Raissman: Russ never sleeps

Raissman: Russ never sleeps

Nearly 25 years ago he burst on the Tapehead scene with a Brooklyn sound, eschewing the traditional jacket and tie for a colorful sweater. Yet there was nothing casual about Russ Salzberg’s approach to delivering the nightly sportscast on Ch. 9.

His formula combined a staccato narration of highlights with hard-hitting commentary. Salzberg was on the scene seeking out stories. There was never a dull moment.

Nothing much has changed from those early years. Okay, so he traded in the multi-color sweaters for designer threads, but still remains fired up, pulling double-duty for Channels 9 and 5. As Salzberg approaches this milestone in his career, we look back at our favorite moments from a guy who has always put viewers first.

WELLINGTON MARA’S OBIT

At the end of the piece, Salzberg reminisced about a moment the Giants owner shared with him before the team traveled to Tampa for its Super Bowl matchup with the Ravens. In a crowded Giants locker room, the media was meeting with players. Mara pulled Salzberg aside.

“Hey Russ, I just had number 38 last night,” Mara said

“38 what?” Salzberg asked.

“My 38th grandchild,” Mara explained.

Salzberg used the anecdote to make a central point about Mara’s life. He closed the obit by saying: “Once again Mara was reminding us all what’s important.”

RAY HANDLEY WIGS

While the Giants coach was meeting with the media, Salzberg asked, “If Hoss (Jeff Hostetler) heals is he your starting quarterback?”

“Don’t ask me that,” a dismissive Handley shot back.

“Why not?” Salzberg asked.

“If you don’t shut this guy up I’m out of here,” Handley said.

Salzberg persisted. Handley stormed out of the room. The moment was replayed over and over again. Salzy had exposed a coach unable to withstand the media heat.

THE LAST WALK

A poignant early morning stroll with Yogi Berra in the old Yankee Stadium. From the dugout and along the warning track to Monument Park, the quiet conversation with the Yankees legend was moving.

MIKE TYSON WIGS

During a satellite interview before his 2007 fight with Francois Botha, Tyson said he was going to “kill” the “m----- f-----.” Salzberg asked if taking “rage” into the ring could work.

Tyson dropped another F-bomb. “Mike, why do you have to talk like that?” Salzy asked.

“If you don’t like it you can turn off your station right now,” Tyson said.

“You know what, I think we’ll end the discussion right now. … Have a nice fight, Mike,” Salzberg said.

Tyson: “F--- off!”

Salzy’s most bizarre, but revealing, interview.

THE SWEATER AND THE BOSS

Throughout George Steinbrenner’s Yankees reign, Salzberg had an up-and-down relationship with the owner. The lines of communication never closed.

After Steinbrenner was suspended from baseball, he did an intense one-on-one with Salzberg, who asked if he had “brought shame to the Yankees.” Salzberg brought this up during his 2010 obit of the Boss.

At the end of the piece, he held up a note Steinbrenner once sent him, which read: “To Russ, my friend in good times and bad.”

DRAZEN PETROVIC’S DEATH

Salzberg, who did many an interview with the Nets’ sharpshooting guard, had trouble holding it together, but delivered a sensitive tribute.