For over ten years, the Mike Francesa WFAN simulcast on YES was the gift that kept on giving to the internet. Whether it was originally the Mike and the Mad Dog show back in 2002 or solo since 2008, Francesa has given sites like this one plenty of fodder for his on-air antics and rants.
As the New York Daily News' Bob Raissman reports, Francesa's YES days are numbered as the regional sports network has elected not to carry him when its simulcast contract expires. To make matters even worse, YES will apparently pick up his cross-dial competitior, Michael Kay from ESPN Radio New York. And for YES, it's a good fit as Kay calls Yankees games on the network.
According to Raissman, the decision to drop the simulcast had nothing to do with anything that Francesa said or did. It was a purely economical move as the owner of Francesa's show, CBS Radio, had asked for too much money, "far exceeding what YES will pay to air the simulcast of Kay’s ESPN soiree," as Raissman states.
The CBS Radio contract with YES expires on January 31. It's expected that the Kay simulcast will begin during Super Bowl week which will gain plenty of publicity for both YES and ESPN Radio New York. During the first week, Kay has to get Francesa's fave Keith Olbermann and former partner Chris Russo as guests. That would be the ultimate trolling of the Big Man.
Don't feel bad for Francesa. It's expected that CBS Radio will find a new simulcast partner for his show, most likely MSG Network, and he won't be off television for long.
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