It's been almost 20 years since Chet Coppock pushed a peanut across the Michigan Avenue Bridge with his nose after losing some dumb sports bet. Well, the big-mouth sportscaster is at it again: But this time, the payoff will involve Coppock parading up and down State Street wearing nothing but a thong under his fur coat. It all started on Roe Conn's afternoon show on ABC-owned news/talk WLS-AM (890). Coppock, who appears each week to deliver his college and pro football picks, challenged the choices of co-host Bill Leff's twin 9-year-old daughters, Kiley and Reese.

"If the [New York] Giants lose to the Bears," Coppock fulminated on the show, "I will wear a thong on Michigan Avenue."

The Bears' 38-20 victory last Sunday sealed Coppock's fate. Conn decided to move the stunt -- scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday -- to State Street in order to be near WLS' 190 N. State studios.