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Total Categories: 6
Mike Francesa's broadcasting career began in the late 1990s after a brief stint in politics.
Answer: False
The provided information indicates that Francesa's broadcasting career commenced in the 1980s, not the late 1990s. His early roles included work at 'College and Pro Football Newsweekly' and later at CBS Sports, predating any political endeavors mentioned.
Mike Francesa majored in journalism and broadcasting at St. John's University.
Answer: False
While Mike Francesa did attend St. John's University, his major was in Communications and Athletic Administration, not journalism and broadcasting.
Francesa was initially hired by CBS Sports as a studio analyst for football games.
Answer: False
Francesa's initial role at CBS Sports was as a researcher focused on college sports. His transition to a studio analyst role occurred later, based on his demonstrated knowledge.
ESPN attempted to recruit Mike Francesa in 1991 to work on their college football coverage.
Answer: True
In 1991, ESPN did indeed attempt to recruit Mike Francesa to serve as their studio expert for college football, college basketball, and the NFL.
Mike Francesa left CBS Sports in 1993 to join WFAN as a full-time host.
Answer: False
While Francesa left CBS Sports in 1993, his move was not directly to WFAN as a full-time host at that precise moment. He had previously worked weekend shows at WFAN starting in 1987, and his departure from CBS preceded his major WFAN hosting roles.
WFAN initially offered Mike Francesa a producer role when he first applied, which he accepted.
Answer: False
When Francesa first applied to WFAN, he was offered a producer's position, which he rejected. He was later hired as a weekend host.
Mike Francesa's early career at CBS Sports was marked by his role as a lead play-by-play announcer.
Answer: False
Francesa's early career at CBS Sports involved roles as a researcher and later as a studio analyst, not as a lead play-by-play announcer.
Who is Mike Francesa, and what is his primary profession?
Answer: An American sports-radio talk-show host.
Michael Patrick Francesa is recognized as a prominent American sports-radio talk-show host, known for his significant contributions to sports broadcasting, especially in the New York market.
What did Mike Francesa major in when he graduated from St. John's University?
Answer: Communications and Athletic Administration
Upon graduating from St. John's University, Mike Francesa's academic specialization was in Communications and Athletic Administration.
How did Mike Francesa transition from his initial role at CBS Sports to becoming an analyst?
Answer: Executives were impressed by his knowledge, leading to a promotion to studio analyst.
Although initially hired as a researcher at CBS Sports, Francesa's extensive knowledge impressed executives, leading to his promotion to a studio analyst position.
Which major sports network attempted to recruit Mike Francesa in 1991 for college football and NFL coverage?
Answer: ESPN
In 1991, ESPN made an attempt to recruit Mike Francesa to serve as their studio expert for college football, college basketball, and the NFL.
When did Mike Francesa announce his resignation from CBS Sports?
Answer: April 1, 1993
Mike Francesa announced his resignation from CBS Sports on April 1, 1993.
What was Francesa's initial reaction when WFAN offered him a producer's job upon his first application?
Answer: He rejected the producer's job.
Upon his initial application to WFAN, Francesa was offered a producer's role, which he declined, ultimately pursuing and securing a hosting position.
What was a frequent complaint Francesa received about his broadcasting style while working as a studio analyst at CBS Sports?
Answer: His distinct New York accent.
During his tenure as a studio analyst at CBS Sports, a common criticism directed at Francesa's broadcasting style was his distinct New York accent.
Mike Francesa and Chris Russo hosted a successful sports-radio program called "Mad Dog and Mike" that started in 1989.
Answer: False
While the program began in 1989 and was highly successful, its correct title was "Mike and the Mad Dog," not "Mad Dog and Mike."
The "Mike and the Mad Dog" show ended because Chris Russo was fired by WFAN.
Answer: False
The "Mike and the Mad Dog" show concluded due to Chris Russo's departure from WFAN in 2008, not because he was fired.
"Mike and the Mad Dog" won the Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year in 2008.
Answer: False
The "Mike and the Mad Dog" show received the Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year in 2000, not 2008.
What was the name of the highly successful sports-radio program Mike Francesa co-hosted with Chris Russo starting in 1989?
