1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:01,440 Speaker 1: Cutbooms. 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 2: If you thought four hours a day, twelve hundred minutes 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 2: a week was enough, think again. He's the last remnants 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 2: of the old Republic, a sol fashion of fairness. He 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 2: treats crackheads in the ghetto gutter the same as the 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 2: rich pill poppers in the penthouse. Wow to Clearinghouse of 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 2: hot takes, break free for something special. The Fifth Hour 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 2: with Ben Maller starts right now. 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 3: In the air everywhere. The Fifth Hour with Me, Ben 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 3: Mahler and Danny g Radio, who will be producing this podcast, 11 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 3: will join me at some point over the weekend, but 12 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 3: we have made it into the first podcast of the 13 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 3: month of May here and as we talked about on 14 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 3: the Overnight Show last night promoting this, I am very 15 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 3: excited because today is not your normal Friday Run of 16 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 3: the Mill podcast where I start out talking about some 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 3: dopey holidays and go through the week that was not 18 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 3: a no no no by popular demand. A chance to 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 3: catch up with a sports talk radio leg And I'm 20 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 3: not blowing smoke when I say that, especially if you're 21 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 3: from Chicago. But this guy worked at our place. He's 22 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 3: part of the Fox Sports Radio Alumni Association. The Great 23 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 3: Mike North is going to join us now. The reason 24 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 3: we're having Mike on today is a I love him. 25 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 3: He's one of the great characters in radio in my 26 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 3: journey in radio that I've come across. And then also 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 3: the fact that he has been honored one of the 28 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 3: great accomplishments in his career. He's the godfather of Chicago 29 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 3: sports radio and did our morning show at Fox Sports 30 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 3: Radio for a number of years with Andy Furman. So 31 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 3: Mike North has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award from 32 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 3: Barrett Sports Media. And this is a big industry website 33 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: that tracks the business and keeps up to date with everything. 34 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 3: So next week, a week from today, on May ninth, 35 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: there's a gala ceremony in Chicago and a sports radio 36 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 3: legend from Chicago, Mike North, there will receive the Lifetime 37 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:16,119 Speaker 3: Achievement Award. So I thought, what better way to celebrate 38 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 3: this than have the man on? And it's an excuse 39 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 3: to him on. So I saw it, I said, I 40 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:22,839 Speaker 3: got to get this guy on. So I reached out 41 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 3: to him and he now joins us right now. On 42 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 3: the fifth hour we walk him in. He's still working, 43 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 3: by the way, he's got his own show, on the 44 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 3: ESPN station there in Chicago. So we walkme in the 45 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 3: great Mike North. Mike, congratulations, what has it been like 46 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 3: since you found out that you have been given the 47 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 3: honor of a Lifetime Achievement Award for your radio career. 48 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: How do you doing, Ben? That's great by talking to you. 49 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: You're a legend. Come on, shocking to be honest with you, 50 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: because you know, I won a lot of awards. I 51 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: won four Talk Show host Awards in Chicago for local radio. 52 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: I won two Emmys, and I won a Cleo Award 53 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: even for a Best Commercial. But they were all voted 54 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: from out of town. So because what they do is 55 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 1: they don't want the locals voting for the people that 56 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: are in Chicago. You like the Chicago radio people voting 57 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: for Chicago personalities because then they'll be biased, they'll vote 58 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: for their own and stuff like that. I don't know 59 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: how Barrett came up with this, How Jason did it, 60 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: I don't know, but he said by a landslide. And 61 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I know a lot of great radio sports 62 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: radio people that came out of there. But I think 63 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: the difference is that I started the whole thing basically 64 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: off a lark, I had read in the sometimes that 65 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: Dan Lee, the owner of w x R tier progressive 66 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: rock station, was going to start a jazz station. And 67 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: I saw that in Robert Feed's column in the Sun Times, 68 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: and I said to my wife and we were working 69 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: the hot dog stand, our hot dog stand at the time, 70 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: we owned a hot dog stand in Chicago, Big One, 71 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: and I said, you know what, Dan needs sports station 72 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: in this town. Well, she says, well, I don't think 73 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: you have much of a say in this. But what 74 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: happened was some of the XRT people used to come 75 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: in my stand, and I only had met Dan Lee twice. 