ESPN going out of there way to do docs they think will piss off Simmons. I mean the Celtics-Lakers? zzzzzzz. been done like 400 times
Funny, Simmons was on Dan Patrick earlier today and DP asked him what he thought of the doc. Simmons told him he didn't watch it, which stunned Patrick. Simmons said that he thought 5 hours was a bit much, and "what are they going to show me that I haven't already seen? I grew up with it". Patrick said that he covered it and still wanted to watch it. Simmons later admitted it was on his DVR, and he'd probably get around to watching it at some point.

After the interview, Patrick said that there was probably still some bad blood there with Simmons and ESPN and that had to have something to do with it. They went on to make fun of ESPN for apparently trying to come up with a 40 for 40 show after Simmons left (which may have been a joke, but sounded real??)
 

Buffalo Head

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Knowing how significant the 1980s Celtics were to Simmons in shaping who he became as a sports fan/writer, it has to absolutely kill him that this thing got made on the platform he created and he had nothing to do with it. I can't blame him for not wanting to watch it.
 

MarkBT

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Is anyone outside of NYC going to watch the Mike and the Mad Dog 30 for 30?
I will. I spent 4 years living in NJ during college, and have fond memories listening to those two. One summer job involved a ton of driving in the afternoons, and their radio show was my entertainment for those long, boring days. My roommates and I would also have the YES simulcast of their show on as background noise in our apartment as well.

For whatever reason I got a kick out of listening to those two argue about a ton of subjects I couldn't care less about - boxing, horse racing, Yankee/Giant/Met legends, etc..
 

Lose Remerswaal

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I will. I spent 4 years living in NJ during college, and have fond memories listening to those two. One summer job involved a ton of driving in the afternoons, and their radio show was my entertainment for those long, boring days. My roommates and I would also have the YES simulcast of their show on as background noise in our apartment as well.

For whatever reason I got a kick out of listening to those two argue about a ton of subjects I couldn't care less about - boxing, horse racing, Yankee/Giant/Met legends, etc..
That makes you a New Yorker for the purposes of this question

I can't wait for it. I could occasionally get the Fan in Worcester and I would tape them and listen after school/work rather than listen to the "competition" from WEEI.
I should have worded the question differently. Should have been: Will anyone who didn't listen to their show have any interest in this 30 for 30?
 

khalid1973

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That makes you a New Yorker for the purposes of this question



I should have worded the question differently. Should have been: Will anyone who didn't listen to their show have any interest in this 30 for 30?
It's hard to know the answer to that question but I'm hoping people will because without Mike and the Mad Dog, there would not be a sports talk radio station in every major US city today. The unfortunate part is they are still so head and shoulders above everyone else (Mike and Dog, not Mike separately), if they don't figure out a way to run it back this show will mostly remind me how much I used to love listening to them.
 

Senator Donut

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Some of the most enjoyable 30 for 30 documentaries for me have been about subjects I knew nothing about. For example, I never knew a broke impostor controlled the Islanders for a period of time until I saw Big Shot. I was far too young to remember the great Houston basketball teams, or the the USFL, but I enjoyed both of those.
 

Sir Lancelotti

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Outside of hearing the post game 7 2004 Sox comeback broadcast (which was brilliant) I've never tuned into the M&MD show and I'm really looking forward to the 30 for 30. Always wanted more perspective on why they were considered so groundbreaking in sports talk circles. I was raised on 90s WEEI constant negativity and didn't know that the medium could be funny and enjoyable until Toucher and Rich rolled in.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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It's hard to


It's hard to know the answer to that question but I'm hoping people will because without Mike and the Mad Dog, there would not be a sports talk radio station in every major US city today. The unfortunate part is they are still so head and shoulders above everyone else (Mike and Dog, not Mike separately), if they don't figure out a way to run it back this show will mostly remind me how much I used to love listening to them.
I'm waiting for the movie version of this book:

 

Vinho Tinto

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Always wanted more perspective on why they were considered so groundbreaking in sports talk circles.
There were sports radio spots on news stations before WFAN, but those spots were limited (usually to an interview of a coach or player) and rarely sounded like fans talking. I've always been a night owl, so would usually scour AM radio looking for any nighttime sports talk. Usually my best bet was hearing Larry King have a baseball writer on his synicated radio show. The first time I heard WFAN, I think I heard Jim Lampley hosting his show. It sounded like what we typically hear in current national radio sports talk: professional and detached.

