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Mike North to bring sports talk to Internet
Teams with Lettuce Entertain You restaurants
September 2, 2008

Three months after walking away from CBS Radio's WSCR-AM 670 and with three months remaining until he's free to take a broadcast job elsewhere, sports talker Mike North said Monday that he is going to do a live, two-hour weekday show on the Internet site of Lettuce Entertain You's Wildfire restaurants for at least four months, beginning Monday.

"When I walked away from the Score, I said: 'Now what? I can't do radio or TV,' " North said by phone. "I was thinking of fighting it, the right to work, but at the end of the day, the Score could always match whoever offered me money. … By the time I went to court and it was settled, it would be January and I would be ready to go on. So I went to Rich Melman with this idea."

"The Mike North Webio Show," with Wildfire among its sponsors, will be streamed live at http://www.WildfireRestaurant.com Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. Downloads will be available each day, beginning at 1 p.m. on North's own site, NorthtoNorth.com, as well as iTunes.com.

"I've always liked him. I've loved his passion," Melman said in an interview. "I'm not going to tell you I'm any expert on Web shows or the Internet or anything like that. But I talked to a couple of our people and they said it was interesting. A number of people said this is the coming thing. So I said, 'Let's try it and tie it into one of our restaurants.' "

North was an original personality when WSCR launched in 1992. He left the station after failing to agree to terms on a new contract. Chicago Sun-Times writers Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley have taken over his slot in morning drive time.

Jen Patterson, who recently resigned from WSCR, will be reunited with North as executive producer. The program will originate from the north suburban studios of TalkZone Internet Talk Radio, with occasional shows done at Wildfire restaurants in the area.

Just for the record, all blogs and mentions of job offers and prospects have been removed. Also, the begging for advertisers is a clear signal that "his guys" dont think much of Mikes career path post radio career.

Why would Jiggles have left the SCORE if both North and her knew he would not have a legitimate gig for 6 months? You would think his advice would be to take the check for the 6 months, do your job but be ready to leave.

I rarely troll.

I wonder if Jen knew that Pappy would not be back on until at least january 08.

So, we are likely seeing is a Plan B which is exactly what Pappster did before the Score. When you eliminate the smoke and mirrors, he essentially rents the webcast platform from talkers' zone for which the restaurant pays in exchange for many many many mentions. Considering that the locations of the restaurant in question are in heavy office building/corporate campus areas, Oakbrook, River North, Lincolnshire, which are also notoriously bad in terms of radio reception, they are thinking about attracting lunch and in-office-catering crowds. The only thing that seems odd is that the place is usually jam packed at lunch time! Both bar AND dining areas were full every single time I went there for lunch at Lincolnshire and Oakbrook locations.

Posted by: Get Real | Sep 2, 2008 5:53:36 PM


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I've enjoyed eating there in the past, but I doubt I'll be visiting Wildfire anytime soon. Great PR, Melman!

Posted by: JK | Sep 2, 2008 6:00:56 PM


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Everyone should be happy. North fans, go seek him out.

Posted by: New Direction | Sep 2, 2008 6:10:47 PM


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Just when ya thought things were going good, somebody throws more crap at you! Mike North is an IDIOT? He can't repeat that because he only uses words he can spell! Which holds his vocabulary to say 100 words? Who does this IDIOT have pictures of?

Posted by: Jim | Sep 2, 2008 6:17:07 PM


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I think it's a good idea but wrong restaurant with the wrong person. Mike doesn't really appeal to the wildfire crowd and they will be more annoyed because he will be loud...then they will find some other place to eat. good luck though, it's a great concept...just wrong person.

Posted by: KT | Sep 2, 2008 6:18:35 PM


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"Wave of the Future" ?

More like the "Chef of the Future" from the Honeymooners.

Posted by: Tony Ab | Sep 2, 2008 6:33:27 PM


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Is this a joke? Wow, this guys star has really stopped shining. What's next -- A gig checking IDs at a Rogers Park bar?

Posted by: Bud Keyes | Sep 2, 2008 6:41:41 PM


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I once enjoyed Wildfire but after this.... please.

Why does this guy have to resurface?

Send him back to the hot dog stand!!!!



Posted by: JJA | Sep 2, 2008 6:47:05 PM


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I actually thought about this just the other day. His first guest should be that other computer/internet expert, Jay Mariotti (sp?).

