Mike and the Mad Dog was a tradition for Knicks fans who were born before 1990. The NYC afternoon radio show on WFAN ran from 1989 to 2008 and was a seminal source for New York Knicks talk. In addition, the show inspired many of the current Knicks creators, like Casey Powell, who hosts KnicksFanTV and has cited the show as an inspiration. The coverage of the Knicks has been referred to as "Knicks for clicks" since the 1999 Finals. The franchise has been one of the worst since the Finals run. Isiah Thomas and Phil Jackson were the team's two worst periods. Mike and the Mad Dog were always a respite from the chatter. Two die-hard Knicks fans gave an honest and fair analysis. Knicks fans would feel less alone in their misery if they listened to the two of them on their drives home from work. For the ride home. Nothing good lasts forever, like the old adage. Chris Russo, the Mad Dog, has been invited as a recurring guest on First Take with Stephen A. Smith and J.J. Redick. The man known for his fiery takes and penchant for arguing took no time in letting loose on a rant about his dislike for Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green.
"Just shut up and play, will you please Draymond Green?" was the question that was asked recently on the show.
Redick took umbrage with the comments and fired back, linking them to comments made by Laura Ingraham a few years ago.
James' remarks were commented on by Ingraham on her Fox News program.
She said that it was always foolish to seek political advice from someone who got paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball. Shut up and dribble.
The anthem for Fox News viewers, conservatives, and Baby Boomers was that of "That's what America is all about", until former NBA player Enes Kanter used his platform to call out China's human rights violations. It is less about the messenger and more about the person who is applauding.
This brings us to the man who has contempt for Green. The Draymond Green Show is one of the more popular player-hosted podcasts. Green is the newest member of the hugely successful Inside the NBA show on TNT, which is considered by most to be the greatest sports show of all time. It should be noted that Inside the NBA also features a player who was once hated by conservatives for his outspoken views and bold personality, until the last few years, when he said things Republicans agree with and can share on Facebook. Ferguson has mimicked conservative talking points by making pro-cop statements during protests against police brutality and killings.
He knows where his comments come from. They could be related to another self-serving place. After years of having his words taken out of context and used as clickbait, Green has taken the media into his own hands to write his own narrative. Green ignored the mainstream media after he was ejected for a Flagrant 2 in the first game of the series. It's possible that the media realized the power players like Green. NBA players don't have to rely on the media to have their voices heard. The lowest-paid player can afford a microphone. They can use their opinions in a way that is free of the press.
Many Americans are weary of the spin from both sides of the political aisle and have become distrusting of the mainstream media. This has been extended to NBA players. Green wanted to control his narrative, and he exposed how irrelevant voices like Russo might become.
Redick didn't mention race in his response. Even though Redick had said nothing about race up until that point, it was Russo who mentioned race first as a defense that his comments had nothing to do with Green's skin color. Redick thought that there was a Freudian slip on Russo's part to defend something he had thought, but had not said out loud.
It goes both ways. Conservatives are not the only hypocrites. Conservatives roast the harpies on the left who argue for inclusivity and equality while remaining silent. The Boomers want Black athletes to shut up and play basketball because of their opinions. They say something they agree with.
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