The Cubs are a massive disappointment this season. They have been not-so-lovable losers on the North Side of Chicago.

And outfielder Milton Bradley, the high-priced, temperamental part-time outfielder, hears about it on a regular basis.

Does he get an extra heaping of scorn because he’s African-American? Bradley implied that, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“America doesn’t believe in racism,” Bradley said sarcastically.

Elaborating, he said: “I’m talking about hatred, period. I’m talking about when I go to eat at a restaurant. I’ve got to listen to the waiters badmouthing me at another table, sitting in a restaurant. That’s what I’m talking about. Everything.”

Everything including listening to hecklers in the Wrigley Field bleachers.

“What can you do?” he said. “You can’t do nothing. You listen to them yell at you.”

Bradley has provided power and run production in spurts this season, but his overall numbers (.259, 11 homers, 35 RBI) aren’t meeting the expectations for a $30 million pick-up. Also, he is a crappy outfielder.

The Cubs would have been so much better off keeping Mark DeRosa, whose versatility, grit and team spirit have served the Cardinals so well.

Does Bradley regret signing with the Cubs, coming to the National League and inviting all this scrutiny?

“I don’t regret anything,” Bradley said. “I regret that there are idiots in the world, that’s what I regret.”

Well, this outburst will make it all better between him and the fans. Here is how they reacted when he flipped a ball into the stands after catching the second out in an inning — believing, incorrectly, that it was the third out.

AN EGO GONE TOO FAVRE

ESPN took time from fawning over Brett Favre to run this item on its web site:

Sources with knowledge of the Vikings locker-room dynamics say some players believe Tarvaris Jackson gives the Vikings the best chance to win, while other players believe Sage Rosenfels gives the team the best chance to win — which is one of the new twists to this storyline. In the words of one NFL source, Favre has “little support” in the locker room as Minnesota prepares for its Monday night preseason game against the Houston Texans.

Funny what happens when you put yourself ahead of an entire franchise, as Favre did.

JASON GIAMBI WATCHES THIS AND CRIES

Mark Teixeira gets the superstar treatment in New York.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while waiting for the loaded Cardinals offense to really open up on somebody:

• Now that the Red Sox have released Brad Penny, are the Cards obligated to take him in and repair his mechanics? Couldn’t they use one more veteran pitcher to fill their last rotation hole?
• How could the Astros have so much established talent and be so far off the National League Central pace?
• Will the Rams remember how to block and tackle this week? Or will their first unit get totally manhandled again?
• Are the Rams organization glad it stayed clear of holdouts Michael Crabtree and Andre Smith? Will those guys play football this year?
• At the end of the day, don’t we always judge coaches by their footwear?
• How much are today’s kids missing by not playing dodge ball in gym class? Isn’t this the best way to build character?

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Steve Rosenbloom, Chicago Tribune, on the misadventures of Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano: “So, to review the August of Zambrano, an important time for an important member of the most important part of the game: He said he had a bad back, spent the week not getting treatment on it, took heavy batting practice, bailed out on his team 10 minutes before his start, went on the disabled list, admitted he’s lazy and hadn’t been doing core exercises, and then came home to hock that loogie against Washington. Can we give this guy his lovely parting gift already?”

Greg Couch, FanHouse: “Rick Pitino is unraveling. That’s my interpretation of his press conference Wednesday, called so that the Louisville basketball coach could, well, who knows? It sounded like a man who has been under a lot of self-inflicted stress, who wanted to find someone else to blame and wanted someone to feel sorry for him. This was sad, desperate and pathetic.”

Rick Reilly, ESPN.com, on Venus and Serena Williams: “There has never been a sibling combo like this in American sports history. Baseball’s DiMaggios, Waners, Alous? Not even close. Skiing’s Mahres? No way. Football’s Mannings? Please. One championship each? he Williams sisters are bigger than sports. Their achievements rank with any set of sisters in American history, along with the Stillwells — Revolutionary War heroines — and the Andrews Sisters, the biggest American singing act in the 1940s. The only difference is the Williamses are in their second decade of greatness, going on a third.”

MEGAPHONE

“When I go home and look in the mirror, I like what I see. My family is there I have people I can talk to who are very supportive, in spite of everything and all the adversity and the hatred you face on a daily basis. But I’ll be all right. I always have.”

Bradley, on the abuse he takes in Chicago.