WFAN host Mike Francesa, who professes to not care what other radio hosts do, apparently cared enough to blister ESPN host/former Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro on Tuesday with an on-air attack that was equal parts humorous and haughty.
“Stick to, you know, a league you can compete in,” Francesa said. “Tackling me in the radio business, you’re you, and I’m Gordie Howe, so clam up.”
In another highlight, Francesa dismissed DiPietro’s annual $1.5 million salary from the Islanders as “not bad money.”
The tiff presumably started when Francesa called the Islanders – currently playing in the Eastern Conference semifinals – a third-rate organization.
DiPietro, a former No. 1 pick of the Islanders who still is cashing paychecks from the team on an infamous 15-year contract, clearly took umbrage.
“Fatso decided that he was going to write that the Islanders are in over their heads organizationally,’’ DiPietro said on the show he co-hosts with Alan Hahn.
Mike Francesa just absolutely destroyed Rick DiPietro for stepping to him.@HDumpty39 @alanhahn @awfulannouncinghttps://t.co/w5AqL6mYG1
— I Nevah Said That! (@RNs_Funhouse) May 3, 2016
Francesa first pretended not to know the name of their “Hahn and Humpty” show, then called DiPietro a “stooge” and expressed hope that Hahn could get away from DiPietro to “salvage his career.”
“I might have a warm spot for a team that was paying me through 2029 also, when I did nothing except shoot my mouth off and basically somehow bilk them out of a 15-year deal and have a losing record for my career,” Francesa said.
“I didn’t say anything about him. Obviously I wouldn’t pay much attention to him. But now that he’s in my business, and actually is – and I use this in quotes – competition. Giggle.’’
Yes, he really said giggle.
“But here’s a guy shooting his mouth off at a show that beats him – now, he should understand this: This would be is basically like your typical night in net: 7 1/2 to 1 in a normal book, 8 to 1 you’re getting beat,” Francesa said. “Just shut your mouth and be happy you have a job to find somewhere to go every day.’’