76 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: And Dan Lee, there was like a couple of sports 77 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: shows on rock and roll stations, like The Loop and others, 78 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: but there was no all sports station, not even the Fan. 79 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 1: The fan had Imus in the morning, so they had 80 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: it only for middays in the afternoon. So this long 81 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: and behold. A day after the article is in the 82 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: paper that they've bought the call letters to w jay 83 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: z Z and they're going to go country. Dan Lee 84 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: comes walking in and at that time you could only 85 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: own two stations. He only owned one. Now you can 86 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: own eight stations in a way which takes away a 87 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 1: lot of the bargaining power of many radio people. But 88 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: at that time, you know, you could only own two, 89 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,119 Speaker 1: so you had a lot of suitors. Well, I didn't 90 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: have any suitors. Nobody even knew me. I was a 91 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: high school dropout. I owned a hot dog stand and 92 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: I had a successful thing. And then he comes walking 93 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: in and I asked him. I go, I hear you're 94 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: going jazz and he says, uh yeah. I said you 95 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: should go off sports, sir, And he goes, really, he 96 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: goes why. I said, well, I think it's the next 97 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: big thing. And there's only twelve of them in this 98 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: country right now, the fan there's one in Denver, there's 99 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: la and back then San Diego I think had one. 100 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: Boston I think was strong, Philadelphia was strong. I said 101 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: you should try it. Well, he buys his hot dog himself. 102 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: He goes, I'll think about it. He walks out. I 103 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: chase him out. I go think about it, because jazz 104 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: won't sell sports is a huge sports jump. He goes 105 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: home that weekend and if you remember, Ben, they had 106 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: the Tribune and Sun Times. Thick papers were one hundred 107 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: and forty four pages. He bought the He looked at 108 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: he bought the Bulldog editions of the Sun Times and 109 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: Tribune and he looked at the entertainment section and saw 110 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: two or three jazz advertisements, advertisements for jazz. Then he 111 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: went to the sports section. And back in the day, folks, 112 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: thirty forty adds in these sports sections, and I mean 113 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: twelve fourteen pages full with the standings and everything and 114 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: what the players were hitting. It was so much bigger 115 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: back then. He meets on Monday with his music people 116 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: and they said, were ready to go. He goes, yeah, 117 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: we're going to do all sports. They go, are you crazy? 118 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: You're going to listen to that hot dog guy? And 119 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: he goes, I'm going to listen to him. And that's 120 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: how it all started. And he started to score, and 121 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: he as a music guy, Ben, and you know how 122 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: it is to find people. He filled day day as 123 00:06:55,320 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: music people. Put together a station that only last would 124 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: the last twelve hours for four years until it got 125 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: a full time license. And we ruled the airwaves on 126 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: a twelve hour station. That's great. 127 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 3: And those were the days right where there were like 128 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 3: radio people that were making the decisions, right. I mean, 129 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 3: it's not it's the business has changed, obviously, a ton. 130 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 3: I'm younger than you, but there's so many people now 131 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 3: that are not really like radio people that are making 132 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 3: those decisions. Would that be the thing that's got to 133 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: be the thing you're most proud of? 134 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: Right? 135 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 3: You went from running a hot dogs stand, which you 136 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 3: were doing very well at, and then he became the 137 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 3: godfather of Chicago sports radio. When you give your speech, 138 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 3: will that be the lead of the speech? Is that 139 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 3: going to be the. 140 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: Well to the lead of the speech? Is I was 141 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: basically a high school drop out. My own dad called 142 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: me a bomb. I'd never amount to anything. I had 143 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: a tense relationship with him, but he always put a 144 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: rough over my head. He was a decent guy, but 145 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: he if and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't 146 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: be here. But he wasn't happy with me. I dropped 147 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: out of high school. I ended up going to the Service. 148 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: I was going to have to go to Vietnam. I 149 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: was drafted because I didn't have any schooling. I had 150 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: to go for my draft card. I went. My orders 151 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: were canceled. I was supposed to go to Long being 152 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: young wherever that was in Vietnam with a bunch of 153 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: other goofy nineteen and twenty year old kids, and my 154 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: Nixon canceled our orders because they were going through the 155 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: Paris Peace talks. So that was a bit of luck. 156 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: I come back and I meet my wife and from 157 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: there on, she tried to change me for a long time, 158 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 1: and I finally changed. And I would say one day 159 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: I was picking paper in a park working for the 160 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: Chicago Park District and mark and ballfields, and the next 161 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: day I was the biggest thing in radio. It was 162 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: culture shock and day when I see twenty year olds 163 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: go through it. I ended up making a lot of 164 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: money in this business. And when I and I was 165 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: thirty nine and I wasn't ready for it, but yeah, 166 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to it's a Rag's the richest type of 167 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: situation for me. I went from nobody. I met a 168 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: beautiful lady. She helped guide me, helped fix me up, 169 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: and I went to work every day. I've never missed 170 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: a day of work in thirty three years. Never missed 171 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: at Fox, never missed at ESPN, which I'm working at 172 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: now one thousand, never missed at the Score where I 173 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: worked for sixteen years. So I love it. It's in my blood. 