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A published report suggesting Mike North's days at WSCR 670-AM could be numbered led the Score's morning host to blast his bosses and take steps toward the door Friday.
"It was a good piece for me," North said, saying the publicity is bringing in offers. "I've gotten two more calls."
North's contract, reportedly worth $1.5 million a year, expires July 1, and for months speculation has been that CBS Radio, owner of the Score, is low-balling him with an offer for about half that.
North said negotiations were "very sporadic" on the corporate side, but acknowledged there is an offer on the table.
"I really have no problem with the offer," he said. "I'm just getting better offers."
Score Program Director Mitch Rosen has said it's station policy not to discuss negotiations and that he wants North back and believes North wants to stay.
"If they respect me and they pay me what they're paying me now, it's a no-brainer," North admitted.
Yet those are big ifs, and while he said his relations are good with Rosen and CBS Radio's local head Rod Zimmerman, he did not say the same about Score Vice President and General Manager Paul Agase.
"I believe there are people brighter when they're sleeping than he is," North said.
That's nothing new. North has taken issue with Agase on the air for years over station promotion - or lack thereof.
"They've never really helped my show," he said. Adding that he's frequently criticized for being a "self-promoter," he said, "You have to if you're not promoted."
High-tension negotiations are typical in radio and at the Score. North squeezed the station for more money when he was moved to mornings, and the Score also had contentious negotiations with baseball analyst Steve Stone before re-signing him earlier this year. The saber-rattling seemed situation normal, with North likely to return in any case. He's been the voice of the station since its inception. Yet, that may have changed now.
"They miscalculated by telling me to go out and get other deals," North said. "It's not about the money with me. It's more about the respect factor. If you disrespect me, I don't care how much money you got, because I'll work for less for somebody else."
Ratings reportedly are down for North's show, which has been running behind ESPN Radio's syndicated Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic on WMVP 1000-AM. North pointed out it's not ratings that matter but revenue, and he has always produced on that with close ties to his sponsors - whom he figures to take with him wherever he goes.
"It's a moneymaking machine," he said of the Score, "and I'm proud to say part of that machine has been built with my efforts."
North acknowledged the radio landscape has changed, with Mancow Muller and "Crazy" Howard McGee being hustled out of local gigs and into syndication in recent years. "The big-money guys have been forced out," he said. "Well, I'm not gonna be one of them."
Ok, lets break down Pappy here.
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"It was a good piece for me," North said, saying the publicity is bringing in offers. "I've gotten two more calls."
I doubt it, cant prove it, but this is spin control.
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"I really have no problem with the offer," he said. "I'm just getting better offers."
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"If they respect me and they pay me what they're paying me now, it's a no-brainer," North admitted.
Really? I thought it wasnt about the money, better offers means more money, right? More spin control.
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"They've never really helped my show," he said. Adding that he's frequently criticized for being a "self-promoter," he said, "You have to if you're not promoted."
But Pappy, you wanted total control of the show, thought you didnt need help.
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"They miscalculated by telling me to go out and get other deals," North said. "It's not about the money with me.
But.....didnt you just say twice it was about the money?
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"The big-money guys have been forced out," he said. "Well, I'm not gonna be one of them
I dont think I have to type anything, but I do know now for sure Pappy is full of crap, because its about the money and he wants big money for a shitty product, only in America.
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