A Manhattan circuit-court judge has sentenced Mike Francesa, sports-talk host of radio-station WFAN, to "five" minutes of silence, saying the area's sports fans needed a "time-out" from the garrulous, intolerable radio man.

The judge, Leon Sercy, of the 3rd District Court, seethed with anger at every mention of Francesa. Should Francesa rebuff the court-order, set to begin on December 4th at 3:15 pm, for exactly five minutes, the judge will see to it that Francesa sees prison time-- "as many years as I can make stick."

The judge said he had "nothing personal" against Francesa, stressing that his own unpleaseant experience as a "caller" into the show was irrevelant in his ruling.

"C'mon," he said. "So I called him and 'the Dog' [Francesa's radio partner Christopher Russo] a few times over the past couple years? He was rude...dismissive. Never let me make my point."

"He called me 'ridiculous.' 'Ignorant.' On the airwaves. It's true, I never forgot that. But c'mon…I'm a professional."

"I remember the guy," Francesa reminisced at a subsequently convened press conference. "Yeah, sure…I remember the Judge. Sure, I remember him. The Judge…sure, I remember him. He called a bunch 'a times, right Dog? Yeah, sure, I remember the Judge…"

Jack Greenburg, his attorney, presently slapped Francesa upside the head to break his perseveration.

"We're going to appeal this mean, petty, and let me stress—illegal—ruling," Greenburg glared, to which Francesa added, "Yeah, sure. I remember the Judge. He called a bunch 'a times, right Dog?"

Now Christopher Russo, "the Dog," stepping between Francesa and Greenburg, said, "Shut-up, Mikey. I can say that now. Shut-up. You've annoyed the Judge, and you've annoyed me, for a long time. I support the Judge's decision, Mikey. Sorry."

As Russo stepped back, Francesa seized the microphone and observed, "Sure, Dog. I remember the Judge. You remember him? He called a bunch 'a times. Yeah, I remember the Judge..."

Now Greenburg, sensing that his client was making the wrong impression, smashed a large Perrier bottle over his head, sending the hefty Francesa to the floor, crumpled and bleeding.

As colleagues went to assist him, Francesa, rousing himself, said "You remember the Judge, right Dog? Yeah, sure, I remember him."