Hello NY and everywhere else, I'm Bird....and you're in the Birdcage. (on LIR 92.7)

Funny, that's how I used to open my radio shows back in the day. As a former Radio guy I believe I have a unique feel for what took place on the FAN over the last 19 years. For one, in 1989 as I had just finished my last broadcast at LIR there were a few offers to continue with other stations. I always felt that I didn't have a radio voice and would never be happy just being a Radio jock.....I was about the music of WLIR. However, my dad asked why I didn't think I had a radio voice. He then asked me to tune in to 660 AM and then answer the question.

So, I tuned in.....and heard that now famous intro from Chris Russo.

WTF was that? That guy is on radio? With THAT voice?

In talk radio, it's not just about the deep radio voice, it's about what you say and how you say it. I think it's fair to say that Mike & the Mad Dog delivered a highly entertaining show....and they did it for years. Trust me, that's not easy. I didn't always like what I was hearing but I tuned in each and every day.

Ranger fans love to hate "Fatso & Fruit-loops" for their lack of hockey talk. When they did talk puck it was obvious that they were fish out of water so hockey aside....the guys became the voice of the NY sports fan. Ironically I got to meet the guys at a Ranger game at Madison Square Garden as they were broadcasting live before a playoff game. I got the chance to bust chops about the lack of hockey knowledge they spewed and suggested that they thought it was a Knicks game. For the record, both Chris and Mike were very nice to me. I got to meet Chris a few times after that and again, I was treated well.

Whatever the hot topic was, these guys were gonna cover it the next day and just like you, I looked forward to hearing what they'd say. Baseball was their best topic for sure......and I for one loved the discussions on players from the past. I enjoyed hearing about games played 20 years earlier as if they had just concluded. Hall of Fame debates were some of my favorites.

I missed out on the last five years of the show for the most part as I moved out of NY. Their show was one of the few things I missed about NY. When I could finally get it on the web.....well, I didn't have the time to listen. WFAN at one point was a must listen.....not just for us Ranger fans but any sports fan. Sadly this comes to an end as all things do. It's probably for the best as the "act" may have gone stale. But I will miss the movie discussions, Dog crying about the S.F. Giants, Mike crying about the Yankees, The Friday football picks as well as the controversial interviews. Like 'em or hate 'em, you listened. I listened. NY listened. They became a part of us.

During the 9-11 attacks Mike & Dog did some great shows....I'll never forget that. It was then that they proved to be more than just two guys yapping about sports.....they had become radio broadcasters. They helped comfort an upset city. It's for reasons like that, that the show became what it was, a great radio show.

Newsday has the opening of yesterday's show....listen in.

Thanks for the 19 years guys......it was a hell of a ride. Adiós.

----}- Bird

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