Chris Russo, known to many as "Mad Dog," is leaving the tri-state-area sports behemoth WFAN, a move that brings the 19-year run of the afternoon sports radio talk show "Mike and the Mad Dog" to a sudden end. Right this minute, on the very last installment of the show, Mike (Francesa) is fielding a seemingly endless string of calls attesting to an importance that can only accrue in 330-minute installments five times a week over many years. I count myself as a fan.

Nick Paumgarten wrote about the curiously addictive duo in 2004; writing for ESPN.com's "Page 2" in the spring of 2006, Bill Simmons also captured the singular appeal of the show.