The Diamondbacks are going to the World Series, so is Chris “Mad Dog” Russo going into retirement?
The SiriusXM host promised to immediately end his radio career if Arizona won Game 6 and Game 7 of the NLCS.
Sure enough, the D-backs won Game 6, on Monday at Citizens Bank Park and finished off the Phillies on Tuesday in Game 7, 4-2, to clinch their first trip to the World Series since 2001, when they beat the Yankees in seven games.
At 10:27 p.m. ET, with the Diamondbacks holding a slim lead, Russo tweeted three sweating emojis.
At 10:42 p.m., Russo tweeted a gif that had the following caption: “Enjoy your retirement.”
At 11:05 p.m. ET, Tim Russo, Mad Dog’s son and assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at Northern Arizona University, posted on X: “America please don’t let pops @MadDogUnleashed retire. Can’t have him following me around Flagstaff.”
At 11:22 p.m., with Game 7 in the books, FanDuel posted: “Congratulations on your retirement, Mad Dog!” which Russo subsequently re-shared on his account.
The D-backs even chanted “Mad Dog” repeatedly during their celebration inside the clubhouse.
On Monday, before Game 6, Russo said if the Diamondbacks, who trailed 3-2 in the best-of-7 series at the time, won the final two games of the NLCS, he would retire.
“To make a long story short, I’ve been wrong on Arizona from Day 1,” Russo, 64, said on his SiriusXM radio show. “I’m stunned they beat Milwaukee, I thought they’d get swept by the Dodgers, I never thought they’d even go back to Philly for a Game 6.
“I’ll try it one more time: I would not be stunned if they won [Monday night], I would be floored. … If they win the next two days, they win the next two games and win this series in seven games, if they win, I will retire on the spot.”
On Tuesday, Russo clarified that his pledge applied only to his radio work for SiriusXM.
He would continue his television work, including MLB Network’s “High Heat” and ESPN’s “First Take.”
As luck would have it, Russo’s weekly appearance on “First Take” is Wednesday morning.
It should make for some must-see TV.
The Diamondbacks now advance to the World Series to face the Rangers, who won Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday, pounding the Astros, 11-4.
Texas will have home-field advantage for the World Series, which starts on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
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