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Mike Greenberg: ‘Mike Golic best thing that ever happened to me’

By Mark Carman

LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 19: Sports broadcasters Mike Greenberg (L) and Mike Golic, hosts of ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" show, are inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame during the NAB Show Radio Luncheon at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on April 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NAB Show, the trade show of the National Association of Broadcasters and the world's largest electronic media show, runs through April 21 and features more than 1,700 exhibitors and 103,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 19: Sports broadcasters Mike Greenberg (L) and Mike Golic, hosts of ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" show, are inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame during the NAB Show Radio Luncheon at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on April 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NAB Show, the trade show of the National Association of Broadcasters and the world's largest electronic media show, runs through April 21 and features more than 1,700 exhibitors and 103,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Mike Greenberg looks fondly back at his partnership with Mike Golic and how it changed his professional life

ESPN personality Mike Greenberg does not sound like he has anything but appreciation for his longtime partner Mike Golic. The two will split up by the end of the year, with Greenberg moving on to his own ESPN TV show. Golic will continue to host radio.

“I owe Mike Golic more than I could ever begin to describe,” Greenberg said. “When we started doing the show together, professionally speaking, I wasn’t anybody at all. I had a lot of dreams and really almost no ability to prove that I was capable of anything. Mike took a chance bringing me on as his partner and we had just a fantastic time.”

The TV show is a huge vote of confidence from his ESPN bosses. Greenberg seems to be both looking forward, as well as cherishing the past.

“While I am excited about whatever the next chapter of my life may be, there’s no question there is a huge part of me that is very sad. This partnership has been the best thing that ever happened to me in my entire professional life and there is no question I will miss it,” Greenberg reflected. “I’m proud of everything that we’ve done. I think we’ve done a good show, the best we could, for a really long time. I’m proud for the most part for everyday we had together and equally grateful for everyday we had together.”

As for Greenberg’s beloved New York Jets, who continue to dismantle their roster, Greenberg believes they are trying to lose to get good and does not believe that strategy is good for sports in general.

“I hate that we have incentivized losing in sports,” Greenberg complained. “I don’t like it in any sport and I do not believe losing should be an advantage, yet unfortunately it is. I can’t argue with the fact that if the best you were going to be is 5-11, which perhaps the Jets thought they would be, you are better off 0-16.”

Greenberg was also not a fan of NBA 2016-2017.

“I thought this NBA season was just awful, absolutely awful,” Greenberg critiqued. “I was in Chicago throughout the Michael Jordan era covering those teams and anyone who tells you that there is a similarity between that and this just doesn’t know what they are talking about. The Bulls were challenged like crazy. The Bulls had to go through brutal series against the Knicks in the Eastern Conference, against the Pacers. They had to face good Utah teams, Portland, Phoenix. The Warriors were unfairly good. It was like watching an AAU game that should never have been played.”

Next: Listen to every episode of On The Mark here

Greenberg is working again with Dove Men+Care celebrating Dads and other father figures who have shown extraordinary care with There to Care – a new film this Father’s Day. Greenberg has both a son and a daughter and has long credited his own Dad for being instrumental in developing his passion for sports.