Mike North joins Daily Herald Sports team

Longtime reader, first-time Daily Herald columnist.

That's what veteran radio host Mike North is now that he will join the Daily Herald as a twice-weekly columnist and thrice-weekly video producer starting June 19.

"I'm extremely pumped up," North said. "The Daily Herald has been my favorite paper for the past 20 years. I remember Mike Murphy telling me about this paper called the Daily Herald back in 1992 when I started at The Score.

"I had been living in the city and then I got to know most people there and had them on the air, like Mike Imrem and Barry Rozner. And now to have the opportunity to work with the Daily Herald and try to make it an even better newspaper than it already is, it's a dream come true."

But ...

"But it's a challenge," North admitted. "I'm excited about it, but I know I have to do a good job."

The recipient of numerous awards, including two Chicago Emmy Awards and four Achievement in Radio honors, North is a host on Fox Sports Radio, where he brings his lively brand of conversation and knowledge about sports to fans.

He was the co-host of the popular "Monsters in the Morning" with former Bears offensive lineman Dan Jiggetts, and was a sports talk radio show host at The Score, WSCR 670-AM in Chicago.

North's first column is scheduled to appear in the Sports section on June 19, followed by his sports commentary videos. His columns will be published Tuesdays and Fridays, and his three weekly sports videos will be carried at dailyherald.com each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

"We're happy to add Mike to the growing mix of voices sparking provocative sports conversation on our print and digital pages," said John Lampinen, Senior Vice President and Editor. "Opinionated, engaging, sometimes controversial, he's a big kid at heart and he reflects the fans' point of view as well as any personality in town. We think he'll add to the fun of being a sports fan."

His first deadline is now just weeks away, and North says he can't wait.

"I'm going to be involved Monday through Friday and I'm jacked about it," North said. "I really want to thank the Daily Herald for giving me a great opportunity.

"For me to say I'm a columnist for the Daily Herald is a very proud day," he said. "My father would've been very proud. He'd say I'm finally legit."