Chris "Mad Dog" Russo picked a strange hill to stand on. And then doubled down.
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On his SiriusXM show, Russo dismissed the controversy that forced Tony Clark to resign as head of the MLB Players Association, questioning why an inappropriate relationship with Clark's sister-in-law was even considered an issue.
"She's in her 50s. What's so inappropriate about that?" Russo said. "This happens all the time."
That alone raised eyebrows. Russo kept going.
He framed the situation as more of a private family matter than a union problem, brushing past the part where Clark allegedly helped secure her a job within the MLBPA. When his producer pointed out that detail, Russo showed little interest in engaging with it.
Instead, Russo pivoted hard.
He suggested the resignation felt like "camouflage," floating the idea that Clark's exit was meant to distract from an ongoing federal investigation into MLBPA finances and business dealings. Russo admitted he could be wrong. He still said it.
"He didn't do anything criminal," Russo added. "He did something stupid. He's not going to jail."
That framing missed the point. The issue was never just the relationship. It was power, hiring, and judgment at the very top of a union heading into a critical bargaining cycle.
The MLBPA did not linger. With collective bargaining talks looming and lockout fears already bubbling, the union moved quickly, installing Bruce Meyer as interim executive director.
Mad Dog may not see the problem. The players association clearly did.
