Mike North Off The Score

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 25, 2008 6:10PM

When Mike North wasn't on air on Monday, it seemed like the typical negotiating ploy that stations use against on-air talent as contract renewals approach. Instead North found out on yesterday, via e-mail, that The Score (670AM) rescinded their last offer and he's finished with the station after 16 years.

North believed he might be on the way out at The Score—management was openly exploring other options, and there have been rumors for a while that he'd be losing his morning slot. After a Friday meeting in which North refused WSCR's offer once again, they benched him and then cut him loose.

Without a chance to say goodbye to his listeners on-air, he posted his farewell on his website.

One of the original voices of the station, he helped build The Score into a sports radio powerhouse that competes head-to-head with ESPN Radio (1000AM) for listeners in Chicago. North is synonymous with Chicago sports talk, so we don't expect him to be off air for very long. Longtime rival ESPN Radio seems like the logical place for him to land. They could add him in their midday slot between Mike & Mike and the Mike Terico Show to give their listeners nine hours of Mikes. He's certainly be an upgrade on the current Waddle & Silvy show.

And how does The Score replace a legend like North? Phil Rosenthal thinks that the Sun-Times's Jay Mariotti would be a natural. We can only imagine the number of time the "dump button" gets used as callers tell Jay what they really think about him.

Photo via NorthtoNorth.com