Mike North is a douchebag. He’s also the host of the not-so-cleverly named show “Monsters of the Midday” on Comcast Sports Net along with Dan Jiggetts. He spent most of his life selling hot dogs on the streets of Chicago, then got into radio after being offered a job by some radio executives who were patrons at his hot dog stand (true story). To his credit, he has parlayed this opportunity into a lucrative radio career. To his discredit, he is a hack at best.
In his latest caper, he tried to disrupt the Detroit Red Wings lockerroom in the middle of their Western Conference Final series with his beloved Chicago Blackhawks by having loudmouth Jeremy Roenick on his show yesterday to prattle on about how Red Wings coach Mike Babcock doesn’t like Americans and hates Chris Chelios because he hails from the U.S. Here’s an excerpt of Roenick’s comments about Babcock:
“The coach just doesn’t like him for some ungodly known reason. I think he’s got a grudge against American players, but he does not like Chelly at all… If you’d know some of the things that Babcock says to Chris Chelios, it would make your stomach churn. Just total disrespect for not even just one of the best Americans, but one of the best defensemen to ever play the game. The way he is talked to is just unacceptable. I wish I could elaborate, but that’s not proper. It’s just disrespectful.”
This would be really interesting (and disappointing) if there were ANY truth to it. Unfortunately, not only does Babcock completely deny that there’s discord between him and Chelios, but Chelios refutes this as well: “How does J.R. know anything — is he playing?” Chelios said yesterday when asked about the comments. “The last time I talked to J.R. was a few weeks ago, and it was about his charity pool party in Vegas. I don’t know what J.R. is talking about… I knew my situation coming into this year. There’s not a guy in the world that’s my age that wouldn’t trade spots with me in a heartbeat. So I accept it. As bad as you want to play, you stay in shape if you get your chance, hopefully for the right reasons … but I’m very content. I couldn’t be luckier to be part of this team again.”
Brian Rafalski, a native Detroiter, was asked about Babcock’s view towards Americans on the team: “It’s really hampered my career here. He’s playing me on the first line with Nick (Lidstrom). Geez, he hates me.” (Now extract tongue from cheek, please.)
When reporters asked Babcock about the accusation, he reminded everyone that two of his children are American, and that he enjoys living in Detroit, in the good ol’ U.S. of A.
Now guys, I know you’re trying to stop this freight train that is the Detroit Red Wings rumbling toward another Stanley Cup, but come on. North, you need to hang up the microphone with your tired act and go back to selling frankfurters for a living. And Roenick, you just need to go away.
Go Wings!
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