Answer: "Mike and the Mad Dog"
The highly successful sports-radio program co-hosted by Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, which commenced in 1989, was titled "Mike and the Mad Dog."
What event directly led to the end of the "Mike and the Mad Dog" show on WFAN?
Answer: Chris Russo's departure from WFAN.
The "Mike and the Mad Dog" show concluded its run on WFAN as a direct consequence of Chris Russo's departure from the station in August 2008.
In what year did "Mike and the Mad Dog" receive the Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year?
Answer: 2000
The program "Mike and the Mad Dog" was honored with the Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year in the year 2000.
Mike Francesa's solo show on WFAN was initially called "Mike'd Up."
Answer: True
Following the end of "Mike and the Mad Dog," Francesa's new solo program on WFAN, which began in September 2008, was initially titled "Mike'd Up."
Francesa's solo show was simulcast on ESPN from 2008 to 2014.
Answer: False
Francesa's solo show was simulcast on the YES Network from 2008 to 2014, and later on Fox Sports 1 from 2014 to 2015, not ESPN.
Mike Francesa retired from his solo show on WFAN for the first time on December 15, 2017.
Answer: True
Mike Francesa's initial retirement from his solo WFAN show, "Mike's On: Francesa on the FAN," occurred on December 15, 2017.
Upon his return to WFAN in 2018, Francesa's show immediately lost in the ratings to competitors.
Answer: False
Upon his return to WFAN in 2018, Francesa's show performed strongly, winning the Fall 2018 ratings book and narrowly beating "The Michael Kay Show."
Mike Francesa lost in the New York sports radio ratings for the first time in his career in the Fall of 2018.
Answer: False
The first time Mike Francesa lost in the New York sports radio ratings occurred in the Fall 2019 ratings book, not the Fall 2018 book.
Mike Francesa announced his second retirement from WFAN in November 2019, with his final show airing in January 2020.
Answer: False
Mike Francesa announced his second retirement in November 2019, but his final afternoon drive show aired on December 6, 2019, not in January 2020.
The source mentions Francesa's trademark sign-off phrase was "That's the ballgame!"
Answer: False
While "That's the ballgame!" is a common sports phrase, it was not Francesa's trademark sign-off. His final sign-off on WFAN in 2017 was a more personal message to his audience.
When did Mike Francesa initially retire from his solo show, "Mike's On: Francesa on the FAN"?
Answer: December 15, 2017
Mike Francesa's first retirement from his solo WFAN show, "Mike's On: Francesa on the FAN," occurred on December 15, 2017.
Which network began simulcasting Mike Francesa's solo show from 2008 to 2014?
Answer: YES Network
The YES Network began simulcasting Mike Francesa's solo show from 2008 to 2014.
Mike Francesa's solo show was renamed "Mike's On" in January 2012 due to what reason?
Answer: Rights issues with the original program name.
The show was renamed "Mike's On" in January 2012 due to rights issues associated with the original program name, "Mike'd Up."
How did Mike Francesa's show perform in the Fall 2018 ratings book upon his return to WFAN?
Answer: It won the ratings book, narrowly beating "The Michael Kay Show."
Upon his return to WFAN in 2018, Mike Francesa's show achieved strong ratings, winning the Fall 2018 ratings book and narrowly surpassing "The Michael Kay Show."
When did Mike Francesa announce his second retirement from WFAN's afternoon drive slot?
Answer: November 5, 2019
Mike Francesa announced his second retirement from WFAN's afternoon drive slot on November 5, 2019.
What was the significance of the Fall 2019 ratings book for Mike Francesa's show?
Answer: It was the first time his show lost to "The Michael Kay Show" in the New York market.
The Fall 2019 ratings book was significant as it marked the first instance where Mike Francesa's show was outrated by "The Michael Kay Show" in the New York market.
Mike Francesa faced criticism for comments made about New York Giants draft pick Corey Ballentine in 2019.
Answer: True
In April 2019, Mike Francesa drew criticism for remarks made about Corey Ballentine, a Giants draft pick who had been wounded in a shooting incident.
During a "5 Minute Morning" recording in November 2019, Mike Francesa was accused of releasing flatulence on air.
