Media Monster

Jay Mariotti Suspended By AOL, Internet Points And…Nah, They Were Pretty Calm About It

AOL put out a statement today saying they were suspending recently-arrested columnist Jay Mariotti. It’s the first official backlash from a Mariotti employer, and the beginning of what’s going to be a tough (impossible?) road for Mariotti to regain the standing he held at either AOL’s Fanhouse or ESPN.

ESPN hasn’t made any official decisions on what to do with Mariotti, but according to SportsByBrooks’ ESPN sources, it sounds like he’s not long for the network. His column archive still stands on Fanhouse, however, so he’ll probably return there eventually.

Mariotti’s Fanhouse columns have been deluged with comments from readers gleeful over the misconduct of Mariotti, who’s often taken holier-than-thou stances in columns when sports figures get in trouble. And their delight was only surpassed by many of Mariotti’s fellow media members, including one legendary former colleague and, of course, CBS’ Gregg Doyel.

The suspension news, though, is being treated just matter-of-factly. Deadspin just posted AOL’s statement, Brooks did about the same (though he also heard from ESPN that they’ll finally be saying something on the matter later today, so be on the lookout for that), and Doyel’s moved on to bashing Rick Reilly.

Jason McIntyre of the Big Lead can only wonder where Mariotti will go for his public mea culpa. Yes, if only there were a place to go for writers to air their thoughts on the Mariotti issue that might not have fit at their full-time employer.

We only know this for sure – whatever Mariotti’s apology is, it can’t possibly be self-flagellating enough to satisfy the level of animosity toward him. But we’re sure looking forward to the reaction to whatever he does say, whenever he says it.

H/T Richard Deitsch

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