He is right about the future of his business not being in newspapers. If the Sun-Times (my favorite paper) is still afloat five years hence, I will be surprised.

Edit: and his Olympics columns were pretty good, actually.

The first thing I thought of - roids. I mean, that has to be why he resigned right? Doesn't want to get busted?

I was stoked when I first saw this on Neil Best's blog, but quickly realized that if he is writing somewhere online, his columns will get linked here.

Deadspin has the real dirt, and surprisingly, it involves Mariotti throwing a hissy fit.

Just because it deserves to be reprinted:

Sammy Sosa is a fraud who poops his pants.

Deadspin has the real dirt, and surprisingly, it involves Mariotti throwing a hissy fit.

That's a sweet mullet Jay has in that pic.

"Sadly" isn't the word that came to my mind.

You won't have Jay Mariotti to kick around anymore.

I guess no one is allowed to have a contrary opinion on this matter, since the introduction so eloquently editorializes how the thinking fan should think.

Best news ever. Sic semper tyrannis.

Jay Mariotti, the opinionated and polarizing sports columnist

1. He had an opinion the same way drunk people know how to solve worldwide crises.
2. "Polarizing" implies there were two different views of his "opinions."

Now bring back Terry Boers.

According to Deadspin, FWIW, Mariotti and Telander had a dispute about who could write about Obama and when as BOTH of them wanted to write about him so Mariotti was told to wait.

The comments section, given the Mariotti/Obama combo, is priceless.

Wow, Deadspin is such a rag. It took my 5 clicks to actually understand what point they were trying to convey.

"Polarizing" implies there were two different views of his "opinions."

There were. Jay thought he was a good writer, and everyone who ever read one of his columns knew differently.

Before the White Sox left their Baltimore hotel for Camden Yards, Ozzie Guillen probably went to the bar and raised a toast to the management of the Sun-Times. And who can blame him?

The question becomes: With Mariotti gone, who now upholds the Dave Egan vitriolic tradition?

and everyone who ever read one of his columns knew differently.

Except, for some reason, the editors and bosses he's had. That's what I always found hard to believe.

I guess no one is allowed to have a contrary opinion on this matter, since the introduction so eloquently editorializes how the thinking fan should think.

Someone out there must've liked him. I usually don't bash sportswriters (this crowd here would flay Red Smith), but I'm not enamored with the types that appear on ATH.

This is better than when that Dicaprio kid became a human popsicle in The Titanic -- the wait for the happy ending was almost as long too.

It took a trip to China for him to figure out that newspapers are dying?

Someone out there must've liked him. I usually don't bash sportswriters (this crowd here would flay Red Smith), but I'm not enamored with the types that appear on ATH.

Marriotti is pretty annoying on ATH, but he's got nothing on that Woody Paige.

Marriotti is pretty annoying on ATH, but he's got nothing on that Woody Paige.

The only time I see that shows if I'm in a bar at HH. The sound is off 99% of the time, so I make up the dialogue in my head.

The sound is off 99% of the time, so I make up the dialogue in my head.

And undoubtedly the dialogue in your head is 1,000 times better.

The only time I see that shows if I'm in a bar at HH. The sound is off 99% of the time, so I make up the dialogue in my head.

Next time the sound is off, smoke a bowl and play the audio of "My Dinner with Andre" to ATH. It's like the Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz thing except it works!

This morning Mariotti was interviewed on Chicago sports radio; he claimed that, while in Beijing, he realised that the daily news cycle that newspapers use isn't acceptable in the internet age, and people expected immediate reaction to news stories.

In other words, he wanted to be a blogger, although I'm sure he wouldn't use that term, because he thinks that bloggers are horrible.

The only time I see that shows if I'm in a bar at HH.

Hilton Head? Hollywood Hills? Hakainde Hichilema's House?


Before the White Sox hired Ozzie Guillen, it seemed to me that they spent quite a few years being a nearly forgettable franchise beyond the fences of their own fanbase, despite an enigmatic owner and some fairly high-profile players like Frank Thomas, Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, etc. The Guillen/Marriotti feud was played nationally and really pumped up the club's Q score. Even in a terrible season like last year, and partly because of it, the White Sox were topical as the Chicago press came down on Ozzie and called for his head. I wonder how much the Ozzie/Marriotti feud played into the White Sox's decision to extend Ozzie's contract last year, and to what degree Marriotti's resignation might dampen Ozzie's appeal to the club from a marketing standpoint.*


*This could be all complete rubbish. I'm working off the cuff a bit and I'd love to hear a take on this theory from somebody who might know what they're talking about.

HH = Happy Hour

This morning Mariotti was interviewed on Chicago sports radio; he claimed that, while in Beijing, he realised that the daily news cycle that newspapers use isn't acceptable in the internet age, and people expected immediate reaction to news stories.