Answer: True
An incident during a "5 Minute Morning" recording in November 2019 involved an on-air sound that led to accusations of Francesa releasing flatulence, an event he later dismissed.
Chris Russo supported Francesa's radio comeback, calling it a positive development for sports media.
Answer: False
Chris Russo did not support Francesa's radio comeback; instead, he described it as "unhealthy" in November 2019.
Mike Francesa publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election.
Answer: False
During the 2016 presidential election, Mike Francesa expressed support for Donald Trump, not Hillary Clinton.
Talkers Magazine ranked Mike Francesa as the most important sports-talk radio host for three consecutive years, starting in 2012.
Answer: True
Talkers Magazine recognized Francesa's prominence by ranking him first among "100 most important sports-talk radio hosts" in 2012, and he retained this top position for the subsequent two years.
Phil Mushnick, a columnist, praised Francesa's broadcasting style for its objectivity and calm demeanor.
Answer: False
Phil Mushnick, a columnist, was notably critical of Francesa's style, often characterizing it as egotistical, condescending, and pompous, rather than objective and calm.
Bob Raissman observed that Mike Francesa's polarizing style was a key factor in attracting listeners.
Answer: True
Columnist Bob Raissman noted that Francesa's polarizing broadcasting style, while controversial, was instrumental in attracting and retaining a substantial audience.
What happened during Mike Francesa's live broadcast on September 10, 2012?
Answer: He appeared to fall asleep during a segment.
On September 10, 2012, Mike Francesa appeared to fall asleep live on air during a segment with Yankees beat reporter Sweeny Murti. He later denied falling asleep, despite widespread mockery and attention from the incident.
What controversy arose in April 2019 concerning Mike Francesa's comments about Corey Ballentine?
Answer: Francesa questioned Ballentine's character after he was wounded in a shooting.
In April 2019, Mike Francesa faced criticism for comments made about Corey Ballentine, a New York Giants draft pick, following an incident where Ballentine was wounded in a shooting.
In November 2019, Chris Russo described Mike Francesa's return to radio as what?
Answer: "Unhealthy"
During November 2019, Chris Russo characterized Mike Francesa's return to radio broadcasting as "unhealthy."
How did Phil Mushnick, a New York Post columnist, perceive Mike Francesa?
Answer: As egotistical, condescending, and pompous.
Columnist Phil Mushnick frequently expressed a negative perception of Mike Francesa, characterizing him as egotistical, condescending, and pompous.
Bob Raissman observed that Mike Francesa's polarizing broadcasting style had what effect on his audience?
Answer: It attracted a large number of listeners.
Bob Raissman observed that the polarizing nature of Mike Francesa's broadcasting style was a significant factor in attracting a large and dedicated listener base.
What unusual event occurred during a "5 Minute Morning" recording in November 2019, which Francesa later called "fake news"?
Answer: He appeared to release flatulence.
During a "5 Minute Morning" recording in November 2019, an on-air sound led to accusations of flatulence, an event Francesa subsequently dismissed as "fake news."
Who is credited with observing that Mike Francesa's polarizing style attracted listeners?
Answer: Bob Raissman
Columnist Bob Raissman is credited with observing that Mike Francesa's polarizing broadcasting style was a key factor in attracting a significant audience.
Francesa launched a subscription-based mobile app in 2018 that was priced at $1.99 per month.
Answer: False
The subscription-based mobile app "Mike's On" launched by Francesa in 2018 was priced at $8.99 per month, not $1.99.
After his second retirement, Francesa planned to host a show discussing only politics on Radio.com.
Answer: False
Following his second retirement, Francesa indicated his shows would be freeform and include topics beyond sports, such as politics, rather than focusing exclusively on politics.
Mike Francesa retired from broadcasting his daily WFAN and Radio.com show for the third time on July 24, 2020, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.
Answer: True
Mike Francesa's third and final retirement from his daily broadcasting duties occurred on July 24, 2020, with the stated reason being a desire to dedicate more time to his family.
Mike Francesa played a supporting role as a sports commentator in the 2019 film "Uncut Gems."
