During his more than three decades on WFAN, Mike Francesa did a great job of intertwining himself with the New York sports scene. But as the industry modernized, the connections Francesa built with Leon Hess, Barry Watkins, Bill Parcells, George Steinbrenner and others became obsolete.

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Francesa touts having played a role in the Mets getting Mike Piazza, he also helped advance the decision to cancel the NYC Marathon after hurricane Sandy in 2012. And even as sports teams shifted to operate more privately, Francesa said on Adam Schein’s podcast that former Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan used to call the Sports Pope to “pick his brain.”

Mike Francesa helped revolutionized sports talk radio at WFAN with Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo. Nine years since they split up, Francesa remains the top-rated host in New York. After 30 years at WFAN. Mike Francesa on Sports Gambling, the Belmont & PGA TOUR, plus our Name-A-Horse Contest 18 jun The Favorites Sports Betting Podcast - Part of The Action Network The most legendary voice in sports talk radio, Mike Francesa, joins Chad Millman for an electrifying discussion about the future of sports gambling, the MLB season, PGA TOUR betting. Dealing with gambling advertising. After acknowledging the irony of opening his show from the Mike Francesa Studios, Carton launched into a long list of thank yous and apologies.

“I used to talk to Maccagnan, Maccagnan used to call me,” Francesa told Schein while commenting on current Jets head coach Adam Gase. “Now, Maccaganan was an odd guy. He didn’t give anybody extra favors. He never gave me a scoop. But he used to call and pick my brain, I can say that now.”

I can see taking credit for Piazza becoming a Met, but I’m not sure I’d admit to advising Maccagnan. The former Jets general manager is behind most of the personnel moves which helped Gang Green maintain their laughing stock status in the NFL. Bad drafts, bad free agent signings, and he hired a coach who somehow managed to have him fired before the season started.

It might seem a little crazy to believe Maccagnan was calling Francesa for advice on how to run the Jets, but we’ve witnessed similar instances. In 2019, then manager of the Mets Mickey Callaway asked Francesa on-air for advice on how to handle rookie Pete Alonso and the homerun derby.

Mike Francesa Gambling Poker

“Speaking of Alonso, I’ve been wondering this, what do you think about him hitting the All Star Game, in the Home Run Derby?” Callaway asked.

Mike Francesa Sports Gambling

Francesa told Callaway to let the kid compete, and Alonso went on to win the Derby. Maccagnan and the Jets weren’t as lucky.