174 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: But I started talking sports on the street corner. And 175 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: my uncle, who's ninety years old, told me the other day, 176 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: you're getting this because you were built for it. He says, 177 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: I remember you talking circles around the older relatives when 178 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: you were nine years old. So you were born. I 179 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: was born to do it. You were born to do it. 180 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 3: And I think part of the key is like you're 181 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 3: like a lot of the people in the business. Even 182 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 3: when you were when you were starting out and I 183 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 3: was listening, is you know, young guy, they were kind 184 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: of program they were buttoned up. 185 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're just like a regular dude. 186 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 3: Which that's at that time especially, I think even now, 187 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 3: but at that time, there weren't a lot of people 188 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 3: that were like you that were doing this. 189 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: I give you a big advantage. I did have a 190 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 1: huge advantage. It was different than ninety two. It was 191 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: I mean, there was no social media. There was no Twitter, 192 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: but there was phones in the cars. We didn't even 193 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: have computer yet. Our producer, Jesse Rodgers was my producer. 194 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: I had Abby Pulaski. Then I had a guy named 195 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: Jesse Rodgers who's now number one baseball guy at ESPN. 196 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: For seven years, we got the best guests. But when 197 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: we had phone calls. They had to hold up the 198 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,199 Speaker 1: sign with the guy's name on it. Joe from Tinley Park, 199 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: Bill from Alsip, Illinois, Bob. You know, so there was 200 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: no computers. You had to know what you were talking 201 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: about without the use of a computer. What do I 202 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 1: see now? I see scripts? I mean I broke it, 203 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: broke my heart. I read on Twitter about a month ago. Hey, 204 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: me and my three buddies are getting together. We're going 205 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 1: to go to the bar, and we have a script 206 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: that we're going to discuss each sport. That's not what 207 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: it was designed to do. Sports radio was designed around 208 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: the way I wanted it. I was designed about around sports, alcohol, women, 209 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: and entertainment. You want to talk about movies, that's fine. 210 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: Even the little politics used to sneak in. But you 211 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: could talk politics back then. Now you can't. As far 212 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: as your other question, you know how great it was 213 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: to walk in to a corner office and the boss 214 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: was sitting there in the same building, and you didn't 215 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: have to call New York. You didn't have to call California. 216 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: If you wanted to go to New York and see 217 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,479 Speaker 1: the Bulls and Knicks, you didn't have to call California, 218 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: New York or some other place to see if you 219 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 1: could go with the White Sox to Boston. We would 220 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: ask him. He'd go, yeah, And you know what, he 221 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: was a music guy who four years later, Ben sold 222 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: the station that he put a seven hundred thousand dollars 223 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: investment with along with XRTI, because he already had the 224 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: building and stuff for seventy seven million bucks. 225 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 2: Wow. 226 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 1: And it was a part time station until he went 227 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: all time the final year and then Westinghouse came and bought. 228 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: As far as who's running radio now, of course you 229 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: need a radio guy to run radio. And as far 230 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: as people that are running radio, most of them. I 231 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: used to I called my boss back in the day. 232 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: I said, you're not a sports guy. You're not a 233 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: radio guy. You're a bean counter. That's what you are. 234 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: And I said, don't try to pretend that you know 235 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: more about sports or anything else. Because the original boss left. 236 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: And once the original boss left, it's an all new 237 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: ball game. It's like getting a new manager. As you know, 238 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: because you've been through a few in baseball. 