Answer: False
In the 2019 film "Uncut Gems," Mike Francesa portrayed a bookie, not a sports commentator.
Mike Francesa's horse racing stable, JEH Racing Stable, is named after his children.
Answer: True
The name JEH Racing Stable is indeed derived from the initials of Mike Francesa's children: Jack, Emily, and Harrison.
Mike Francesa took full responsibility for the failure of his broadcast arrangement with Fox Sports 1.
Answer: True
Francesa acknowledged taking primary responsibility for the conclusion of his broadcast arrangement with Fox Sports 1, describing the relationship as tumultuous.
In January 2020, Francesa stated his political coverage would be biased towards conservative viewpoints.
Answer: False
In January 2020, Francesa stated his intention to provide "unbiased" and "played down the middle" political coverage on his Radio.com show, aiming for a centrist perspective.
What was the primary criticism directed at Francesa's "Mike's On" mobile app?
Answer: High subscription price ($8.99/month)
The "Mike's On" mobile app, launched in 2018, faced significant criticism primarily due to its high subscription price of $8.99 per month.
What did Francesa indicate about the potential topics covered in his shows after his second retirement from the afternoon drive?
Answer: The shows would be freeform, including topics beyond sports like politics.
Following his second retirement from the afternoon drive slot, Francesa indicated that his subsequent shows would adopt a freeform structure, encompassing topics beyond sports, including politics.
What reason did Mike Francesa give for his third and final retirement from broadcasting on July 24, 2020?
Answer: A desire to spend more time with his family
On July 24, 2020, Mike Francesa cited a desire to spend more time with his family as the reason for his third and final retirement from broadcasting.
In which film did Mike Francesa play the role of a bookie?
Answer: Uncut Gems (2019)
Mike Francesa portrayed a bookie in the 2019 film "Uncut Gems."
Mike Francesa's horse racing stable, JEH Racing Stable, is named after:
Answer: His children.
The JEH Racing Stable, owned by Mike Francesa, derives its name from the initials of his children: Jack, Emily, and Harrison.
What was the outcome of Mike Francesa's broadcast relationship with Fox Sports 1?
Answer: It was described as tumultuous and ended in September 2015.
Mike Francesa's broadcast arrangement with Fox Sports 1, which began in March 2014, was characterized as tumultuous and concluded in September 2015.
What did Mike Francesa claim about his political coverage on his Radio.com show in January 2020?
Answer: It would be "played down the middle" with a centrist perspective.
In January 2020, Mike Francesa stated that his political coverage on his Radio.com show would adopt a centrist perspective, described as "played down the middle" and unbiased.
What was the context of Mike Francesa's return to WFAN in March 2020?
Answer: To host a temporary Sunday daytime slot.
Mike Francesa returned to WFAN in March 2020 to host a temporary Sunday daytime slot, a move influenced by station adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What happened to the "Mike's On" mobile app in September 2019?
Answer: It was acquired by WFAN's owner and integrated into a free platform.
In September 2019, the "Mike's On" mobile app's intellectual property was acquired by WFAN's owner and subsequently integrated into the free Radio.com platform, discontinuing the paid subscription model.
Mike Francesa was born and raised in Queens, New York.
Answer: False
According to the source material, Mike Francesa was born and raised in Long Beach, New York, not Queens.
Mike Francesa has three children from his second marriage to Rosemary.
Answer: True
Mike Francesa's second marriage to Rosemary produced three children: fraternal twins Emily Grace and Jack Patrick, and Harrison James.
Francesa underwent emergency gallbladder surgery in October 2005.
Answer: False
The source indicates that Francesa underwent emergency gallbladder surgery in October 2025, not 2005. He experienced other health procedures in 2006.
Where was Mike Francesa born and raised?
Answer: Long Beach, New York
Mike Francesa was born and raised in Long Beach, New York.
Which of the following health procedures did Mike Francesa undergo in June 2006?
Answer: Angioplasty
In June 2006, Mike Francesa underwent an angioplasty procedure, in addition to experiencing other health-related issues that year.
How did Mike Francesa's first marriage end?
Answer: Through divorce in 1994.
Mike Francesa's first marriage concluded through divorce in 1994.