Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is a name that many sports radio enthusiasts are familiar with. He is known for his strident and over-the-top personality, often playing into the character he created 40 years ago. While his loud and fossilized takes can be humorous, there are times when he crosses the line. On a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Russo resorted to name-calling, a technique that should be left in the past.
During the show, Russo and the First Take crew were discussing a video of ESPN colleague Dan Orlovsky participating in the Precision Passing challenge from the Pro Bowl Games. Orlovsky out-threw current Pro-Bowl level quarterbacks while wearing a dress shirt, which impressed First Take host Stephen A. Smith. However, Russo took a completely opposite approach. He dismissed Orlovsky’s achievement and went so far as to call him a “scrub” as a player.
Orlovsky, understandably, did not take kindly to being talked about in such a derogatory manner. He took to Twitter to express his disappointment, calling Russo’s comments “classless.” And he is right. No one who makes an NFL roster can be considered a scrub. Even the worst quarterbacks in league history, like Nathan Peterman, have started in NFL games and have received paychecks to play in the league. Making it to the NFL is an accomplishment in itself, and no player deserves to be belittled or called names.
To his credit, Orlovsky has a good sense of humor about himself. He knows that he started at quarterback for the Detroit Lions during their infamous 0-16 season, and he laughs off the classic clip of him running out of the end zone. He understands that he was not an upper-echelon NFL quarterback. But he still played 12 seasons in the NFL and started 15 games, which is no small feat.
Name-calling serves no purpose other than to ruin the fun and enjoyment of discussing sports. Everyone was enjoying the Orlovsky video until Russo decided to bring out an old-school sports talk radio technique. In today’s world, where there are numerous platforms for sports discussion, name-calling is unnecessary and disrespectful.
Russo, who grew up in the era of sports talk radio dominance, should know better. He has done a good job of maintaining a cool head on First Take, discussing topics such as gambling losses and gummies while on set. He is entertaining and fun to listen to when he sticks to his character without resorting to name-calling.
Orlovsky and other professional athletes deserve respect for their accomplishments. They have dedicated their lives to their craft and have achieved something that only a small percentage of the population can claim. It is important to remember this and treat them with the respect they deserve, even when discussing their performances or achievements.
In conclusion, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo should be ashamed of himself for resorting to name-calling on First Take. Dan Orlovsky and other professional athletes deserve respect for their accomplishments, and name-calling serves no purpose other than to ruin the enjoyment of discussing sports. It is time to leave this outdated technique in the past and focus on engaging in respectful and meaningful sports discussions.
