YES and no: Michael Kay, Mike Francesa exchange barbs

Mike Francesa's radio show temporarily is gone from TV, but on his first day off the YES Network, he showed that the lack of a video will not affect his willingness to express himself.

The drama began when Michael Kay opened his first simulcast on YES with a clear shot at Francesa, who held that time slot for 12 years.

Shortly after going on the air at 3 p.m. yesterday, Kay theatrically dumped a plastic bottle of Diet Coke -- Francesa's longtime beverage of choice -- into a garbage can held by his partner, Don LaGreca.

The gag was executed wordlessly, but the reference to Francesa was clear.

When asked by Newsday what he thought of it, Francesa called it a "classless, loser move from two guys I have been burying in the ratings for over a decade."

Later, when a caller asked Francesa about the incident, he said: "I've never considered them competition. I still don't."

Francesa's final show on YES was Super Bowl Sunday. He said on the air Monday that he likely would not have a new TV home for his WFAN program until around April 1.

Earlier in the show, Francesa accused YES of being a "propaganda" arm of the Yankees. In addition to his ESPN Radio show, Kay is the Yankees' play-by-play man for YES.

Kay's show began with the screen quoting British philosopher Alan Wilson Watts, who said, "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."

Below that read, "Today we join in a new dance, The Michael Kay Show on YES begins -- right now . . . "

Kay's set was modestly appointed compared with Francesa's on YES, with a blue background and few bells and whistles.

It is not yet clear from what location Kay will do his ESPN Radio / YES show during the baseball season.