I get it if you don't like Mike's show....
I understand it if you once really liked him, but feel he lost perspective while gaining his fortune....
And I know he has said some insensitive, offensive, dumb things over the years....

But why the deep-rooted, mean-spirited, flat out hatred for this man? If you think he's a joke, wouldn't it be healthier just to ignore him? I mean, why expend so much energy on somebody who really, truly is not IN your life?

Mike is a decent man. Generous. Charitable. Fun-loving. Leave the hatred for deadbeat dads, politicians who extort and child molesters.

Mac, its good to see you posting drunk!

Same thing happens to lots of people in the public eye who have some controversy associated with them. "I hate Mike North so much, I couldn't believe what he said during the four hours I listened". Same thing happened with Stern from what I remember of my childhood.

Some people are jealous that a normal guy like Mike, who has lots of warts, is succeeding the way he is when they haven't. So they attack every wart they see. Mike is unintelligent. Mike is racist. Mike is sexist. Mike is overly opinionated. Mike yells to get his argument across. A lot of people do this with female celebrities. They will say things like, "I cant believe how skinny she is, I hate her". That person can be the greatest person in the world, but we only see or hear what we perceive and pass judgement. Even if you bring up Mike's charitable work with the cops and firemen, you will get a response "He only does it to get attention to himself".

Some people have legitimate arguments. Personally, I think ESPN and the Score work best when fans are involved in some of the program. I don't like hearing North just talk and talk the whole time. I want to hear what fans think. I want them to drive more of the topics. Even if its as horrible as talking hockey for a half hour. I could be wrong, but Mike seemed to take less and less calls from fans over the past months. I also don't completely disagree with those that say he has some really out there opinions on things, such as the recent Linebrink vs. Marmol discussion. I think we expect a bit better of an argument. He seemed to only bring this up because the Sox were not getting enough media attention. Rather then giving any real assessment of who either of these guys are, he reads off stats. I dont give a flying fig about comparing two ERAs. Stats lie. There are quite a few smart people here who don't like having their intelligence insulted.

Its best to leave them alone because in the end, the more people talk about this guy, the bigger a celebrity he becomes. You can start worrying when no one is posting in the North section, thats when we will know people really hate the guy.

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Mac, I think you are pretty much correct. I was once a regular in the MIKE NORTH section ripping the guy, and I probably would still be if I listened to The Score on a regular basis.

The thing is, people are real passionate about our sports and what they want specifically covered on the two sports stations in town (I know, tell you something you don't know). However, what should be common sense to us "common folks" does not seem to be common sense for the management often times.

Furthermore, Mike is someone who seems to be one of those people who has no clue what common sense is, when approaching a show that is geared (or should be) geared towards sports fans. To some sense Mac, I have always agreed with your stance that the management should be blamed for allowing him to do what he does or for giving him the type of power he has. While that is true, it truly comes across that the guy has milked the last few years, ignoring any suggestions or ideas to to improve his show. His show is the same old, same old and people are tired of it.

The personal hate by some is strong, but the guy has been taken care of very well off this profession, and for many, they feel he simply is sticking up the finger and shouting F U to the audience since he cares little about what they want, and only what he thinks a good show should be. Management can only be blamed so much once they gave him significant control/power over his show.

His show sucks and he could care less, yet, he gets these accomplishments or rewards every few months it seems. A HOF in Chicago radio a few years ago (where Mac called the MNMS and congratulated him.... very nice gesture by the way, Mac), being honored by the Blackhawks recently, having stupid various TV spots through the years, a new book deal? People think he is so great, but they are honoring a guy based off his past accomplishments, which was not much of a long span... a few years. It's not like he was in Chicago radio and great for 15 or 20 years like other true radio legends.

The fact that Mike is so blatantly ignorant about how awful his show is and his lack of willing to improve it, and even going as far as to dumb the rest of us down as "dos chat board people" adds fuel to the fire. Also, at one point, wasn't there talk that North wanted to sue a few posters, or was that just something that was greatly exaggerated or just silly?

Yea Mac, Mike is charitable, every nickle he donates is talked about for days on his show. The "hatred" you suggest on your post, I dont see, it isnt personal, its about his show.

You know and have worked with Mike, your opinion holds the most water here, but I will tell you this, Pappy comes off in a very bad light these days, coming off bitter, selfish and has quit trying to put out a good product for years now and I find it fair to kick the guy when he is down, because he has done it to others for years.

I more then likely would never say a word about his show and the 45 minutes I catch on my way to work, but the guy has blamed everyone but himself for the shitfest he calls a show, not Mikeys fault, thats why I dont give him a break these days.

