Posted by chicagomedia.org on June 25, 2008 at 07:48:18:
In Reply to: Mike North exits WSCR posted by chicagomedia.org on June 25, 2008 at 07:47:20:
North's farewell to Score no ploy
To those who believe Tuesday's public parting of Mike North and WSCR-AM (670) was some sort of negotiation ploy, North set stipulations that virtually guarantee he won't return.
''I never say never about anything, but I'm going to tell you something,'' North told the Sun-Times in a phone interview. ''If they want to get back together, one of the things they have to say is, 'I'm sorry for the problems I caused you.' And maybe one guy has to be gone.
''That's the way it is. That's the way I am. It's their ball. I'm the one that's leaving. It's my choice.''
And North reiterated that his decision was not based on money despite reports the station wanted to cut his contract from $1.5 million to $800,000.
''There were just other issues over there that have to be addressed, and I'm not going to get into them,'' he said. ''The money was fantastic. Everybody who knows me knows money is just paper.''
North said his staff was given the choice of being reassigned, which upset him. Sun-Times writers Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley have the inside track on replacing North.
''Those guys [on North's staff] didn't do anything wrong,'' North said. ''When [Don] Imus got fired, his guys stayed there. I don't understand hurting the little guys.
''They will be reassigned if they choose to stay. I can't make promises, but at my next landing pad, I'll do everything I can to get any or all of my guys over there.''
North wouldn't say where he might end up. WLS is reportedly one possibility.
He also took issue with The Score implying his ratings were horrible.
''I was No. 5 in the city among English-speaking men 25-54,'' he said. ''My ratings were great, and we just had a great trend.
''But don't feel sorry for me. I had a great run for 16½ years.''
North, who grew up in Rogers Park and was a former hot dog vendor and hot dog stand owner, had been with the Score since its debut in 1992. In 2004, North became the station's morning host with great fanfare.
(Sun-Times)