Veteran sports radio host Christopher ‘Mad Dog’ Russo inducted into Radio Hall of Fame

Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo will officially be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022 for his daily show, Mad Dog Unleashed, on Mad Dog Sports Radio (Ch. 82). This honor goes to personalities that have been active in the industry for 10 years or more, which serves as a testament to Mad Dog’s longstanding broadcast career and time with SiriusXM.

On October 26 from 4-6pm ET, Mad Dog Sports Radio will broadcast a two-hour tribute to salute Mad Dog’s upcoming induction. Steve Torre will emcee the live show that will feature special guests.Watch Mad Dog reflect on his induction here:

Known for his rapid-fire banter and vast sports knowledge, Mad Dog has been a prominent figure in sports talk radio for decades. After launching his radio career in Florida in the early 1980s, he moved back to his native New York in 1987, where he worked at WMCA shortly before catching the attention of WFAN host Don Imus and landing a gig on Imus’ show as a sports reporter. While at WFAN, he was dubbed “Mad Dog” by New York Daily News critic Bob Raissman because his radio approach reminded Raissman of a former professional wrestler nicknamed “Mad Dog,” and met his future longtime radio partner, Mike Francesa. Both Mad Dog and Francesa teamed up in 1989 to host WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog, a groundbreaking and wildly popular radio show in which the duo debated and discussed the biggest topics in sports, interviewed legendary sports figures, took listener calls, and more for nearly 20 years.

After leaving WFAN, Mad Dog joined SiriusXM in 2008 to launch Mad Dog Sports Radio, including its anchor program, Mad Dog Unleashed, as well as shows featuring some of the most notable, opinionated, and animated voices in sports reporting. During Mad Dog Unleashed, Russo takes over the afternoon airwaves every weekday to report on sports with attitude while also taking calls and talking to special guests, proving that after 30 years in the industry, he’s still the top dog. Listen to the nominated show Monday through Friday from 3pm to 6pm ET, as well as anytime via the SXM App here.

The official induction ceremony will take place at Chicago’s Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel on November 1. See the full list of this year’s Radio Hall of Fame inductees here.