239 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,079 Speaker 3: My favorite Mike Norss story, and there's bunch of them, though, 240 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 3: is your confrontations with Ozzie Gian back in the day, 241 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 3: and I saw I wanted to get your reaction. I'm 242 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 3: sure you've talked about this in your show in Chicago, 243 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 3: but I haven't heard your reaction. So the other day 244 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 3: Ozzie and I guess I'm one of the local he 245 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 3: does a White postgame or something like that. He said 246 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 3: that doing sports radio is harder than managing in the 247 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: major leagues. And I agree with him, by the way, 248 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 3: But what was your reaction, because you got you really 249 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,319 Speaker 3: got into a dust up, one of the famous sports 250 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 3: radio dustups with us. So when you saw him say that, 251 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 3: what was your reaction? 252 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: Right? First of all, I haven't seen as he since 253 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: I understand I came down after I had the argument 254 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: with him. I was doing a remote from Wrigley Field. 255 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: The argument was all about he wasn't going to start 256 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: a J. Prazinski. Now, if you're playing like the Braves 257 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: or somebody, that's fine. You're playing the White Socks, which 258 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: was still a fevered pitch back in two thousand and six. 259 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: The Cubs are coming off a World Series, I mean, 260 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: the White Socks are coming off a World Series, and 261 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: he wanted to start. A guy named Toby Hall so 262 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: I'm ranting and Raven, the guy's just coming off the 263 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:50,959 Speaker 1: disabled Listen. He's not a very good catcher and he 264 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: can't how's he going to hit? And you're playing the 265 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: White Socks on a Friday, it's the first game. Now 266 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: I'm across the street in the place at a bar 267 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: doing a remote filled with people, and all of a sudden, 268 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: he calls up and he goes nuts and he starts swearing, 269 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: and me and him went at it, and he wasn't happy, 270 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: and I wasn't happy, And to be honest, Ben, I'm 271 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: tired of the cut. But this is the fun part. 272 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: He's going to be at this thing. He's going to 273 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: be at the ward and me and him are going 274 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: to be together for the first time in hell twenty 275 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: twenty five years, and they're probably going to play that cut. 276 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: And I am so tired of it, and I'm sure 277 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: he is too, So I might have to retire it, 278 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: because you don't want to hear how you were twenty 279 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: five years ago in d Vane. He was a great manager. 280 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: Me and him at times are the same people, type 281 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: A personalities. We've both shot ourselves in the foot a 282 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: couple of times, so we have a lot in common. 283 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: And that day that he called, it wasn't a manager 284 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: in a radio host. It was basically two Chicago neighborhood 285 00:14:55,680 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: guys going at it. And it was admire him for calling, 286 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: and I admire him for taking it down. But as 287 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: it turned out, Toby Hall had two pants balls that 288 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: day and he had just an awful outing and he 289 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: was cut down the line. There you go. 290 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 3: But that's and it's nice that you know, when you 291 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 3: run into him, he did say, you know, this is 292 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 3: what we do. What you've done your whole you know, 293 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 3: life is harder than managing in the major leagues, which 294 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 3: I agree with that people you're talking about doing the 295 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 3: job every day. And I often will say, Mike, like 296 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 3: anybody could probably do what will you do? And what 297 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 3: I do during football season when there's stuff going on. 298 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 3: But the problem is day in day out, like people 299 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 3: don't realize, Like I'm sure there's some days, Mike, you 300 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 3: go in there even though you have the gift for gatt, 301 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: you're not really feeling it, but you still have to 302 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 3: do the show. You have to present the show, and 303 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 3: those are the days where I feel like you make 304 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 3: their money. Anybody can go in there when there's a 305 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 3: ton of stuff to talk about yes days when there's 306 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 3: not much and you can create something out of nothing. 307 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: That to me, that's what separates. 308 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 3: And you've been doing it forever. 309 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: So yeah, thirty three years. But I'll tell you, Ben, 310 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: I know what you have to go through working overnights, 311 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: and it's not easy. Some of the great overnight guys Chicago, 312 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: Whity Schwartz, a lot of overnight guys I listened to 313 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: in Chicago. It wasn't easy. Not less. Robstein a great 314 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: a great voice and a good friend of mine back 315 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: in the day, one of the great overnight guys. So 316 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: what you do is not easy. But I'll be the 317 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: first to tell you. In ninety two we were the 318 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: first of our kind, an all sports station. We never 319 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: had a meeting, me and Dan Jiggets or our producers. 