Famed sports radio host Chris Russo has claimed he narrowly avoided being arrested at Heathrow Airport in London.
The 65-year-old returned to the ESPN airwaves on ‘First Take’ on Wednesday following a 17-day vacation to Europe that included an eight-day father-son golfing getaway to Dornoch, Scotland.
However, the analyst, whose fiery takes have earned him the moniker ‘Mad Dog,’ seized the chance to unleash a scathing rant live on air as he revealed that after a number of hiccups his participation in the trip was very nearly derailed.
For more than 10 minutes, Russo blustered about the trials and tribulations of getting himself, his traveling companions and their golf clubs to the Highlands, which included a run-in with London police.
He revealed that his son, Northern Arizona University’s men’s basketball assistant coach Tim Russo, flew from Phoenix to London via a connection in Dallas before traveling on to Inverness.
While Tim and his clothes made it to the Northern Scottish town, his clubs did not. With the golf clubs a key component to the trip, Russo Sr. was left on a mass scavenger hunt to locate the set in Heathrow Airport.
Chris Russo returned to ESPN’s ‘First Take’ on Wednesday after a European vacation
The 65-year-old revealed that airport staff called police on him at London Heathrow
‘It took me two and a half hours to locate the clubs at Heathrow. They didn’t know where they were!’ Russo exclaimed.
‘My son needs the golf clubs for crying out loud! Couldn’t find them. We finally found the golf clubs. I had the ticket stub, I put Timmy on FaceTime. ‘Timmy, will you tell the people here that the golf clubs are yours and your father, WHO PAID FOR THEM! wants to take them out of the airport so I can get you your clubs the next day?’ They wouldn’t let me take the clubs out of Heathrow!
‘So Timmy’s clubs had to stay at Heathrow overnight and he didn’t have his golf clubs on Saturday because British Airways…wouldn’t give it to his father! Here’s their answer, ‘It’s protocol, sir.’ I’m not interested in protocol! I’m interested in the 5-iron! I am not interested in that!
‘And they called the police on me! I’m a loud American! ‘We’re gonna get the authorities.’ I DON’T GIVE A C*** ABOUT AUTHORITIES GET THE GOLF CLUBS WHERE THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE!’
He then confirmed that officers arrived on the scene but he managed to calm down in time to de-escalate the situation and avoid arrest.
However, that hadn’t been the beginning of Russo’s travelling calamity. He also took aim at American airline, Jetblue, after his flight from New York JFK was delayed before ultimately being cancelled.
The famed sports radio host launched into a 10-minute rant about his travels
‘You want to fly to Scranton, PA? Jet Blue is for you!’ Russo yelled. ‘You want to fly to something a little more elaborate like to freakin’ Edinburgh? What a disgrace! They kept people on that plane ’til 1:44 in the morning and threw them the hell out of there!’
Russo is known for his controversial takes on the hit ESPN show alongside Stephen A. Smith. He’s frequently taken aim at the likes of Caitlin Clark, Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson, and even colleague Jason Kelce.
In addition to his frequent appearances on ‘First Take,’ Russo hosts an afternoon radio show, ‘Mad Dog Unleashed,’ SiriusXM Ch. 82 Mad Dog Sports Radio.
He joined Sirius XM Radio in August 2008 and now operates his own channel, Mad Dog Sports Radio.