Mike and the Mad Dog instantly clicked for me. They were talking about Kevin Maas and what a buzz he was generating for the Yankees. I loved that they didn't sound like pros. Francesa's heavy New York accent sounded tame paired with Mad Dog's accent and lisp. I heard energy and passion in what they talked about - and it sounded natural. Throw in the additional personality the callers gave the show and it instantly became a must listen for me.

Their formula is now all over sports media. The downside is that you now must have a strong opinion which can quickly morph into hot takes.
 

Clears Cleaver

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Like the greats (Howard, etc) Mike and Dog were fantastic interviewers. Like must listen, especially on f they were going after someone. Good cop bad cop. And historical depth of knowledge was absurd. On both. Mike used to the facts guyfor cbs sports.

Whenever a sports figure died I'd immediately turn on Mike and dog. They'd turn showover to talks by about the deadathlete, have guests who knew the player and basically eulogize the guy in a fantastic way.

Hard to desvribe, but it was always tremendous
 

richgedman'sghost

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Wasn't the Sports Huddle a weekly show? It's a lot different doing one show a week as opposed to 5 or 6.
 

Dotrat

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Wasn't the Sports Huddle a weekly show? It's a lot different doing one show a week as opposed to 5 or 6.
Yes--and though it was several lifetimes ago, they were really good at bringing humor and passion to their discussions of Boston sports. Like M & MD, they were fans who went way back with the teams and athletes they loved--and hated. Plus, they would try to call Buckingham Palace every January to get Queen Elizabeth's Super Bowl picks, a bit that never failed to crack up my childhood self.

Bruce Cornblatt, who produced the MLB show on the '67 Sox was their producer before departing (IIRC) to work for Bob Costas.
 

dcmissle

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Guy Mainella had a two-hour show on WBZ radio five nights a week, late 60s into 70s. I believe he and Sports Huddle overlapped.

Different kind of show entirely. They were fanboys, he was smoothly professional. They were caustic -- absolutely crucified the Bruins and the Adams family -- he was serious.

The 1970s brought weekday sports radio -- Cliff and Claff.

So people were doing this stuff, but not on the scope of Mike and Dog.
 

rlsb

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Aug 2, 2010
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With regard to The Sports Huddle, Chiang Kai-shek was the code name for the Red Sox manager who wore number 34. There were many a gong sound during baseball season when discussing the exploits of this manager. Many, many laughs among their bits.
 

twothousandone

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Like the greats (Howard, etc) Mike and Dog were fantastic interviewers. . . Mike used to the facts guy for cbs sports.
If I remember it right, Mad Dog had a background in "news" and thus was supposed to be the interviewer. Mike was the fact guy, as the show launched. Then it turned out they were both good at the other thing.

I listened all the time (even listened to Lampley's "Take a Sports Break") and they peaked (but stayed at the peak for a long time) when Dog's love of Will Clark spilled over. Mike was on vacation and called in (OK, maybe it was a set up), ripped into to Dog for his Will Clark worship, then HUNG UP. Dog was incensed (Gelb! Get him back on the phone! Wherever he is, find him and get him back on the phone!)

But they could find common ground often enough that it seemed genuine. Like the Bo Jackson one, I am looking forward to explaining to my kids that there was nothing like it before, and nothing like it since. But I understand why it may not resonate if you were not in NY. Of course, my wife was in Asia during Bo Jackson mania, so she appreciated seeing what she had missed.

Edit
I got a kick out of listening to those two argue about a ton of subjects I couldn't care less about - boxing, horse racing, Yankee/Giant/Met legends, etc..
On tape delayed sports: Dog: "So, Mike. I ended up watching the French Open final, which, it turns out, was played three weeks ago! I don't watch a lot of tennis, but shouldn't the French Open final be live, Mike?!" Mike "Chris, if it was on at 3am, you would have missed it entirely. By the way, who won?" Dog: "I don't know, Mike. It wasn't live, so I turned it off!" Hours of passionate nonsense.
 
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Clears Cleaver

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that was great.