320 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: We would write down who we want for the next day, 321 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: whether it be Tom Glavin because the Braves are in town, 322 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: bring on an Assie gee in, or bring on this 323 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: guy or that guy. We never had a meeting. Jiggs 324 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: Dan would get there about a quarter two. I'd get 325 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: there a little bit more earlier. I was already prepared 326 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: the night before, so if Dan came on and he said, 327 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: welcome to the scores. You know, sports radio ladies and gentlemen. 328 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: I'm Dan Jiggets. We're the monsters of the mid midday. 329 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: Mike is along with me. Mike, how you doing? Good Dan? 330 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: But that cub game last night? Or good Dan? That 331 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,479 Speaker 1: Bear game? Boy? I'll tell you, I'll tell you what 332 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 1: I mean. Irlacker just didn't get it done yesterday, and 333 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: he was ready and I was ready. He led the show. 334 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: I loved being a second banana because that's where you're 335 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: you don't have to worry. And I did read commercials. 336 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: You do it all your solo a lot. That's tough. 337 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: I did solo at Fox two on weekends, brutal, but 338 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: going off of somebody, okay, is the best because we 339 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 1: turned into and he was a He was a Harvard 340 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: educated black man and I was a high school dropout 341 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: white man. And do you want to know how many 342 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: people thought it was reversed just because of the color 343 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: of our skin until people found out. So it was 344 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 1: a great thing. And Andy Furman was the same way. 345 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: Andy is one of the greats, as you know how 346 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,719 Speaker 1: I feel about him. And I think that Andy and 347 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: I and Jonas Knox had one of the best shows ever. 348 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 1: Unfortunately we weren't on Next Time like you guys are 349 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: at the time. But I thought that was a great show. 350 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: I just feel like I was like Hyman Roth then 351 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: you know, all my partners are going to make money, 352 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 1: you know, and. 353 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,959 Speaker 3: And and Jonas has followed in your footsteps. 354 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, morning guy, now the great. I am very 355 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: proud of him. I do know this. If he asked me, 356 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: I'd tell him our show was better. And that's nothing 357 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: against Brady or or or or anybody else a lovar, 358 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: nothing against them, nothing against Jonas. 359 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 3: I love you and a couple of great radio characters 360 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,680 Speaker 3: because you're the Chicago guy, Andy Fight. It was fun 361 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 3: and you just you really played well off each other. 362 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 3: You mentioned though Less Cropsy. I know Less passed away 363 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,400 Speaker 3: a while back. But yeah he did, Yeah he did 364 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 3: recorded and this is actually the week the anniversary the 365 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 3: other day on this Yeah. I mean, did he ever 366 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 3: get into that and tell you some of the behind 367 00:18:58,800 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 3: the scenes. 368 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely, I mean, give me some That was. 369 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 3: The greatest rant in the history of rants. I've never 370 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 3: there's nothing that can match Lee Ilia attacking the cub. 371 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 1: No and to let people know, you could go to 372 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: and then listen to the Yauzie in North tape and 373 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: it's not close to what Lee Elia was with Les Grobstein. 374 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: What happened was somebody asked him a question. I believe 375 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: it was less. They had the gang of reporters down there. 376 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: He had the tape recorder going and he just lost 377 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: his mind. Unless was the first guy to put it out, 378 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: and lee Elia went on a tirade, you're ten people 379 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: are all fifteen percent of your unemployed. That's why you're 380 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: at the ballpark. You guys are a bunch of losers. 381 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: You know. He was, you know, and so to nobody's 382 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 1: surprised he didn't last long after that, but he he 383 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: was a fiery guy, Lee Elia. He'll always be famous 384 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: for that, and Les Cropstein will be famous for that. 385 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: If you folks get a chance to listen to the 386 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: Lee Ilia tyrae and you haven't heard it, it's up 387 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: there with the Bobby Knight tirade? Did I used to play? 388 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 1: Or the yazzie It's better than yes well? Which which no? 389 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 3: Which Bobby Knight one? Because he had the one about 390 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 3: Purdue and then he do you do it? 391 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: I played it every day and then Jesse Rogers, my 392 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: producer at the time, who's one of the great baseball guys, 393 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: and we're still best friends. Indiana was playing Northwestern. At Northwestern, 394 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: I said, and I used to make I used to 395 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: give Jesse a bounty and I was making a lot 396 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,679 Speaker 1: of money, so I shared it because I was. Some 397 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,719 Speaker 1: of them didn't. So I used to put a bounty 398 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 1: on Jesse. If you can get Bobby Knight. Now this 399 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: is like early nineties, if you get Bobby Knight on 400 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: the radio with me tomorrow, I'll give you five hundred dollars. 