And Mariotti is back with the Sun-Times ...

[playthrough]

I have never seen a story about a writer's contract extension in his own paper. Surely that was there to quaff the gossip about his possible departure, but it still looked weird.

Next: "Joe Prep accepted a 25-cent per hour raise to remain in our BFE bureau through 2011. He will also cover one Bears training camp day per year as a bonus."

 

[More hideous than Ben Seaver]

On the bright side, the good folks at www.jaythejoke.com can get back to work!

http://www.jaythejoke.com/blog.html

 

[JR]

I have never seen a story about a writer's contract extension in his own paper. Surely that was there to quaff the gossip about his possible departure, but it still looked weird.

Next: "Joe Prep accepted a 25-cent per hour raise to remain in our BFE bureau through 2011. He will also cover one Bears training camp day per year as a bonus."

I guess because Jay sells newspapers and the Sun-Times figures it's news.

The readers don't give two shirts about Joe Prep.

 

[Dignan]

Gotta say, that's the first story I've ever read about a sportswriter getting a contract extension.

Was there a signing bonus? A no-trade clause? Won't it put the Sun-Times over the salary cap?

Why is this a story?! Who the fork cares?

 

[JR]

Why is this a story?! Who the fork cares?

Because many people read papers because of their loyalty to (a)  particular columnist(s).   

So, in the case of Jay fans, the short answer is, they care.

And it demonstrates (albeit cynically) that the Sun-Times cares about its readers.

Ediit: And it's not a story. It's a one hundred word announcement. Papers do it all the time.

 

[Dignan]

Why is this a story?! Who the fork cares?

Because many people read papers because of their loyalty to (a)  particular columnist(s).   

So, in the case of Jay fans, the short answer is, they care.

And it demonstrates (albeit cynically) that the Sun-Times cares about its readers.

Ediit: And it's not a story. It's a one hundred word announcement. Papers do it all the time.

Sportswriters write the news, they don't make it.

Unless the guy dies, gets fired, breaks the law, wins an award, moves on to a new job, or retires after 30-plus years at the Podunk Times, there is no reason to have a story in a newspaper ABOUT a sportswriter.

 

[Almost_Famous]

Somebody needs to start tracking time between Mariotti's appearances in the locker room and his columns about the White Sox.

I'm guessing he'll rip these guys twice a week .... and not venture to the locker room once. I sure hope he's at least at the ballpark.

 

[JR]

Why is this a story?! Who the fork cares?

Because many people read papers because of their loyalty to (a)  particular columnist(s).   

So, in the case of Jay fans, the short answer is, they care.

And it demonstrates (albeit cynically) that the Sun-Times cares about its readers.

Ediit: And it's not a story. It's a one hundred word announcement. Papers do it all the time.

Sportswriters write the news, they don't make it.

Unless the guy dies, gets fired, breaks the law, wins an award, moves on to a new job, or retires after 30-plus years at the Podunk Times, there is no reason to have a story in a newspaper ABOUT a sportswriter.

Do you actually read newspapers?

When newspapers hire a high profile columnist --sports or otherwise--, they proudly announce it because they figure it (*gasp*) might actually attract new readers. And, if they stole him/her from the competition, they get to gloat.

This announcement (for the second time, it's an announcement not a story) is probably of interest to Sun-Times readers.

And no one gives a shirt about some guy who retires after 30 years at the Podunk Times.

 

[Bubbler]

Somebody needs to start tracking time between Mariotti's appearances in the locker room and his columns about the White Sox.

I'm guessing he'll rip these guys twice a week .... and not venture to the locker room once. I sure hope he's at least at the ballpark.

I think you can track that time in turtle years, A_F. I don't cover MLB and I have a better chance of showing up in that locker room.

 

[JR]

After all this excitement I think I'll make Jay my home page for the next month or so.

 

[playthrough]

Why is this a story?! Who the fork cares?

Because many people read papers because of their loyalty to (a) particular columnist(s).

So, in the case of Jay fans, the short answer is, they care.

And it demonstrates (albeit cynically) that the Sun-Times cares about its readers.

Ediit: And it's not a story. It's a one hundred word announcement. Papers do it all the time.

Sportswriters write the news, they don't make it.

Unless the guy dies, gets fired, breaks the law, wins an award, moves on to a new job, or retires after 30-plus years at the Podunk Times, there is no reason to have a story in a newspaper ABOUT a sportswriter.

Do you actually read newspapers?

When newspapers hire a high profile columnist --sports or otherwise--, they proudly announce it because they figure it (*gasp*) might actually attract new readers. And, if they stole him/her from the competition, they get to gloat.

This announcement (for the second time, it's an announcement not a story) is probably of interest to Sun-Times readers.

And no one gives a shirt about some guy who retires after 30 years at the Podunk Times.

I've read newspapers for a darn long time, and I've seen announcements from papers about their own awards, their own firings due to ethical problems, their own staff arrests, etc. But I've never seen an announcement basically saying "Columnist X will continue working for us."

Sure, maybe if you get a big hire from elsewhere, you announce it. But this is a guy just continuing to do his job. I don't care if it's Mariotti or not, it's unnecessary. Readers can see Mariotti is still there when they see his face every day.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Readers can see Mariotti is still there when they see his face every day.

Perhaps it was more of a warning than an announcement.