Jay Mariotti leaves the Sun-Times

2 days after (now former) Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti returned from Beijing where he covered the Olympics, the highly opinionated, controversial columnist in who’s honor this blog is named after, has resigned from the Sun-Times after 17 years to pursue other opportunities.

Mariotti told the Sun-Times rival paper, the Chicago Tribune in a phone interview that he decided to quit because while he was in China, it had become clear to him that sports journalism had become a web site business, and not many people there were writing for newspapers. He also said he doesn’t see himself having a future writing for newspapers, and that he doesn’t know what he will do from here, except that he will continue to be a panelist on Around the Horn.

In the city of Chicago, rich in sports tradition and loyalty, Jay Mariotti is regarded as the face of the Chicago sports media. With his no bullshit approach, always asking the hard questions that no one else wanted to ask, blasting the truth, and pulling no punches, Mariotti is the model of how sports writers, and newspaper writers in general ought to be.

What Mariotti does from here is not known yet. Mariotti has said he is talking with websites about writing for them. His bio on the Sun-Times website says he is planning to write a book soon. Maybe now he can write that book. Regardless of what happens, I wish Jay nothing but the best. When he gets his new gig, you can expect it to be reported here, with a new link to his work.