Mike has turned into what most radio people are, thin skinned babies, who can dish it out and but not take it, your not included on that list mac.

I enjoyed Mike in the past. I defended Mike in the past. But now?

His attitude, his "make himself part of the story" (ie the whole trouble with Ozzie/AJ/Mark Buehrle last season) just before heading East to try out to replace Imus?

The man is an attention whore. I can't stand guys who have to brag about what they do. Just do it, and we'll respect (or disrespect you) for your actions on their own. I don't need to be told for days about what you did.

Let reporters do that who cover radio. Focus on discussing and debating sports. No more, no less.

Because it's hard to get mad at Mike & Mike...

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Middle Aged Crazy, like Uncle Terry

As Cloris Leachman said, we are all whores. Mike has just made it a part of a successful living.

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Why the hate?

Mike says-

I give to charity, I have a dog, I have a wife, I went out last night, I play softball, I coach a baasketball team, I predicted this or that, I'm rich, I talked to this celebrity, I went to vegas, I got a DUI/I beat the DUI, I know more than you, I had sex with my wife, I had sex with Jen, I had sex with a prostitute, I had sex with Lic, I have a rec room in my basement with a name, I love Sinatra, I hate any music made after 1980, I love mafia movies, I wish I were in the mafia, I buy drinks for everyone, I wear the same suit that Joe Pesci does, I think gorgeous women love me, I love "dem black guys", etc, etc, etc, etc,

I'll try to think if more.

You seemed pretty concerned about North and the feelings expressed about him on a message board. Why? Are you afraid the audience may turn on you down the road?
I really don't care if North is generous, charitable and a decent guy, I care about the product on the air and that product has been turned to horseshit. Get this garbage show off the air. Mike is to blame for the disaster known as the MNMS and no one else. I would suggest you should pay attention to what has happened to Mike and try to keep your show interesting to more people, not just yourself. I don't care about radio hosts problems, I just want the shows to be entertaining. I no longer listen to your show because I no longer find it entertaining. I think many here want a quality local show on the air in the morning and the MNMS certainly isn't that. Mike might be a great guy, but his show sucks and should be cancelled.

Mr. B and SID: you give reasons why you don't like Mike's show. These reasons, while perhaps ALL valid, do not constitute the burning hatred I read here. If you really want to make Mike suffer... give him the one thing he likely would abhor more than any other: ignore him.

mike north is a successful broadcaster because of the fact that he generates such a response.

you know as anyone in the industry - any press is good press; if he were ignored, THEN he'd be a failure...

he loves the attention, and he knows how to push buttons. otherwise people wouldn't still come to this thread throwing around insults. he knows what he's doing.

most people come to this thread because they HATE mike north, but they still POST about him. they can't ignore him, he knows they can't ignore him, and so the wheels keep going round...

i know what mike north's about, and that's why i don't listen to him that often. but i will admit he'll make me chuckle sometimes.

but he's no howard stern.

Mac, you read the Board enough to know why he is hated. I check this thread for the humor in the stupidity that goes on this show. I don't listen. Generous? Give the guy a prize. It still isn't a good listen.

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SideshowBob311: "Sadly enough, I think we're the "intelligent" portion of the sports radio fanbase".
"I make fun of whoever sucks, including me"- Harry 11/30/07

Not even close...but then again, howard stern is not howard stern anymore.

I am a North fan.

No shit. Hamptons Howie is really on cruise control these days.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Since I dont know the man personally, I admit I'm a little over the top sometimes but I cannot believe that in all your years (I started listening to you in '89 C.O.S.), the Mighty Danny Mcneil has never truly hated someone only based on their attitude on the field, personality in the booth or how they have come across in an interview. Even though you never met them. A lot of people hated Scottie Pippen even though they didn't know him personally. I heard he did a lot of charitable things that never made the news. Same with Frank Thomas.

And Yeah, I might be a tad jealous of Mike but I hate thieves and he's stealing. I know he sucks when I wish Tom Shaer were back over him. I guess I should hate the Score Suits just as much. Thats not as fun though.

"Your DIME YOUR DANCE FLOOR DANGEROUS!"

howard stern is like "the simpsons"...you keep wanting him to be great again, but you know it'll never happen...you just hope he's entertaining once in a while.

but there's no question without the FCC on his ass, he's lost a bit of his edge, and with him getting older, he would just be more cranky and whiny than funny if he WERE still on terrestrial radio.

I think a lot of folks are jealous of him even though they would never admit it.

The flawed nature of the above logic is revealed by the frequently dismal ratings North has garnered since he moved into the morning slot. Apparently, North can be "talked about" while still having a show that is almost universally ignored.

