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North: Why it's so hard to be upset with Tebow

The Tim Tebow baseball workout at the University of Southern California on Tuesday was simply a dog-and-pony show.

Obviously it was taken seriously because 28 of 30 major league teams sent scouts, but it really was a joke and seemed more like a publicity stunt.

Tebow signed an apparel deal with Adidas before the workout. Although the terms were not disclosed, it was multiyear endorsement.

I think the apparel and shoe company already got its money's worth from the coverage.

The 29-year-old Tebow, a former Heisman trophy winner, is just too bulky to play baseball. He couldn't hit live pitching and, for the love of Jimmy Piersall, couldn't field or throw.

One scout called it horrible, and "a complete waste of time."

There's no doubt Tebow is in tremendous shape and fast, but it was more about showcasing his clothes than his below-average performance on the field.

I guess a few teams did speak privately with him afterward, and just maybe some team might benefit from his celebrity status. Still, can he really contribute?

That said, I really can't be upset with Tebow or let the story linger for long. He is just too decent of a guy.

When he was asked about riding a bus in the minors, he talked about his experience helping people in Third World countries. How can you stay miffed at a guy like that?

Cubs slip a bit on radio:

I was surprised that WSCR 670-AM's radio numbers for the Cubs were slightly down (0.3) for the latest period (July 15-Aug. 10), according Chicagoradioandmedia.com.

I don't like to write about the local media landscape too much because of my personal connections, but I did find the drop interesting and looked for some reasons.

First, most people would rather watch the game on TV. There are a variety of baseball packages available through Direct TV, cable or whatever.

Second, radio used to be the only way to listen, but now there are multiple options through computers, phones, iPads with game casts, etc. Plus we are in a world of niche audiences with endless choices of entertainment in music, sports, politics and the list goes on and on.

Third, the Cubs have a huge lead! So listening on the radio is somewhat anti-climatic, but when the playoffs roll around, radio locally will do well.

And lastly, the change of address from WGN to WSCR 670-AM has had an impact too. While some say The Score overpaid for the rights to the Cubs, I don't agree. They can argue their case right now, but I doubt it will stay that way. (Editor's note: WSCR ranked seventh overall in the recent period, making the Top 10 in Chicago for the fourth straight month).

Program notes:

Follow me on Twitter@ north2north, and listen to Fox Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman and myself from 5-8 a.m. Monday through Friday on Fox Sports radio, and check me out on iHeart radio or Foxsportsradio.com.

• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.

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