Look, internet webcasts are NOT the wave of the future. You can't have a computer in your car while your driving. Not only that, I'm guessing most Northies don't even own a computer.

Posted by: Bud | Sep 2, 2008 7:55:18 PM


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i HAVE ENJOYED LISTENING TO NORTH SINCE DAY ONE. YOU EITHER LIKE OR DISLIKE SUCH A PERSON. HE IS NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK HIS MIND, AND WILL. MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE BUT HE MAKES ME THINK. HIS SHOW DECLINED AS HIS CONTRACT ROSE ALONG WITH COMMERCIAL TIME.

GOOD LUCK MIKE!

Posted by: | Sep 2, 2008 8:28:37 PM


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You didn't mention that CBS Radio has him boxed out from over-the-air work with a clause that allows them to match any offer for six months post-departure. Four months remain. He'll be back because he has fans. Unlike the just plain cuddly Jay.

Posted by: Wardell | Sep 2, 2008 8:59:48 PM


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I like how guys like Marrioti and North have suddenly discovered the Internet. Ya know, those Bill Curtis commercials for ATT were satire, don't you?

Posted by: Al Gore | Sep 2, 2008 9:14:05 PM


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Anyone can do a webcast. Anyone.

Posted by: Ashlee Simpson | Sep 2, 2008 10:28:15 PM


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I bet Jen Patterson is wondering why she followed North. Her career is gone before it even took off.

Posted by: rico | Sep 2, 2008 10:56:18 PM


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With great gigs like this, Mike will soon be back on top and be able to work an open microphone night at a coffee house near you. I have heard that he has a great new show that is entirely about himself with no filler involving uninteresting topics like sports.

Posted by: Conspiracy Man | Sep 2, 2008 11:14:35 PM


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Who is Phil Vettell?

Whence did he emerge?

Posted by: politwriter | Sep 3, 2008 1:15:42 AM


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Oh that's great! Diners at the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants can listen to Mike North put down gays, Asians, fat people, ugly people, Asians, Hispanics and blacks while enjoying their meals at the same time!

Posted by: Dr. Mary Pat Jordan | Sep 3, 2008 11:49:33 AM


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There's gotta be something wrong when someone boycotts a vendor because of something they air which the person chooses not to listen to! You don't like Mike, don't tune him in!!! Simple as that!! I have liked him for his varied opinions from the day he started broadcasting. I have not agreed with all of them. Not by a long shot. But, I have agreed with him more often than not. I cannot think of many people I can say that about. If you want to listen to only people you agree with, then just tune in to these National Conventions! I love Melman and his LEY restaurants and will dine there more often to make up for the one guy who says he won't go any more. Great job Rich!

Posted by: Mark | Sep 3, 2008 9:05:46 PM

Several people figured they'd be playing the show over the restaurant PA, which I'm not sure of.

Within 5 years all new cars will have internet radio. It's already starting. Not defending North's choces, just saying.

You are being too aggressive with that estimate. The underlying infrastructure (3G) of cell phone networks currently is not capable of handling a multimedia load like that. 4G hasn't been specified, let alone implemented yet. 3G is just starting to become common. I.e., carriers have just invested heavily in 3G infrastructure and will not rush replacing/upgrading it until it pays off and then some. First implementations of 4G are expected in 2012-2015. There will be some debugging and streamlining period after that and only then you should expect infrastructure slowly upgraded to meet demands of heavy wireless multimedia traffic. 5-10 years is a more realistic figure. Carmakers would also have to figure out what to do with their commitments to sattelite radio company.

You are being too aggressive with that estimate. The underlying infrastructure (3G) of cell phone networks currently is not capable of handling a multimedia load like that. 4G hasn't been specified, let alone implemented yet. 3G is just starting to become common. I.e., carriers have just invested heavily in 3G infrastructure and will not rush replacing/upgrading it until it pays off and then some. First implementations of 4G are expected in 2012-2015. There will be some debugging and streamlining period after that and only then you should expect infrastructure slowly upgraded to meet demands of heavy wireless multimedia traffic. 5-10 years is a more realistic figure. Carmakers would also have to figure out what to do with their commitments to sattelite radio company.

If North has a gost writer helping him write a book about his life...they better hurry up and get the story done if they want it to have a somewhat happy ending. The follow up book will be his story about loosing it all...and trying to sell hot dogs on the street,..while also getting arrested for soliciting hookers...AGAIN!