Sports Radio Host 'Mad Dog' Promised To Retire If Phillies Lost NLCS

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies, the freight train Phillies that barreled to a 7-1 start to the postseason and looked untouchable in every win, that smashed all time major league baseball playoff records that have stood for decades or a century, that enchanted even their rivals with their brash and dominant and jovial gameplay, have been taken out. The Arizona Diamondbacks ended the Phillies brilliant Red October run in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series Tuesday night, beating them 4-2 to advance to the World Series.

There is no joy in Mudville, and no one believed it could happen. In fact, it was thought of as such an improbable outcome that famed sports radio host Chris "Mad Dog" Russo swore to his listeners that he would quit his job if the Phillies lost.

"If they win the next two games, I will retire on the spot," Mad Dog said on his Sirius XM radio program Monday. "I thought they'd get swept by Milwaukee, I thought they'd get swept by the Dodgers, I didn't think they'd get back to Philly for Game 6."

Neither did anyone else. The Diamondbacks were dominated by the Phillies in the opening two games of the series, before winning two very close contests in Arizona. The Phillies won a decisive Game 5, and the momentum of the series headed back home remained with them, as it has been since the calendar flipped to Red October.

Now it's not clear how seriously Russo will take his "promise." The Diamondbacks used it as something of a rallying cry, and could reportedly be heard chanting "Mad Dog, Mad Dog!" amid a champagne soaked locker room after Game 7.

After the game Russo shared an "Enjoy your retirement" to his Twitter page, as well as resharing a post from FanDuel Sportsbook sending "Congratulations on your retirement, Mad Dog!"

To be fair, Russo did acknowledge that he had been "wrong about Arizona from Day 1." So were a lot of people.

Russo has scheduled radio and TV appearances this week, so the seriousness of his promise should soon come to light. If he follows through with the retirement, it would mark yet another chapter in what has become a legendary October for the Diamondbacks.