The S-T editor has a different story:

Jay Mariotti tells the editor in chief of the Sun-Times, Michael Cooke, Tuesday evening that he's quitting. As of immediately. But on Wednesday he shows up back at the paper to tape his ESPN show, Around the Horn, in what Cooke calls "the nice little TV studio we built for him."

"It's for the last time," Cooke tells me.

But why didn't you throw him out? I wondered.

"This may escape Jay, but it's the question of dignity," says Cooke.

Cooke doesn't want to get into the details, but he notes that Mariotti, in his 17-year career at the Sun-Times, threatened to quit many times before. The paper always found a way to change his mind, and Cooke supposes it might have been able to find a way once again." He gave us an opportunity to pull the trigger, which we’ve never done in the past," says Cooke. "This time we pulled the trigger."

Sounds like someone figured out that we weren't laughing with him.

*This could be all complete rubbish. I'm working off the cuff a bit and I'd love to hear a take on this theory from somebody who might know what they're talking about.

It's all rubbish. The Chicago press generally likes Guillen, always has. Reinsdorf has always loved Guillen - always. When he was hired the word was it was the last manager Reinsdorf ever intended to hire. They aren't keeping him around because of any stupid feud with the least respected member of the media. They're keeping him around because they think he's one of the best managers in the game. Given that they've wildly exceeded expectations in three of the last four years, and won the town's only WOrld Series title in the last 90 years under his watch, I can't Guillen ever has ever had any threats to his job security. The people who bash Guillen are guys posting on the internet or lesser forms of life like Mariotti. It's never came from 35th/Shields.

Before the White Sox hired Ozzie Guillen, it seemed to me that they spent quite a few years being a nearly forgettable franchise beyond the fences of their own fanbase, despite an enigmatic owner and some fairly high-profile players like Frank Thomas, Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, etc. The Guillen/Marriotti feud was played nationally and really pumped up the club's Q score

They also won the WS, and increased their payroll by quite a bit, and their ticket sales to a lesser extent, after doing so. From Cots, WS payroll during the KW era:

* 2008: $121,189,332
* 2007: $108,671,833
* 2006: $102,750,667

* 2005: $ 75,178,000

* 2004: $ 65,212,500

* 2003: $ 51,010,000

* 2002: $ 57,052,833

* 2001: $ 65,628,667

Attendance:
2004: 1,930,537 (8th of 14)
2005: 2,342,833 (7th of 14)
2006: 2,957,414 (3rd of 14)
2007: 2,684,395 (5th of 14)
2008: 2,094,141 (5th of 14)

I'd think that the WS win, the increased payroll, have been far far more important in getting them publicity, than Mariotti.

The Guillen/Marriotti feud was played nationally and really pumped up the club's Q score

Really? Are you Mariotti's publicist trying to get him another job?

If you want to say Ozzie did, go right ahead. He's a funny figure that always has great quotes, he's even been in a "This is Sportscenter" commercial. But, to say that Mariotti had anything to do with that is ridiculous.

Mariotti/Boras, 2012!

They aren't keeping him around because of any stupid feud with the least respected member of the media. They're keeping him around because they think he's one of the best managers in the game.

It could be argued by the outside observer that perhaps Ozzie is being kept around as much for his colorful personality. The White Sox already had Ozzie tied up through 2009 -- why extend his contract in 2007 during a losing season? One might suggest that it was due to Ozzie's newly-proven ability to keep the Sox alive and relevant in the press even when they weren't doing the same on the field. He already showed himself to be a winning manager, but last year he established himself as a captivating character even in defeat.

Mariotti gets linked to a lot in sports message boards all over the net. Often the effect is abuse of Mariotti, but the incidental discussion often revolves around Ozzie. The White Sox get exposure from national Mariotti hate - I was just wondering how much and how important it was, especially if a vote against Mariotti is a vote for Ozzie and the Sox.

this doesn't mean less Maridiot, it means more Maridiot. An unedited Maridiot too. Nobody to reign him in, or to edit out the insane things that we have seen removed from his story's in the past. who is going to keep him in check now, his wife?

"who is going to keep him in check now, his wife?"

Starvation, eventually.

It could be argued by the outside observer that perhaps Ozzie is being kept around as much for his colorful personality. The White Sox already had Ozzie tied up through 2009 -- why extend his contract in 2007 during a losing season? One might suggest that it was due to Ozzie's newly-proven ability to keep the Sox alive and relevant in the press even when they weren't doing the same on the field.

One might suggest that anyone who presented such an argument doesn't understand Jerry Reinsdorf in the slightest. And were the Sox at all alive and relevant in anytime after the trade deadline last season?

