Webio goes on the air, but for how long?
Posted by Ed Sherman at 6/15/2009 9:08 AM CDT on Chicago Business

The clock struck 9 a.m. Monday morning and lo and behold, Chicagosportswebio.com went on the air.

Matt Weber and Fred Huebner enthusiastically greeted listeners.

"I'm just glad to see familiar faces after a weekend of not seeing familiar faces," Mr. Weber said.

"I'll be here no matter what," said Mr. Huebner.

In this case, no matter what likely means not getting paid.

All the personnel of the Internet sports talk station spent an uncertain weekend after it was disclosed that numerous pay checks have bounced from President David Hernandez's Spectrum Entertainment, the parent company of Webio. Meanwhile, the FBI is apparently investigating the business dealings of Mr. Hernandez's other companies, NextStep Financial Services and NextStep Medical Staffing.

Mr. Hernandez also fired co-founder Mike North, his wife BeBe and Jeff Schwartz Friday. Mr. North said it was because he questioned Mr. Hernandez about the bad checks.

Monday, Mr. North's "Monsters in the Morning" show on Comcast SportsNet was not simulcast on Webio, as had been the case since the station's launch. Interestingly, there's still a Sun-Times ad on the site's home page featuring Mr. North and partner Dan Jiggett's picture. They write a column for the paper.

All the on-air and production staff came to Webio because of Mr. North. When the station launched in the beginning of April, many were thrilled to have the security of two-year contracts and an owner who seemed committed to spend the big money to make the station work.

Most of them left jobs at WSCR-AM 670 and WMVP-AM 1000 for this opportunity. With the situation now looking grim, they feel betrayed and anxious, knowing the doors likely are closed at their former employers.

"This feels like a punch in the stomach," said an on-air personality.

"A lot of people left good jobs," said another staffer. "We all had great hopes. To have it last a little over two months is extremely disheartening. Now what do we do?"

Mr. North put the blame squarely on Mr. Hernandez. However, he also feels responsible for the fate of the staffers he recruited. So much so that he wrote them personal checks Friday during a meeting at his house to help cover the checks that bounced from Webio.

"To see people I love, to see people I discovered..." Mr. North said. "BeBe and I don't operate in a dishonest manner. We never wanted to hurt anybody. I can sleep a little better at night. It doesn't solve the problem."

Indeed, it doesn't. Mr. North said he is "praying for a miracle" that Mr. Hernandez will be able to find a way to continue the station and pay his former associates.

But with checks bouncing and the FBI knocking on Mr. Hernandez's door, don't expect any miracles here.

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No more L word.

steven colbert should give a bump on his show for the webio.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Odd choice of words for the husband of the Chief OPERATING Officer

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Is nort going to pay everyone's salary's ? I think not. and neither is a major sponsor.

and still nobody in the business has the balls to say anything negative against nort. they are saying it in private or thinking it, but why not bust this idiot in public ?

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Frank Coztansa wrote:
Please die in a fire.

I think I'll wait till "Ed Sherman - Column #3 today on Webio debacle" to give my two cents...

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

it's methinks Sneed...as in methinks you would look straighter walking down Clark street shirtless in a pair of hot pants than using that stupid word

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Whew! What a relief. It's good to know Mike is getting his sleep during these trying times. I was so worried about that. After a good night's sleep, maybe he'll be refreshed enough to think up another great money-making scheme. Although, after hosting radio, hosting TV, doing a CD, writing a book, starting a gambling website, and co-founding webio, all within a year or so, I would think even the great business acumen of a Mike North is being severely tested.

I'm sure everybody at Webio is thrilled to hear Pappy is gonna sleep well.

peabrain. mike SAID he can sleep this week since the employees are paid. HE SAID the problem isnt fixed yet. THAT WOULD IMPLY he wont be sleeping next week unless some miracle happens.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

No familiar faces over the weekend? You didn't get to go to Mike's for dinner and a personal check from his personal account like chet?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

don't worry webster, geek squad is hiring.

_________________
Frank Coztansa wrote:
Please die in a fire.

Give me some horn!

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There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

Pappy got played by this guy.

...and to think Mike thought he was using this guy to better his situation.

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Disclaimer: Most of my posts are not suitable for work or home viewing.

The name's Rockmore. Beef Rockmore

The only thing pappy did right was to not put his own money into this scam, not because he is smart, but because he is a greedy fuckstick.

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Frank Coztansa wrote:
Please die in a fire.

AMEN

If he had waited just a couple more months he could have added this as a chapter to his book and had a ton of publicity.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Sequel to "Settling the Score"...

"Untangling the Webio"?

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You know me like that.