Chris Russo thinks Adam Silver ordered Jeff Van Gundy’s ESPN departure
Chris Russo, otherwise known as “Mad Dog,” is quite the character at ESPN and known for his theories. Russo believes that NBA commissioner Adam Silver ordered the firing of former ESPN reporter Jeff Van Gundy.
Chris Russo has been a huge big sports radio personality in New York for the last two-plus decades. Last year, Mad Dog signed a one-year contract with ESPN to stay on the popular show “First Take.” Now the TV personality believes that NBA commissioner Adam Silver is behind the firing of Jeff Van Gundy.
“I can’t fathom the idea that ESPN in these layoffs … would fire Jeff Van Gundy,” Russo said on his Sirius XM podcast “Mad Dog’s Daily Bite” Tuesday.
“You’re not going to convince me that ESPN (and Disney boss Bob Iger) woke up in the last two weeks, looked at the budget sheet, and said, ‘We gotta fire Van Gundy because we gotta save some money — if that’s the case, fire Mark Jackson.’
“ESPN will never admit it. They’re gonna say it’s our call. Nonsense. Why would they get rid of a great team? That team is a great team with [Mike Breen]…You’re not going to convince me that that team, that everybody likes. Nobody doesn’t like that team.”
(All quotes are via the New York Post)
Van Gundy has been an icon at ESPN, the now 61-year-old spent 15 years at the company before being fired as a part of the mass firings at ESPN.
“That leads me to the conclusion that someone in the league office must’ve told ESPN, ‘I want Van Gundy out,’” Russo said. “We all know he’s biting, We all know he gets on the officials. We all know he doesn’t hold back with his NBA opinions.
“So, if you’re asking me, little talk show host, who may not know a thing, this is just my opinion, Silver is the one who fired Van Gundy. Silver told ESPN, ‘I want him out.’“
Now, Van Gundy is left without a broadcasting job for the first time since starting at ESPN. Where will the talented broadcaster go? Let us know in the comments.
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