DL525: Deadspin on HBO, Mariotti’s BS, Random Rumors & Actually Defending Bleacher Report

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I think I write too much in the show write-up and don’t give people enough incentive to listen. So here’s a quick recap.

We talk about Deadspin’s feature on HBO Real Sports last night. We talk about Jay Mariotti’s conversation with Jason Whitlock and how his story of why AOL got rid of him may be total BS, based on timing.

We talk about PFT’s story on Michael Strahan being a candidate to take over for Regis, plus the Ken Rosenthal story we lambasted yesterday all in a weird conversation where I actually, gulp, defend Bleacher Report. There’s something to that idea, so listen and tell me how wrong I am. Please.

DL499: Here Are Ten (Or Eleven) Of Our Favorite Show Memories

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I always hated when, around the holiday season, my favorite shows would be listed in the TV Guide as *NEW* but wouldn’t be anything more than a damn clip show with five minutes of “new” material only used to transition from one clip to the next.

So, with that, I ask this: what would you do, baby, without us? IT’S A CLIP SHOW!

The difference in our situation, of course, is that we’ve been gaining listeners over the course of the last few years, so you, dear reader, may not have been around to hear Rick Telander talk about running into Jay Mariotti in a sauna, or Ian Eagle tell the story of when Bill Raftery invented the term “Onions,” or when Tony Kornheiser called me a narcissist. (Note: all in the show).

There are hundreds of clips we could have pulled. Some of the notables NOT in the show include: Norman Chad telling us that Kornheiser is dead to him, Annie Duke talking about just getting back from speaking in front ofREAD MORE

Jay Mariotti Out of Hot Water in L.A. Or Into Hotter Water?

A report in the Beverly Hills Courier made its way across the internet today with news that the Los Angeles County DA office has “declined to pursue a criminal case” against Jay Mariotti. Out of trouble? Hardly.

As Sports by Brooks noted, the matter is now being handed off to the Los Angeles CITY District Attorney’s office. Brooks drops the local knowledge:

This news explains why Mariotti’s mugshot and police report has not previously been made available to the public. Though he was arrested in Venice, which is L.A.P.D.’s jurisdiction, the L.A. Sheriff’s Dept. actually reached him first on the night in question and turned the case over to the L.A. County District Attorney. (I live a half-mile away from where Mariotti was arrested.)

L.A. County elected to not make information about the case, which has been pending since August 21, available to the public. That policy regarding public information may change once L.A. City takes over the case.

Mariotti is scheduled to appear in L.A. Superior Court on September 17th but methinks if they let a certainREAD MORE

DL427: Bob Bradley, Mike Wise Reactions, Mariotti, Mad Men, Vacation

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Long shows always beget short recaps. Nick and I discuss more of the Mike Wise situation from a social media construct and try to parse some of the reactions to his original comments and his apology. If you haven’t listened to him on our show yet, please do that first.

We also talk about Around the Horn discussing Jay Mariotti’s situation. Good job by ESPN and the producers of ATH.

Jon Tannenwald of The Goalkeeper then joins the show for a lengthy discussion about Bob Bradley. Is this a situation where he couldn’t get a better job and the U.S. federation couldn’t find a better coach so it’s a marriage of convenience? Or is Bradley actually the best man for the job?

Also, Tannenwald explains how the coach of the USMNT is responsible for far more than just coaching the top team and we spin that into a conversation about how, in theory, the development of kids as young as three years old falls under his oversight. Hey, that’s how other countries doREAD MORE

Call of the Day: Around the Horn Talks About Jay Mariotti

Admittedly, I have not watched Around the Horn for quite some time and while I respect the work of some of the panelists, others (ahem Mariotti) being on the show has routinely precluded me from tuning in. It’s just not good TV. Yesterday, it got a little better, as the panelists discussed Jay Mariotti’s situation during their second segment.

First and foremost, credit goes to the show runners for broaching the topic as they certainly didn’t have to talk about Mariotti at all. People have been waiting for ESPN’s comment on the situation other than “he’s not on the schedule next week” and I think, yesterday, we got it.

The panelists talked more about the media/fan reaction to Mariotti’s situation and steered clear of the legal matters altogether. Kevin Blackistone, who works with Mariotti at Fanhouse as well, talked mostly about how there is envy in the industry and that’s why he wasn’t surprised about the reaction to Mariotti’s (for lack of a better word) downfall. Woody Paige took it a step further to talk aboutREAD MORE

Jay Mariotti Suspended by Fanhouse. Has He Met His Last Mute Button at ESPN?

Ah, the misleading headline gimmick of using a question and implicitly suggesting you know the answer. Here’s what we do know: Richard Deitsch tweeted earlier that Fanhouse has suspended Mariotti:

Statement from an AOL spokesperson: “We are continuing to gather all the facts. In the meantime, we have suspended Jay Mariotti and are not featuring any new work from him.”

In response, we all got in line with ESPN to see what their plans are. Josh Krulewitz, ESPN spokesman, replied to my query thusly: “He is not scheduled to be on next week.”

Around the Horn, if you didn’t know, books their panelists on a per-week basis. With ATH being off this week, ESPN has some time to get all the particulars and gather facts before making any formal decision on Mariotti’s future with the network.

But let’s be honest…Mariotti – while polarizing and surely attention garnering – is not a very well-liked fellow. It’s not like people are suddenly going to START watching Around the Horn because of Mariotti’s recent arrest, but the likelihood of viewers boycotting the showREAD MORE

DL420: Vin Scully, Lou Piniella, Mariotti, Whitlock, Jenn Brown, More

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We haven’t done a show in a while. I was in New York for the Blogger Fantasy League draft at the NFL offices (more on that tomorrow). Today, we tackle a lot of media stories in the news.

We talk about Vin Scully’s announcement that he’ll be back in the booth in 2011. We juxtapose that, in a way, with Lou Piniella’s effective-immediately retirement. His decision must be hard, but obviously the circumstances would be different if the Cubs were in contention. Should the reaction be?

PRINT’S NOT DEAD

Jay Mariotti was arrested this weekend for reportedly beating up his girlfriend. Alleged alleged alleged. The internet has never been so happy, if you follow the tweets of countless writers, bloggers and other insiders. Have we ever seen so many reporters revel in someone else’s plight?

Of course, it’s Mariotti, so it’s rather understandable why people would have glee (though the circumstances of him potentially hitting and injuring a woman are terrible and nobody should be laughing at that part) at his arrest and (potential)READ MORE