I was just wondering how much and how important it was, especially if a vote against Mariotti is a vote for Ozzie and the Sox.

Guillen has a similar (if smaller) group of media, bloggers, message board posters who dislike him (and the Sox by proxy). When guillen went off on his underachieving offense in the first days of June, you couldn't go anywhere on the net without running into a fire Ozzie column. Rosenthal, Kornheiser, Olney and many others joined Mariotti and the horde of bloodlusting bloggers calling for his head. I hardly think such calls increase the Sox appeal.

i hear there's a spot available on murraychass.com ...

now if plaschke, simers and lupica can resign, the papers will immediately become much better.

The link in #27 is fascinating. Apparently, Mariotti's resignation freed up enough cash at the paper to save the jobs of a reporter, three editors and a couple production people.

Awesome.

The link in #27 is fascinating. Apparently, Mariotti's resignation freed up enough cash at the paper to save the jobs of a reporter, three editors and a couple production people.

Awesome.

Tomorrow Jay'll probably accidentally trip off a curb and in front of a speeding cab, causing it to hit him instead of plowing into that pack of Girl Scouts.

Now bring back Terry Boers.

God, no. He tried to be polarizing and controversial, but had none of Mariotti's gift for sh!t-stirring and just cranked out witless blather that a ten-year-old would see through as insincere. I'm telling you all, what Mariotti does is special. Even though I don't like it and tend not to read it, I respect it for what it is. Whether he believes it or not, he says it with conviction, and that counts for a lot in these things.

This could be all complete rubbish.

You would've been a Kremlinologist in the old days. 8-) No, I don't think there's anything to that. If you want to know how Reinsdorf operates, look at how he stuck by Jerry Krause when it was Krause vs. MJ. He takes loyalty to his management underlings to an extreme, nay, absurd level.

Apparently, Mariotti's resignation freed up enough cash at the paper to save the jobs of a reporter, three editors and a couple production people.

They'll still lose their jobs eventually. No Mariotti = fewer hits and less circulation. 'S a tough business.

"Apparently, Mariotti's resignation freed up enough cash at the paper to save the jobs of a reporter, three editors and a couple production people."

Just because I'll probably never have a chance to type this sentence: Well done, Mr. Mariotti.

Funny part in bold

Link

Release from the Sun-Times

August 27, 2008

Chicago Sun-Times Editor in Chief Michael Cooke issued the following statement today regarding the resignation of sports columnist Jay Mariotti:

The Chicago Sun-Times had the best sports section in the city before Jay Mariotti came to town -- that's why he signed up with us -- and his departure does not change that.

We still have the stars -- respected veterans such as Rick Telander, fiery newcomers such as Greg Couch, quirky voices like Carol Slezak, not to mention seasoned beat reporters tracking the Cubs and White Sox toward their eventual collision in the World Series, plus the Bears, the Bulls, the Blackhawks, and all the other teams that make Chicago the sports center of the nation. We could have a World Series in Chicago in a couple of months ... talk about excitement!

The Chicago Sun-Times and suntimes.com will continue to have the scores and the stories before anyone else, anywhere, and the deepest and most comprehensive stats and standings. We wish Jay well and will miss him -- not personally, of course -- but in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days.

A paper, like a sports franchise, is something that moves into the future. Stars come and stars go, but the Sun-Times sports section was, is and will continue to be the best in the city.

The Chicago Sun-Times and suntimes.com will continue to have the scores and the stories before anyone else, anywhere, and the deepest and most comprehensive stats and standings. We wish Jay well and will miss him -- not personally, of course -- but in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days.

Wow. Just Wow.

Ordinarily, I'd object to kicking a guy on his way out the door. But here, I'm having trouble mustering any sympathy.

We wish Jay well and will miss him -- not personally, of course -- but in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days.

Yep. Awesome. Right up there with Alderson's acceptance of the umpires' mass resignation letter.

Whether he believes it or not, he says it with conviction, and that counts for a lot in these things.

In February on a golf course somewhere I picture a foursome of Mariotti, George W. Bush, Roger Clemens, and Steve Phillips.

From the link in 27:

Cooke adds, "We’re not hearing from grief-stricken fans. The truth is quite the opposite. Quite the opposite. We've gotten hundreds of e-mails, including ones that say 'Now we’ll buy the paper.' By all indications our circulation will go up."

***

I loved this part from the link in #27:

"It's interesting that a guy walks out on a contract after spending a lifetime criticizing other people for not observing their their contracts," says Cooke. "I'm sure that irony won't escape our readers."

Cooke adds, "We’re not hearing from grief-stricken fans. The truth is quite the opposite. Quite the opposite. We've gotten hundreds of e-mails, including ones that say 'Now we’ll buy the paper.' By all indications our circulation will go up."

