Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is a beloved relic from the past in the world of sports radio. He is passionate, exaggerated, and fully embraces the character he created four decades ago. During his segment, “What are you Mad about,” on ESPN’s First Take, Russo openly admitted that his behavior is foolish and his antics are absurd. While his loud and outdated opinions may be amusing, he recently resorted to a technique that should be left behind – name-calling. Russo made derogatory comments about his ESPN colleague Dan Orlovsky, and as the renowned sports radio figure himself would say, he should be ashamed of his actions.
During Monday’s episode of First Take, the panel consisted of Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim, and Russo. They were having some light-hearted fun with a video of Orlovsky from the previous weekend. Orlovsky had participated in the Precision Passing challenge at the Pro Bowl Games and achieved a higher score than any of the active NFL quarterbacks who took part in the event.
While Smith praised Orlovsky, Russo took a completely different approach. He looked directly into the camera with a disbelieving expression and dismissed Orlovsky’s achievement of outperforming current Pro Bowl-level quarterbacks while wearing a dress shirt. Russo even went as far as to label the ESPN NFL analyst as a “scrub” during his playing days. Orlovsky did not take kindly to being spoken about in such a derogatory manner and expressed his disapproval on social media.
It is important to remember that anyone who makes it onto an NFL roster is far from being a scrub. Although Nathan Peterman is often considered one of the worst quarterbacks in league history, it would be inappropriate to refer to him as a scrub. He has started in five NFL games, which places him in the upper echelon compared to the vast number of individuals who have thrown a pass in organized football. Peterman has been employed by the NFL since 2017.
Orlovsky possesses a good sense of humor and does not shy away from acknowledging his role as the starting quarterback during the Detroit Lions’ infamous 0-16 season. Whenever the opportunity arises to discuss the memorable clip of him running out of the end zone, he takes it in good spirits. His lack of culinary expertise garners more teasing from his colleagues than his professional football career. Orlovsky is fully aware that he was not among the top-tier NFL quarterbacks.
Nevertheless, he played in the NFL for 12 seasons and started 15 games. No one should be labeled as a scrub, even if they are financially struggling or relying on their friends for transportation. Engaging in name-calling only detracts from the enjoyment of the situation. Everyone was having a good time watching the Orlovsky video until Mad Dog decided to resurrect an outdated sports talk radio tradition by referring to professional athletes as scrubs.
Such behavior may have been acceptable on WFAN during a time when AM/FM radio was the primary platform for immersing oneself in the world of sports opinions. These were the formative years for Russo, and for the most part, he has managed to maintain composure on First Take. He openly discusses personal gambling losses and indulges in gummies while on set. He embodies a character that is entertaining to laugh at.
However, on Monday, Russo reverted to his old ways, and it was far from admirable. Orlovsky was not a scrub during his playing days. He was an NFL quarterback, a distinction that only a small percentage of the population can claim for themselves.