The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match gave Chris Russo something new to be mad about.
The longtime radio host spent time Monday on his SiriusXM show ranting about the Netflix spectacle — which was fraught with streaming issues — trashing the fight and questioning why anyone would be interested in watching it.
“You guys out there who consider yourselves good sports fans, you decided, ‘Well, there’s nothing else to watch’ — it’s 10 to 12 (midnight,) go read a book,” Russo said. “I mean, my goodness gracious. And this is what you decide to put on your television set? … And don’t give me the excuse you’re at a friend’s house and he had it on. Leave! ‘Well, they were watching it Chris, what am I supposed to do?’ Leave! That’s an insult to your sports intelligence.”
Russo, 65, said he was “proud” of himself for not caving to curiosity, skipping the fight to instead read Chris Wallace’s “Countdown 1960” book about the 1960 U.S. presidential election.
“I’m floored that anybody who considers themselves a decent sports fan would even give that two cents. God, I must be shot. This is what sports is coming to now?” Russo said. “I know there’s nothing on, I get that. It’s a quarter to 12 at night on the East Coast. Find something more productive to do! Where’s the Mrs.? I don’t know, do something. My goodness gracious. Take the dogs for a walk.”
The former WFAN host was “amazed” that, according to Netflix, an average of 60 million households tuned in to the fight Friday, with a peak of 65 million.
Paul, 27, defeated Tyson, 58, in an eight-round unanimous decision in which Tyson looked every bit his age.
“How in the world could anybody think they were watching a legitimate sports event with a guy who’s been washed up for 35 years and a guy who’s not a boxer in Jake Paul?” Russo fumed.
Russo then turned his attention to the NFL, which is in its first year of a three-year contract with Netflix to stream games on Christmas.
Netflix is reportedly paying $75 million per game for the two Wednesday contests next month: Chiefs vs. Steelers at 1 p.m. and Ravens vs. Texans at 4:30 p.m.
Front Office Sports reported Monday that Friday’s streaming issues were “noted” by the NFL but that the league is confident its games will be fine.
Howard Stern recently said there will be “hell to pay” if Netflix messes up the Christmas contests.
“If you think that Roger Goodell — who probably watched too, Tyson — if you think he didn’t go to bed up in Maine in his mansion with a little nerves, think again, because that will be a hit,” Russo said. “The NFL will get killed if this turns out to be a disaster. They will get destroyed. Because all of America is sick of Christmas by 3 in the afternoon.”
