Take some time off, Jay

[SockPuppet]

If this is a DB, I apologize. Noticed this on Poynter, from the Chicago Tribune:

Jay Mariotti, who pops up in the paper almost as often as those naked kids in the "Love Is ..." comics, counted up his columns the other day and realized he's already written more pieces than his contract requires him to deliver for the 12-month period ending April 30.
So rather than pound out another explanation for why things aren't the way they ought to be, he intends to take a vacation--until May. So much for the Masters, the NCAA Final Four, baseball's opening day and the first blown save of the season.
"Certainly the paper misses him," Editor Michael Cooke said, "but we have a lot of bench strength."
Mariotti will continue to appear at the paper even if he's not in it, coming into the newsroom to tape his regular "Around the Horn" appearances for ESPN. But his regular targets can rest easy knowing hunting season doesn't resume for a couple months.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Take ALL the time you need, Jay. Newspapers will be around FOREVER.

 

[Pringle]

Is this for real?

His main redeeming quality has always been being prolific.

This is really disappointing if it's true.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

All Beared out.

How will we all survive?

 

[slappy4428]

Just so we're clear on this, May of what year?
Signed,
Hopeful.

 

[JohnnyChan]

Fellas,

Considering the fact that he was back at work about 15 minutes after having a heart procedure, maybe we can cut the guy a little slack and wish him godspeed during his sabbatical?

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Hey, we'll all be blessed with his regular exposures on Around The Horn.

There'll be plenty of Jay to go around.

 

[JohnnyChan]

For the record, I had the same procedure Jay had a year ago, and I took six weeks off. And, yes, I did other things -- research for a book in my case, as opposed to TV -- that the doctors agreed were far less stressful than pumping out four columns a week.

Just a thought, is all. I mean the guy WAS back at work and writing every day in what had to be contrary to his doctor's advice.

 

[Ellis Redding]

Take all the time you need, Jay. I won't miss your bull**** hatchet-jobs on every Chicago sports team.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

He's honoring his contract. No doubt he'd be willing to write even more columns if they want to pay for them, but this is what they agreed to.

 

[21]

Does anyone else think this is just a weird story?

You count up your columns, realize somehow you are TWO MONTHS ahead of your requirement, so you just leave?

And even if that were the case, following Johnny's example wouldn't it reflect better on both the paper and Jay to just say 'had a serious health ordeal, taking a couple of months to recover...' instead of this?

I feel like I'm missing something here.

 

[Starman]

He took about two months off after last summer's fandango, didn't he?

What the hell was that all about again? I forgot already (actually, I think I willed myself to forget it). The deal with Guillen?

 

[Editude]

The reasoning sounds kind of arrogant, but there was far more interest in the daily Bears season than there would be in a Chicago-free Final Four and other national events. He'll need to get to typing when Soriano butchers a ball in the Ivy at Wrigley.

 

[Moondoggy]

Does anyone else think this is just a weird story?

Absolutely. Here's hoping we won't find later this is health-related.

 

[21]

Ooookay, here's the link to the expanded story in the Tribune...more Trib/Times snarking:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-0702160128feb16,0,7372223.column?coll=chi-navrailbusiness-nav

 

[Ellis Redding]

Ooookay, here's the link to the expanded story in the Tribune...more Trib/Times snarking:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-0702160128feb16,0,7372223.column?coll=chi-navrailbusiness-nav

Which was in response to this:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/258321,CST-SPT-cubsell15.article

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

Ooookay, here's the link to the expanded story in the Tribune...more Trib/Times snarking:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-0702160128feb16,0,7372223.column?coll=chi-navrailbusiness-nav

Wow. I'm betting Rosenthal over Whitlock in the hot dog eating contest, giving 3-1. Takers?

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

Mitchie counted his columns for the last year and found out he needs 20 more to meet his requirement of 25.

So he's going to follow Michigan's run to the Final Four this year. :D

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Fellas,

Considering the fact that he was back at work about 15 minutes after having a heart procedure, maybe we can cut the guy a little slack and wish him godspeed during his sabbatical?

no

 

[slappy4428]

He's honoring his contract. No doubt he'd be willing to write even more columns if they want to pay for them, but this is what they agreed to.

Maybe someone at the S-T should have been monitoring his output a little more closely, so he didn't burn all of his columns in nine months. Pretty weak to have your star columnist on vacation for the best time of the sports year.

Considering the star columnist is Eddie, this is a bad thing, how?