Mariotti not coming to the Tribune, bad mouths paper


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Posted by Bud on December 08, 2009 at 13:48:06:

You won't read Mariotti in the Tribune; will paper target Whitlock?
Posted by Ed S. at 12/8/2009 2:25 AM CST on Chicago Business

The Tribune sports department won't be hiring Jay Mariotti to fill the column void left by Rick Morrissey, who departed for the Sun-Times. And after the latest developments, apparently the feeling now is mutual.

In an email on Monday, Mr. Mariotti let it be known that he would be willing to listen to the Tribune if it came calling.

"I've enjoyed my meetings with Trib executives," Mr. Mariotti wrote.

He shouldn't wait for his phone to ring. Apparently, Mr. Mariotti has burned too many bridges with the "Tribsters," as he used to call them.

Earlier this fall, the Tribune complained to AOL, where Mr. Mariotti now writes a column, that he used a quote from a Phil Hersh story in the Tribune about the Olympics without attribution. AOL took care of the matter. The incident, though, further solidified the anti-Mariotti sentiment within the Tower.

"The Tribune is not interested in hiring Jay Mariotti," said Mike Kellams, associate managing editor for sports.

Mr. Mariotti sent an email Tuesday morning to give his side of the story regarding the quote. He wrote:

"In the very piece you referred to, I credited the Tribune for its reporting. Kellams knows this and obviously neglected to tell you. The quote you refer to also should have been credited to the Trib; I was under the false assumption it was a pool quote. But the very fact I credited the Tribune within that piece -- and other publications for their original reporting -- should tell you there was no intent on my part to take without credit."

Mr. Mariotti then went on to note that the Tribune never gave him or the Sun-Times credit for breaking the story of Michael Jordan's return to basketball in 2001.

"The Trib credited the AP, which co-broke the story with me, but purged any credit for the Sun-Times. I called their editors to correct their ethical lapse -- they ignored me. The edition was Sept. 11, 2001, by the way, and I'm still waiting."

Mr. Mariotti concluded by saying, "Don't think I want to work for these creeps."

That should put an end to any further Mariotti-to-the-Tribune stories.

Regarding Mr. Morrissey's replacement, the process is in its early stages, Mr. Kellams said. Don't be surprised if the Tribune considers Jason Whitlock. The long-time columnist for the Kansas City Star has attracted national attention for his stance on many hot-button issues.

Not that it would be a factor in his hiring, but Mr. Whitlock does have some college connections at the Tribune. An Indianapolis native and graduate of Ball State, he would join a staff of fellow alums that include Mr. Kellams, columnist David Haugh and Dan McNeil, the WSCR host who now writes a once-a-week column for the Tribune. Can't have too many Ball Staters, right?



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