Mike North
You didn’t really think Mike North was retiring from radio, did you?
Nineteen months after he announced he was quitting sports radio for good, North is joining ESPN Radio flagship WMVP 1000-AM as host of a weekly show on sports betting.
Carmen DeFalco
Starting this week, North and Carmen DeFalco will host “The Odds Couple” from 6 to 7 p.m. Fridays. DeFalco will continue to co-host from noon to 2 p.m. weekdays on ESPN 1000 with John Jurkovic.
“Mike isn’t just a sports talk legend, but his expertise in sports handicapping is second to none,” Adam Delevitt, senior program director of ESPN 1000, told me. “His record speaks for itself, and he and Carmen are going to keep ESPN 1000 listeners not only entertained, but maybe make a few bucks along the way.”
Best known for his 16-year run as one of the founding stars of Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM, North later worked for Fox Sports Radio, hosted a podcast and wrote a column for the Daily Herald. Despite his retirement declaration in August 2017, he turned up twice last summer on ESPN 1000 as a fill-in host. The former hot dog stand operator and bookmaker’s runner fancies himself “America’s No. 1 sports handicapper.”
“I started handicapping at age 14 and lost for 40 years, but haven’t had a losing year in the last five,” North said in a statement Wednesday. “You are judged by your picks and wins, and that’s why this show will be No. 1. I’ve always said gambling and winning is about believing and confidence. Scared money has no home.”
The addition of “The Odds Couple” reflects a growing market for sports gambling information across multiple media platforms, including radio. Since May 2018 The Score has been affiliated with VSiN — the Vegas Stats & Information Network, headed by Chicagoans Brian Musburger and Bill Adee. The Score also airs “Early Odds with Joe Ostrowski” from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Saturdays.
ESPN Chicago 1000
“As sports betting moves from the shadows to the spotlight, we expect to be a destination for those who participate and those who want to be entertained,” Jim Pastor, vice president and general manager of ESPN 1000 Chicago, said in a statement. “This isn’t only going to be about updated betting lines and hot tips. It’s about the highs, the lows and how to succeed and have fun whether you’re a grizzled veteran or a newcomer to sports betting.
“Those in betting circles already know of Mike’s incredible track record as a longtime gambling expert. Bringing Mike back to Chicago’s airwaves to become a lead voice in local sports betting was too good to pass up. Pairing him with ESPN 1000’s resident gambling guru, Carmen DeFalco, was a no brainer.”
Wednesday’s comment of the day: Dave Heller: “Chicago on Vacation” [on WTTW] was delightful to watch. As a baby boomer it brought back a lot of memories plus beautiful classic station wagons of the past.