Mike Francesa has been delivering some blistering content over the past few months.
Francesa has been making a lot of noise in the New York sports world, with the Mets making a surprise run to the NLCS, the Yankees advancing to the World Series, and the Giants and Jets having a nightmare season.
The timing was fortuitous as it coincided with the BetRivers Podcast Network's increased production capabilities.
“As I moved into new areas with the company, I started doing more, and even more after the event,” Francesa, 70, told The Post exclusively on Wednesday. He said this in a conversation.
Francesa had a legendary run on Afternoon Drive on WFAN, first with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and then as solo host, where fans could hear his musings at 1 p.m. the day after the game. I had to wait.
During the first two years of his podcast, there was often a lag between the shows starting.
He currently goes live on YouTube immediately after games, such as the Yankees-Mets playoff series and nearly every Giants-Jets game this season, and when big news is announced. Podcasts are posted to various audio platforms.
“Right after the game, we started doing a lot of things that we hadn't done before. At the time, we thought it was going to be very popular,” Francesa said.
“That was the biggest change of all. We started reacting immediately after the event. That’s what I always wanted to do. I didn't have the environment. Now I have people available whenever I want.
“Now, in many cases, fans have the opportunity to hear from me before they hear from just about anyone else in New York, other than anyone who appears on the postgame show, because I give them information right away. Because it will be announced.”
Francesa said a YouTube channel was always in the company's plans, but they needed to take time to build their network first.
A memorable moment was when Francesa went live on Barstool Sports during Game 5 of the World Series.
“I did that because my son Harrison works there, and he was the one who really coordinated that. Last year, he worked with Frank the Tank and their top producers. They asked me to come in and do it,” Francesa said.
Francesa also has twins, Jack, who plays tight end at Hamilton College, and a younger sister, Emily, who attends Villanova.
The station's staying power is due in part to millennials who grew up listening to “Mike and Mad Dog” in the backseat of their father's car and continue to engage with his content.
“When I go out, like yesterday at the St. John's game, I'm amazed at how many young people in their 20s come up to me and talk to me about something they heard on a podcast or on a show. I hear it all the time. It's amazing how much I hear it,” Francesa said, noting that it's a special environment because she's welcomed home as a St. John's graduate.
“But still, I hear that all the time. I've had that kind of response, especially from the Barstool people. When you go in there, everyone's young. They're very respectful and respectful of your career. He's very knowledgeable and very responsive to your actions. It's really impressive.”
Francesa long had uncanny broadcasting abilities, speaking for more than half an hour at a time, uninterrupted, in perfectly arranged paragraphs, and without any noticeable notes.
“I don't have any notes or anything. What I do is watch the games. I watch everything. I write things down on paper that I want to remember, but when I take them into the studio, I write them down on paper. No,” Francesa said.
“I have a very good memory. When I say something or write something down, I remember it. When I want to make a point about something, I remember it. I always organize things the way I want to say them. I was good at organizing things in my head and saying what I wanted to say in order.
“That's what I have a talent for. I don't write any scripts. Everything is off the top of my head. I don't have a staff, so I do everything by myself. I have a producer, but my Everything that comes out of my mouth is produced by me. No one gives me any information.”
Brian Monzo, who was with Francesa on WFAN, works with Francesa on the BetRivers Network show.
Francesa said doing the digital show “energizes” her and keeps her “in the moment.”
“I still watch everything,” Francesa said. “I still follow everything. I don't go to as many games as I used to. I love watching the games and I love being able to react right away.”
In recent months, Francesa has seemed inspired by the Giants and Jets' particularly disappointing seasons.
“Especially the Jets,” Francesa emphasized.
“I've been fascinated by the whole Aaron Rodgers story since the beginning, because you don't often meet people that nice. I'm not really interested in his personality, but I'm very interested in the football part. There is. To see the greatest of all time come in at this stage in his life and try to do this is what we fear the most…
“My prediction was that this was going to be a playoff team, but I kept emphasizing in the spring that I really feared that this coaching staff could destroy this team. My worst fears came true and they became even weaker. [owner] woody [Johnson’s] Decision — I did not oppose Woody's demotion. [offensive coordinator Nathaniel] hacket or remove [head coach Robert] Saleh. I thought Saleh was a terrible head coach. But he actually weakened this team by not bringing anything to the table. He actually created a staff that was not equipped to do anything. ”
Francesa called the Jets “frustrating but interesting” because “they've invented ways to lose games,” citing missed kicks, poor coaching decisions and defensive collapses.
“It's no exaggeration to say the Jets won the six games they lost this year. It's not an overstatement in the slightest,” Francesa said.
He marveled at how much “fuel” the Jets gave him to respond to the situation, and opined that the team should bring Rodgers back next year, even though they have an experienced coaching staff. He claimed that he was in the minority. That would make it clear to the quarterback that he is a player, not a personnel manager.
The Giants also tap into Francesa's passion, but that enthusiasm has waned in recent weeks as they're losing less interestingly than the Jets.
“This is a waste of the Giants' second half of the season,” Francesa said.
“You can only bash the Giants for so long. There comes a time when it's like kicking a corpse. There's nothing left. It's been that way for weeks now.”