401 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: Five hundred dollars to a producer that was like twenty 402 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 1: five years old back in the nineties. Okay. He goes 403 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: to the game, Bobby Knight's coming out. They won. He goes, 404 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 1: mister Knight, I worked for a host, Mike North and 405 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: he goes, I know who he is. I heard the tape. 406 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: Now Jesse's walking with him, and he goes, I'm not 407 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: doing it. I won't do it. That's it. I mean, 408 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:17,199 Speaker 1: but the guy loves you, Mike loves you. But it's 409 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: an entertaining thing. He goes, yeah, well snuck in on me, 410 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: you know. And I didn't appreciate it, and he keeps walking. 411 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: Jesse follows him onto the bus. You gotta help me. 412 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,959 Speaker 1: I can make five. Anyone do it for him. But 413 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: Jesse got thrown off the Indiana bus. He followed him 414 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: in after night, told him fifty paces back. That's what's following. 415 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that is outstanding. 416 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: Well, hey, you gotta make the money man, that's even 417 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 1: he was. I mean he it was like he found 418 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: a gold mine and he wanted to mind it. But 419 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 1: the gold mine was Bob was Bobby Knight. My favorite story, 420 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: Ben and I don't even know if you know this. 421 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 1: Dave Steep nineteen ninety three. Yeah, he got picked up 422 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: by the White Sox. 423 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 2: No, the White Sox got you. 424 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm on the radio and he hears me say 425 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: he's washed up. I love the guy. He's a competitor, 426 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: but he's not going to help this White Sox team. Period, 427 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: end of story. Okay. I'm at Gibson Steakhouse that night. 428 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: It was a hangout of mind. Who comes walking in 429 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: just got in the day before, was told by the 430 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 1: White Sox where I hung out, walks in to the bar, 431 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: somebody says, somebody wants to see you. I walk into 432 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: the vestibule of the place. He goes, I'm Dave Steep. 433 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: You have a little problem with me. I go, I 434 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 1: have no problem with you, Dave. First of all, it's 435 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 1: good to meet you. He goes, well, I heard about 436 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: what you said on me on the radio. I said, Dave, 437 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: nobody loves you as a competitor, one of my favorite 438 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 1: role players. But you're you've got to know that what 439 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 1: I was saying has to be half true. He goes, 440 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: you know what he says to me. Then he says, well, 441 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: why don't you try to help me? I go, what 442 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: are you talking about? Well, the team's on the road. 443 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 1: I go, yeah, and I need to throw tomorrow. I go, 444 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: where are you're going to throw? He goes, We'll find 445 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 1: the park somewhere. He goes, I'm staying where the White 446 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 1: Socks keep all the new players on the on Lake 447 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: Shore Drive at this building. Can you come by tomorrow? 448 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: I go, sure? What time? He goes seven o'clock? I 449 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,680 Speaker 1: go in the morning. Now it's already nine at night. 450 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: He goes, yeah, and I've already had a few belts. 451 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: I go, okay. He gives me the address. I get up. 452 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: The rain's going sideways or I call them up. Dave, 453 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: too bad? Huh. He goes, where are you coming or not? 454 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: I go, what are you talking about? He goes, I 455 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: need to throw because they're coming back, and I got 456 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: to be ready. I need to throw sixty five sony pictures. 457 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: I go, there's nothing open. It's born like that. He goes, well, 458 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: find a viaduct. You know viaducts around here. I go in, 459 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: know the whole city. So I go get him and 460 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 1: I take him to Grand Avenue where there's a viaduct 461 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: by the Chicago River. He stands on one side. I 462 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: stand on the other side. I got a catcher smid. 463 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 1: He had a chest protector and a mask, okay, And 464 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: he threw sixty five pitches between cars going by from 465 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: one end, from one side to the other. And I 466 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: caught all of them but three period. And the story, true, 467 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: true story. It would never happen. I couldn't make that up. 468 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: And it actually happened because the white Socks said no 469 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 1: love for me, and they thought they could start something 470 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: and it n ended up being a good thing. And 471 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: Dave's one of the great guys. 472 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 3: That's awesome, a great story. 473 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 1: I always think about that yeah, that is. 474 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 3: That is wonderful. 475 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: I love the guys. 476 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 3: Well, you know, a lot of them will say they 477 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,679 Speaker 3: don't listen. I had a guy years ago that was 478 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 3: with the Dodgers who I was ripping, and then I 479 00:24:57,359 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 3: was in the law. I was in the clubhouse the 480 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 3: next like the next day, and the guy came up 481 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 3: to me. He was ranting Mike. He's like, I don't 482 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 3: listen to sports radio and I said, well, how do. 483 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,239 Speaker 1: You how do I know? How do you know that 484 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 1: I said anything? He said, well, my wife does you know? 485 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 3: And then he was giving me the whole, you know, 486 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 3: the whole thing. 