Seems like Michael Cooke has been waiting for this day. I agree with SoSH U, usually kicking a guy out the door is low class. Not in this case.

Oh, the burning! Oh, the pain!

Okay, no sympathy for kicking him on his way out the door, but how about firing him earlier if he was so bad and irritating?

Okay, no sympathy for kicking him on his way out the door, but how about firing him earlier if he was so bad and irritating?

Based on his quotes, I suspect Cooke would have been on board with that, but probably wasn't afforded the opportunity by his bosses.

Based on his quotes, I suspect Cooke would have been on board with that, but probably wasn't afforded the opportunity by his bosses.

Also, it sounds like Mariotti had a pretty lucrative contract.

Based on his quotes, I suspect Cooke would have been on board with that, but probably wasn't afforded the opportunity by his bosses.

Yeah. I also think that with newspapers dying out, they assume angry emails=controversy=readers=good for business. The code word for these guys--Plaschke, Mariotti, Simers, et al seems to be "provocative."

I think "intelligent" can get readers, too, though. I read free stuff in the NY Sun sports page on-line--Hollinger, Goldman, Marchman, and they also have Aaron Schatz for people into the NFL. Good sportswriting without a Mariotti type among them.

Also, it sounds like Mariotti had a pretty lucrative contract.

***

Yeah--I kind of wonder how much these guys make. Anyone know?

I think "intelligent" can get readers, too, though. I read free stuff in the NY Sun sports page on-line--Hollinger, Goldman, Marchman, and they also have Aaron Schatz for people into the NFL. Good sportswriting without a Mariotti type among them.

Agreed, but if you don't at least click on the ad links, your reading means nothing to them, no matter what your esteem is for them. I find the rest of the Sun-Times reporters and columnists to be interesting reads, and I buy a newspaper, so I'm holding up my end of the deal.

We wish Jay well and will miss him -- not personally, of course -- but in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days.

Chris De Luca had some pretty harsh things to say, too. Apparently when a colleague bad-mouths folks you have to see every day, they tend to take it out on you. Go figure!

If they fired him, they'd potentially owe him a severance package of some type. If he quits, he's just out.

Cooke's doing more dancing on his grave. Chris De Luca sounded off on Mariotti in the Sun-Times (it'll be a long time before you see another column like that), and Telander talked to the Trib.

Not once in the last eight years can I recall seeing Mariotti in the Cubs' or Sox' clubhouse. With a press credential that allowed him access to every major sporting event and every major figure, he hasn't broken a single story in that time. He says Chicago is a weak market, the competitive edge gone. He has only himself to blame.

When Lou Piniella was hired by the Cubs, the Sun-Times reported it first. Mariotti had no role in that major story. He says the market has gone soft. If that's true, he played as big a role in the softening as anyone else.

He called his colleagues soft, forgetting we're the ones who had to face his targets on a daily basis. We were the ones who had to deal with the anger that he was too cowardly to face himself. We got the quotes that made up the bulk of his columns.

Oh, and he also says there are a ton of bloggers who do the same thing as Mariotti, except better.

This entire thing is completely awesome. I would like to hear Jack Keefe's take as well.

Mariotti seems destined for sports talk radio. Who else would have him now ?

Mariotti seems destined for sports talk radio. Who else would have him now ?

He already failed at that once, didn't he?

BTW, Mariotti had a hissy several years ago and was away from the paper for months before returning. I don't recall that the exact nature of his beef was ever revealed, but it was let on that he's a kind of an emotional guy and left at that, IIRC. I can't find reference to it on the 'Net, though.

Sports radio means interviews, and Mariotti is too much of a coward to talk to the figures he bashes on.

He'll probably get a job writing for Foxsports.com or ESPN.com or something.

Ganked from the Sun-Times site (in the DeLuca link from post #56):

Will you miss Jay Mariotti?

Yes 24% 2567 votes
No 75% 7828 votes

If the voting pattern holds up, Mariotti currently has a lower approval rating than George W. Bush (*caution, internet poll, and all that).

Telander's <a href=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/telander/1128864,CST-SPT-rick27.article>column</a> might be even worse than the one Marrioti would've written

Why has Jack Keefe not weighed in?

Why has Jack Keefe not weighed in?

Mariotti is Keefe.

Mariotti is Keefe.

Naw, can't be. If Star Trek taught me anything it's that a sane person can act insane, but an insane person can't act sane.

HH = Happy Hour

Darn, GGC, I had a mental picture of you quaffing pints at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. Greg Couch of the S-T checked in on WSCR and said basically the same thing as Telander wrote. Edit: in post 56.