The segment about them ranking the Presidents...LOL. And the "guess the ratings" segment. OMG it was so absurd and yet you never missed that
 

ifmanis5

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Fun show. Hit all the highlights. I could have taken another hour but then again I'm a huge fan. They obviously got everybody to talk on camera except Imus. Also, Suzyn's face did not match the rest of her body. Looked odd.
 

RedOctober3829

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Fun show. Hit all the highlights. I could have taken another hour but then again I'm a huge fan. They obviously got everybody to talk on camera except Imus. Also, Suzyn's face did not match the rest of her body. Looked odd.
I wish it was 2 hours too. So many things could've been hit on: 2004 ALCS, Giants SBs, Mikes relationship with Rex, some more celebrity callers, more hosts talking about their impact on their careers, etc.
 

Dotrat

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A retro look at a retro look at the Sports Huddle
Thanks for posting this--it brought back a lot of great memories.

M&MD 30 for 30 is on the DVR. I'm happy (and a little relieved) that I'm not the only listener who found the guess-the-ratings segments hysterical--like some Bizarro world version of a classic SCTV skit with Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. . .
 

Buffalo Head

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I was shocked this was only an hour. I thought after the 9/11 thing they might do Cory Lidle. Would have loved to hear Pollian hanging up again.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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It was only an hour but if you lived in the NYC area from the inception of WFAN to the peak of Mike and The Mad Dog era, it nailed it. Before the internet, they were the single biggest influence on sports takes in the sports world's largest market in the mid 1990s.

Now, in the age of blogs, sports websites and podcasts of every variety, it will never be the same again. They were the template.
 

StuckOnYouk

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1982 was my first year watching football, fell in love with the Giants for some reason. it was the year before Parcells took over. I loved both of these guys. This looks like it will be incredible and I'm sure the ratings on this thing will be right at the top of their 30 for 30's...
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Mike and the Mad Dog, '80s Celtics/Lakers, now Bill Belichick. They are going out of their way to air 30 for 30s that Simmons would have loved to be involved in, aren't they?
 

Montana Fan

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1982 was my first year watching football, fell in love with the Giants for some reason. it was the year before Parcells took over. I loved both of these guys. This looks like it will be incredible and I'm sure the ratings on this thing will be right at the top of their 30 for 30's...

I also am all in on this. I was a Giants fan through the very lean 70's. I leaned on Ron Johnson's '72 season and then players like John Mendenhall, Spider Lockhart, Bob Tucker and Brad Van Pelt for a long time. When LT stated in the video that Bill B should have been the one taking over when Parcells retired, it once again broke my heart that he didn't. Can't wait until this comes on.
 

TFP

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Anyone watch the Ric Flair one? I'll probably find sometime Friday afternoon to watch it.
Literally just finished it. It’s worth watching for sure especially if you’re a wrestling fan, it’s honest and unvarnished and got some good interviews.
 

agibson2000

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Anyone watch the Ric Flair one? I'll probably find sometime Friday afternoon to watch it.
I did, to me the way he described how he lived, how much he drank etc I’m amazed he’s alive & did live through that med emergency he had. Also talked about other interesting things wrestling wise, and how Ashley “Charlotte” got into the company. You’ll find out more when watching it, was good I thought. I too am interested in watching the Bill’s 30 coming up.
 

steveluck7

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Just watched the Flair one. Definitely worth it if u were a wrestling fan at any point between like 1980 and today. Some cool interviews from former stars.
The comments from Hulk Hogan were kind of surprising in their humility
 

The Gray Eagle

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If you weren't in the Carolinas in the 80's, it's hard to understand how huge Ric Flair was there at the time. In New England, a comparison of hugeness would be if Ortiz and Brady were rolled into one guy, and that one guy was doing TV interviews all the time.
 

PC Drunken Friar

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If you weren't in the Carolinas in the 80's, it's hard to understand how huge Ric Flair was there at the time. In New England, a comparison of hugeness would be if Ortiz and Brady were rolled into one guy, and that one guy was doing TV interviews all the time.
I thought it was great and I don't doubt the popularity...but how the hell did Snoop ever watch Ric Flair growing up? He had to be bullshitting about that, right?
 

Kliq

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I thought it was great and I don't doubt the popularity...but how the hell did Snoop ever watch Ric Flair growing up? He had to be bullshitting about that, right?
Flair was working for Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1979 which was broadcasted in California on TBS when Snoop would have been 8 so he might be telling the truth.