WEDNESDAY’S episode of First Take might’ve shown Mad Dog Chris Russo at his angriest.
Once a week, Mad Dog gets mad live on First Take, but this week he took it over the top.
Chris Russo went on a nuclear rant over his travel woes going to Scotland[/caption]
Russo ultimately revealed the police was called on him he got so angry[/caption]
Russo returned for his first episode after a 17-day vacation to Europe to do some father-son golfing.
However, the trip hit a major hiccup which Russo was happy to share on First Take.
For over 10 minutes, Russo went off about how difficult it was to get his travel group and their gold clubs to Dornoch, Scotland.
From flight delays and cancellations to altercations with the police, this Mad Dog rant was one for the ages.
“You want to fly to Scranton, PA? Jet Blue is for you!” Russo screamed.
“You want to fly to something a little more elaborate like to freakin’ Edinburgh? What a disgrace!
“They kept people on that plane ‘til 1:44 in the morning and threw them the hell out of there!”
Russo then had to re-book everyone on the trip onto new flights, and turned his anger towards British Airways.
His son took a wild route from Phoenix to Dallas to London to Inverness before making the drive to Dornoch.
He made it to Inverness with his clothes in hand, but his golf clubs were nowhere to be found.
“It took me two and a half hours to locate the clubs at Heathrow. They didn’t know where they were!” Russo continued.
“My son needs the golf clubs for crying out loud! Couldn’t find them. We finally found the golf clubs.
“I had the ticket stub, I put Timmy on FaceTime. ‘Timmy, will you tell the people here that the golf clubs are yours and your father, WHO PAID FOR THEM! wants to take them out of the airport so I can get you your clubs the next day?’
“They wouldn’t let me take the clubs out of Heathrow!
“So Timmy’s clubs had to stay at Heathrow overnight and he didn’t have his golf clubs on Saturday because British Airways…wouldn’t give it to his father!
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.
“Here’s their answer, ‘It’s protocol, sir.’ I’m not interested in protocol! I’m interested in the 5 iron! I am not interested in that!
“And they called the police on me! I’m a loud American! ‘We’re gonna get the authorities.’
“I don’t give a crap about authorities get the golf clubs where they’re supposed to be!”
Russo said he avoided getting arrested after settling down when the police made it to the scene.
Still, Russo’s travel woes may have produced the greatest Mad Dog is Mad segment of all time.