487 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,880 Speaker 1: About well, you know, Brian Harlan was the pr man 488 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: for the White Sox for the Bears, and he's now 489 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 1: an agent. And when we were rolling, uh, we ran 490 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: into each other and he says to me, I heard 491 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 1: the station didn't have that good of ratings. And I said, 492 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: I heard your three and seven and we kept walking. 493 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 1: I mean, that's how it used to be in Chicago. 494 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: You know, a lot of ball busting going on. But 495 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: it was the teams hated us because at the time 496 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: we had no teams discourage of any local radio station. 497 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: If you want your people to be absolutely free is 498 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: to have no teams, and we ended up getting the 499 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,399 Speaker 1: team and the station changed a little, but it's now. 500 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: I was told we were going to last six months, 501 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: and Dan Lee took my vision made it into something 502 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: big and now the Chicago Cubs. When I'm I'd been 503 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:04,479 Speaker 1: in my car around that station. Yeah, I gotta ask you. 504 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 3: I've been to Wrigley Field a number of times over 505 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 3: the year there, but it seems last time I was there, 506 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 3: it just felt like I was at Disney or something. 507 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, you should have been with me in the seventies. 508 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 3: Well, I did get I didn't go in the seventies obviously, 509 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 3: but I did go back in like the nineties. It 510 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 3: was sure, sure the way it was, I guess then 511 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 3: it wasn't as crazy, But. 512 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:29,920 Speaker 1: Are you kidding me? We could have bought the buildings 513 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: across the street with the change we have in our pockets. 514 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: Back in nineteen seventy, it was a heavily it was Hispanic, 515 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:44,159 Speaker 1: it was a mix white Hispanic. They had gang problems 516 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:49,199 Speaker 1: down farther down the street. But then it just changed. 517 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: Harry Carey came, okay from the White Sox, and as 518 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: soon as Harry Carey came, and then they got some 519 00:26:55,680 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: people who were Dallas Green came, and then Wrigley Field 520 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: Old became cool like Fenway, and they lived off that, 521 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: and then they lived off Harry And now when you 522 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 1: go down there, I swear to god, I hadn't been 523 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: down there for like ten years after, you know, because 524 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 1: I live way out now. I went down there. You're right, 525 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: I couldn't even recognize it. I didn't have a clue. 526 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 1: They used to have Murphy's Bleachers. Used to be a 527 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: bar with twenty five stools at a pool table in 528 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: the middle. So now it's this massive bar all there. 529 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 1: You know what, I knew a guy that lived across 530 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: the street. We took lawn chairs in the eighties and 531 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: sat on top and watched the games. Now they got bleachers, 532 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: you know, and they got clubs inside and everything. So 533 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: it's just a gigantic difference. 534 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 3: I think the Cubs, I think the ownership, like bought 535 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,239 Speaker 3: a lot of the land around there, and they just 536 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:56,119 Speaker 3: own like that that whole area. But it does feel 537 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 3: very corporate, and that's to me, that's not the essence. Obviously, 538 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 3: we're getting times right, Mike. But that's as you said 539 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 3: when you were going there. Back in the day, it 540 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 3: was just sodom and gomorra. 541 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: Right, well, I was a vendor. I was a vendor 542 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: in sixty nine and seventy. I told my father there's 543 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: no way I'm going to school. I'm not tober. He goes, 544 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: what are you talking about. We're having enough trouble getting 545 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: you to school as it is. I go to, Cubs 546 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: are going My dad wasn't really sports oint. I go to, 547 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,160 Speaker 1: Cubs are going to go to the World Series. I'm 548 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:23,159 Speaker 1: going to be making nothing but money. And I was 549 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: when I was sixteen, making its where doubleheaders, forty Bucks, 550 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 1: selling cokes, twenty five cent cokes. Hey, coke, get your 551 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 1: coke here, get coke care? I remember like it was yesterday. 552 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 1: And then I remember to collapse, which I could not believe. 553 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 1: The sixty nine Cubs, not that they played badly, but 554 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: the Mets were just so good. So, you know, it's 555 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: the greatest sports to me. I mean from the time 556 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: I'm nine and I you know, Howard Stern said it best. 557 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: Anybody can go to Amazon and be a podcaster. And 558 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 1: this is nothing against podcasting, because I have a couple 559 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: of great podcasts, and he says, but it takes unbelievable skill, 560 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: and I don't always agreeing with Howard Stern unbelievable skill 561 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 1: to do what any radio guy does, any radio guy does, 562 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: And he's absolutely right, because I've had guys come into 563 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: the studios you have that thought they could knock it 564 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: down and get it down, and it didn't happen. Then 565 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: you know that as well as I do. And then 566 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: there's others that it just flows, like yourself and like 567 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: other people that we know and love. So yeah, it's true. 568 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 3: And the other dudes. You'll see guys professional athletes or something. 