THIS JUST HAS TO BE NORV TURNER’S FAULT, SOMEHOW: The CHICAGO TRIBUNE crunches some numbers that will probably surprise you: MLB is about to catch the NFL in total revenue.

The C-T noted recently that MLB revenue projections for the 2007 season are $5.8B. The NFL enjoyed $5.7B in revenue in 2005 and expects that “to rise to about $6.3[B] this year.”

An unnamed MLB executive expects the trend to continue, “We’re going to see a time in the future, the near future, when we [MLB] are going to pass the NFL in producing revenue.”

The MLB bottom line has grown over 350% in 15 years, thanks in large part to the astonishing success of MLB.com, attendance growth and increased revenue streams fueled by new ballparks.

SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports MLB may surpass 80 million fans next season for the first time ever. The league drew 79.5 million fans this year, a 4.5% increase over the 2006 total.

Bug Selig: “I hope people understand the enormity of all this. These numbers are almost mind-boggling. But the popularity of the game continues to grow, and I think we can still build on this. September, for example. We used to deed that month to the NFL. No longer.”

If you live in Los Angeles, you understand how hollow Selig’s words are. Although the Dodgers sold nearly four million tickets this year, there were thousands of empty seats almost every night (thank god the no-shows at Chavez Ravine still spend the same at Fred Segal for Frank M. and the gang)!

While baseball has never been healthier financially, fans in smaller markets like Pittsburgh and Kansas City remain hopeless. Meanwhile, every team, every year in the NFL has a chance to win and win big.