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Shocking, but true here as well.

And Mac, as far as your remarks that he has said SOME insensitive, offensive and dumb things, that is a huge understatement. At every turn the guy proves himself to be one of the largest race baiting asswipes in the entire city. If not that, then he's still probably arguing somewhere that the police in '68 didn't do enough to beat the hell out of the press/hippies/protesters, or he's still somewhere hypocritically criticizing someone for things he himself does/did and glorified on air.

While he may not believe much of what he says, and I thought that for awhile about him, it is no longer the case for me. Whatever identity he had back at the bunker on Belmont, he has replaced it with the residue of the racist, misogynist and strangely bitter crap that has routinely come out of his mouth. This thin skinned clown has turned into the protypical Angry White Male, but oddly one who professes to love what he does, is seemingly on every forum/media outlet and makes millions on a show that has done little else other than to trash his own once likable reputation.

It's tiring and has actually led me to turn off the radio almost entirely. Turning on the Score was once second nature, but not now.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I honestly think guys that Mac is playing devil's advocate here.....

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Some would like to think he got fat and happy with this Sirius deal. They fail to recognize the guy had been making 8 figures for quite a while. He had his money, he had his fame and he had the ability to bang model types well before Sirius.

I think he just got tired...and frankly, I do not blame him. What I do blame him for is that he does not have the decency to retire. He does not really want to do the show now, but he is afraid of what life will be like without it.

I really picture Stern retireing at the end of this contract. Then, in about three years, after Porky's does not get remade, after movie production proves to be a money loser, after all the projects he wanted to do have lost their viability on closer scrutiny, he will make a return to terrestrial radio. You see that with all these radio guys (larry lujack, brandmeier, etc.). It sucks to be relatively young and lose all relevance.

I haven't listened to Stern since he left regular radio.

I always thought of his show as the best entertainment in the history of radio. It beat anything on TV as well.

So maybe he doesn't care anymore like you say Good Dolphin. He's not gonna retire.

I think he's getting 25 million a year with his Sirius deal. Nobody is gonna walk away from that.

it's not flawed, it's pretty much universally correct. he still has a show doesn't he? his ratings can't be worse than rover's when he took over for stern's spot and rover was quickly let go because he had no audience here, he had no real fanbase or following. north does.

or maybe north knows the right people, or maybe they can't find anyone to replace him yet...but typically, if the ratings are as "dismal" as you are saying, then he'd be on his way out soon...people keep talking about it but he still is on the air.

i think he's trying to get away with...something like: taking a back seat and letting the supporting cast provide the humor. they seem to be much more prominent nowadays, and howard seems less interested in things.

x4

Mac, let me tell tell ya something. Most people on this board wouldn't be happy if there wasn't something to complain about. Since the Cubs and Sux are both in first, North is an easy target. They just get off on it.

include yourself in that statement, but leave me out of the "most people."

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@audioidkid

North has been a easy target for 4 years and the reason he is a easy target is because of him and the moronic things he says. North had the chance to fix his show, wscr wanted him to do well, but because his ego I assume wouldnt allow it, so like I said before, this bad show is on him.

When he got on the air and said since he was in the business for 12 years, he didnt need to take calls any longer, which meant to me, he didnt need the fans of WSCR to do well...........guess he was wrong.

So you are saying your assertion that North is a success because a handful of people routinely post bilious messages about him on an internet message board is universally correct? In that case, you should email North and tell him to use that argument in his upcoming contract negotiations with WSCR and CBS management. Somehow I don't think Mitch Rosen and his colleagues will embrace the "universality" of your thinking.

As for the implication that North is a success because he achieves better ratings than Rover, an abject failure, I'm not sure your assertion is factually correct. But even if it is true that North's ratings are higher than Rover's were during his Chicago tenure, your standard is hardly a lofty one, and again it is not shared by WSCR management.

North was placed in his current time slot to build on the ratings of his predecessor, Mike Murphy, who routinely outstripped Greenie & Golic in their head-to-head competition. Since North became the Score's morning man, though, the station's 5-9AM audience has shrunk and North has routinely been beaten in the ratings by ESPN's morning pairing. When North's contract expires sometime during the summer, he will have to accept a pay cut and, likely, a new time slot--if he remains on the Score at all. If this downward spiral of declining accomplishments and diminished expectations is your definition of "success", then I must conclude that you have a very peculiar definition of that word.

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If this is true then what is everybody going to talk about?

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SideshowBob311: "Sadly enough, I think we're the "intelligent" portion of the sports radio fanbase".
"I make fun of whoever sucks, including me"- Harry 11/30/07