You may be familiar with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, the long-time sports radio host. He and his former partner, Mike Francesa, are credited by many for creating the Sports Radio Talk Show (beginning in 1989).

Today, the Mad Dog has his own network on Sirius Radio and regularly appears on the Stephen A. Smith show, a highly rated ESPN program, and other sports shows. Mr. Russo can be loud and very opinionated. I listen to him not only due to his broad coverage of sports but also his ventures into many other topics, including books, history, and music.

July 25th, the Mad Dog had a live fan appreciation show at Bar A in Lake Como, New Jersey. During his monologue, he thanked his fans and listeners for their support and shared a few stories. One story related to when, as a twenty-four-year-old, he was working at a small station in Florida and had a sports call-in show. He had a regular caller who had a distinct and pronounced stuttering issue. The caller would take a long time to get his question out and was a regular caller, practically every day.

One day his manager called Mr. Russo into the office and told him not to take calls from the stuttering gentleman anymore. Because it took too long for that caller to ask questions, and the stuttering was annoying other listeners. The manager then used the example that he would not play a scratched Beatles record on the air, so why should he have the stuttering caller on the radio?

Russo’s response: “I have him on my show because he is a human being and is worth the time and my support and interest – he is not an inanimate object (a record)”. The Mad Dog continued to have the gentleman on his show until he departed from Florida for fame in New York City.

As a person who had stuttering problem growing up, Mr. Russo’s story struck a chord with me. It spoke to me of Mr. Russo’s character, and perhaps it is one of the reasons I am drawn to his show on my drive home. My stuttering was not a physical problem, as some experience, but rather more general nervousness in speaking with others. I have worked hard to overcome this personal challenge, forcing myself to participate in Jaycee Public Speaking Contests and other programs to help me.

An aspect of my personal journal with stuttering has made me more attuned to the challenges faced by others. It has also made me more attuned to folks, like the station manager, who, for whatever reason, complain, tease, or find humorous other folks and their personal makeup. In some ways, I feel pity for those folks who do not understand the smallness of their approach in dealing with others. This smallness of character diminishes them in the eyes of others, including me.

In dealing with people, customers, and communities, we are here to lift folks, not to tear people down. Mr. Russo’s response to his manager, and the value of his caller as a human being, inspired me to share with you his and my story.

What values do you carry with you each day in your dealings with others? What is your approach to others? To build them up (I hope).