Mike Francesa Will Not Be Doing Super Bowl Trivia This Year
Newsday – WFAN’s Super Bowl trivia contest, a decades-old tradition, is not scheduled to be held this year, vice president of programming Mark Chernoff said on Monday. Chernoff cited the lack of a sponsor for the event, customarily held in the week following the NFL conference championship games. “As of now, we’re not doing the contest,” he said. “There is a possibility of a sponsorship; if that happens, we will be able to do it.” This would have been the final contest overseen by Mike Francesa, who began it with his former partner, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, early in the “Mike and the Mad Dog” show’s history. Russo dressed up for the occasion as a character known as “The Marquis.” After Russo left in 2008, Francesa experimented with former Giants running back O.J. Anderson, the MVP of Super Bowl XXV, as his contest partner. That did not work out, so in recent years Francesa has worked alone in giving callers a series of up to four questions, with winners securing a free travel and ticket package to the big game, through a sponsor. The questions were prepared by WFAN staffer John Schweibacher.
The end of an era. I actually gasped when I saw this news. I can’t believe Mike Francesa’s Farewell Tour will not include Super Bowl trivia. Cheap ass WFAN. Who gives a fuck about the sponsor? Mike needs to do this for his swan song.
Mike and the Marquis, and the last few years with Mike doing trivia solo, are so symbolic of Mike Francesa’s entire show. His entire existence, really. Its the most unlistenable thing I’ve ever heard on the radio. Its comically bad. I cant believe it was ever considered to be a piece of on-air entertainment. And yet, its one of the most important things he does every year. The catch phrases are a part of Mongo Nation’s lexicon. “It will be…an ORDIO.” “Heahs a cookie.” “I need an answa!” “What kinda fan ah you?” “Right church, wrong pew.” 1 down, three to go. Getting mad when they get questions wrong that hes already asked. Yelling at people for Googling answers. The music picking up after 2 correct answers. The copious amounts of dead air. And when the ordio is an impossible clip and nobody can get it right all week long, it takes on a life of its own. Its oddly entertaining. Its a staple of his show. Its the most unlistenable Must Listen content in all of sports radio.
Its also making me realize that this is it for the Pope. We’re officially into that Farewell Tour territory where everything Mike does is “his last time doing XYZ.” And its a goddam shame Super Bowl Trivia wont be a part of it.