569 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 3: They'll come off the field and think they can just 570 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 3: get on a microphone because they played and they can 571 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 3: start yep, And it's not that easy. You gotta as 572 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 3: you said, there's an art to it. There's you've got 573 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 3: to know what you're doing. 574 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: And if why doing two o'clock in the morning, if 575 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 1: you're Ben mallor in July, in July, why do it? 576 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: Why do it? Mike North while the Indianapolis Cults are 577 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: playing the Packers at eight o'clock on Sunday, Okay on 578 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: Sunday night. I had no problem when when I was 579 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: with the team, you know, with Dan jiggots, and you 580 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: had somebody to bounce off of. Okay, but doing what 581 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: anybody does, I've had so many people think they can 582 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: do it and they can't. It's it's an art. It's 583 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,320 Speaker 1: it's how much work are you going to put into it? 584 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: You have to come up with stuff. My buddy and 585 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: you brought up a Dan Lee, the owner. He passed away, 586 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: and before he passed away, I had a three hour 587 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 1: contrave with you talking about the days, and he said 588 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: the thing about you that set everybody apart, Mike, and 589 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: it's the highest compliment that I could have been paid. 590 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:47,080 Speaker 1: You never had an offseason. If there was hockey, you 591 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 1: knew every black clock. If it was football, baseball, basketball, 592 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: we didn't worry about you. We worried about the others. 593 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: There was a couple of football players like you just said, 594 00:30:57,280 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 1: a baseball player that worked with us, a couple of journalists. 595 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: So that was probably one of the great things he 596 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: ever said, amongst many things. He gave me changed my 597 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 1: whole life. He was going to give me weekends and 598 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: I said, I can do every day, and the other 599 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 1: guy they were not going to give it to me. 600 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,680 Speaker 1: And the one guy turned it down. They gave me 601 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 1: a six month trial, and here I am thirty three 602 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 1: years later, and you know, it's the roller coaster ride. 603 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 1: Ben ups downs in all rounds. I mean, talk show 604 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: hosts for the most part, folks, and even Ben, at 605 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: some point we're wackos. We are. We're wackos, no doubt 606 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: about it. But we put our heart and soul into entertainment, entertainment, 607 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: and you get it for free. 608 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 3: Well, and there are very few that I've met along 609 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 3: my journey that have passion and energy, and you're one 610 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 3: of a kind. My congratulations, you got that lifetime achievement 611 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 3: of word, which will be next Friday. There's a big 612 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 3: galo there in Chicago. Thanks for doing this, dude, I 613 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 3: appreciate it. 614 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: Thank you. You know what, Ben, I hope to see 615 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 1: you soon the next time in Chicago. We got to 616 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: hook up. I know you were in Chicago not too 617 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 1: long ago. I believe if I'm not right, you want 618 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: to that is true. 619 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 3: But my brother lives in Wisconsin. My younger I do go. 620 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:08,520 Speaker 3: You know, I usually try to go through Chicago. 621 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: You know what's funny. I live right by Wisconsin. I 622 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 1: live right by Lake Geneva now, but I live in Illinois. 623 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 1: But I'll tell you what. Yeah, when I see a 624 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 1: picture of somebody and the first thing I said is boy, 625 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: I'd like to see him and go to the ball 626 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: game with him. Because if you've never been to Wrigley, folks, 627 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: and you drive down the street, you go, where the 628 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: hell is this park? And then all of a sudden, boom, 629 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 1: Oh it's wonderful. 630 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, but I mean to go to That'd be awesome 631 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 3: to go to a Cub game with Mike North. 632 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 1: Now that's the most we will have to do it 633 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,960 Speaker 1: and say hi to everybody over there, and I will. 634 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: I enjoyed being on and thanks so much. 635 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 3: Now let me tell you I see jonas your old protege. 636 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 3: I love them every day and we will occasionally randomly 637 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 3: there'll be a Mike Norse story that we will tell 638 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 3: and it's it's just a cluss. But but thanks to 639 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 3: Thanks Mike, appreciate it. 640 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 1: You're the best. Ben, thank you, and thank all the listeners. 641 00:32:58,640 --> 00:32:59,240 Speaker 1: Thanks guys,