It takes a lot to move the Twitter discourse away from a potential Kentucky loss to Wofford, but that’s exactly what Mike Francesa managed to do with one huffy tweet.
Due to the outrageous misinformation and outright lies that continue to be reported and the constant requests for me to comment. I will make a statement here.
— Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) March 23, 2019
If you’re wondering what the context was, well, so was everyone else! Here was his previous tweet:
Wofford has to stay out of the paint in this game. That belongs to Cats.
— Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) March 23, 2019
Good stuff there. Plenty of people were obviously curious as to what concerns Francesa would be addressing, and their curiosity only grew as Twitter waited longer and longer for the promised statement.
Address the outright lies and outrageous misinformation, please!
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) March 23, 2019
C’mon Chappy lets go. Make ya point, we don’t have awl day.
— OrdioMongo (@OrdioMongo) March 23, 2019
I'm actually kind of nervous about this. Is he stepping down from his role as Shadow GM of the #Giants?
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) March 23, 2019
It took nearly three hours for the promised statement to arrive, and when it did it was (perhaps predictably) a letdown.
My deal with WFAN is simple.
My deal with Entercom is complicated and involves WFAN, https://t.co/DPC5pzxj9G, the Mike’sOn app, CAA, Draftkings and a few other concerns.
I have a long-term offer from WFAN. I haven’t signed it.— Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) March 23, 2019
I have told the company if I stay I would consider adding another person to the program.
My idea.
Nothing can be done in that area without my approval, and NOTHING has been done.
The Mike’sOn app and its business relationships are important and must be considered.— Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) March 23, 2019
This needs to be decided quickly for Entercom, which has been accommodating, WFAN and the broadcasters it might impact.
Would like to have it all done before the first Mets losing streak.— Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) March 23, 2019
As you can see, that leaves plenty of the world’s outrageous misinformation and outright lies unaddressed, which is really a shame. If you’re curious as to the context he is addressing, it’s this New York Post article from Andrew Marchand, in which Marchand reported that WFAN had considered bringing in Adam Schein as a co-host and/or eventual replacement.
From Marchand:
Already planning again for life after Mike Francesa, WFAN held recent talks to sign SiriusXM host Adam Schein, sources have told The Post.
Several scenarios were proposed by WFAN’s VP of programming, Mark Chernoff, including the idea of even pairing Schein with Francesa for a short period before Schein would take over for Francesa when the sports radio icon signs off for good at the station.
Ultimately, Schein will not be joining FAN, as he has opted to stay with SiriusXM, signing a new deal to remain the mid-morning show host on the station that bears the nickname of Francesa’s former partner, Chris Russo, Mad Dog Radio.
Why did Francesa choose today for this Twitter saga? And more importantly, why did it take him three hours to compose the statement? Well, we don’t know. But sometimes life is better when mysteries are left unexplained.
[NY Post]