Perhaps the worst Mariotti column ever

[aboz56]

BY JAY MARIOTTI SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

 

On behalf of every Chicagoan sick of these juvenile, dumb and civically demeaning spats over the Cubs and White Sox, allow me to propose a truce. Can't we all just get along? Or, to be more specific, can't Cubdom enjoy an increasingly special season of overflow crowds, power displays and blurry pitching performances without Ozzie Guillen yapping all over it?

 

Annoying as the South Side inferiority complex already is, you hate to hear the Blizzard of Oz pumping up the volume for reasons that make no sense. On several occasions, he has wondered openly why the city's collective attention span focuses primarily on the Cubs, sounding like another whiny mouthpiece for an embittered owner. In his latest complaint, Guillen asks why local newspapers are providing daily updates on Mark Prior's health status while ignoring Frank Thomas' sore hamstring, failing to grasp that Prior's injuries conceivably could alter baseball history while Big Hurt's hammy was a minor issue.

 

As an arbiter of news judgment, Ozzie makes a fine manager.

 

''Frank got hurt and there was no 'Frank Thomas Watch,''' said Guillen, referring to a published feature known as The Prior Watch. ''Frank Thomas is way better than Prior, and he has done a lot more than Mark Prior. 'Prior Watch'? Wow. I mean, wow.

 

''A lot of people talk about Moises Alou. They talk about Mark Prior, Kerry Wood. They don't talk about Frank Thomas. I look in the paper this morning and I see 'Prior Watch,' and I'm like, 'Come on.'''

 

It's a good thing a recent call-up named Kelly Dransfeldt singled in the tying run with two out in the ninth inning Sunday, rallying the Sox to a 6-5 victory over the dreaded Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Otherwise, Guillen's outburst -- Thomas is ''way better'' than Prior? -- would have looked particularly embarrassing. I can honestly declare, as one of the city's few sporting independents, that the Cubs deserve all the local and national attention they're receiving this season. Isn't Wrigley Field packed with smitten fans every game, capable of selling out if they played at 4 a.m. in a thunderstorm? Aren't the starting pitchers dominating with scary regularity? Isn't the lineup so potent, we're beginning to think it's the best in 20 years in these parts? Isn't Sammy Sosa just another dangerous bat as a dynamo like Aramis Ramirez, who finally is filling the post-Santo black hole at third base, takes curtain calls after home runs?

 

Face it, Sox fans. In what firmly is established as a Cubs market, you're stuck in the middle of a Cubs-intensive season that is drawing global notice. Yet the South Side whine quotient only makes the North Side leanings appear more one-sided. Seems everyone is sour, from an owner (Jerry Reinsdorf) who can't stop kicking pebbles at media outlets to a TV broadcaster (Hawk Harrelson) who sounds like he's constipated to a rookie manager who can't get his facts right. ''We have our [home] opener, my first one in my hometown as manager, and we have one or two pages in the paper,'' Guillen said. ''And the Cubs lose the game, and it's 45 pages.''

 

For the record, the Sox received comprehensive coverage in both Chicago papers after Guillen won his home debut. For the record, print, radio and TV coverage has been split fairly so far between the ballclubs. While I've been critical of some local media of being too loyal to their childhood allegiances, which is amateurism of the lowest order in my business, most outlets base coverage on a team's success. Since the Sox have been winning, they've received a reasonable shake. Even the Tribune, which owns the Cubs, has maintained a sensible proportion on its sleepy sports page.

 

Of course, if the Cubs rule the National League all season, the Sox will fade in the media consciousness. It is paramount, then, that the South Siders continue to win -- not only for publicity and attendance reasons but for the franchise's self-esteem. Either way, I'm concerned more than ever about keeping the peace during the two crosstown series, set for successive weekends in late June and early July. Nothing could be more infuriating to a Sox fan than a Cubs team that dominates the summer, which is why Guillen's comments aren't real smart. They only serve to stoke a fire that could explode into an inferno.

 

Maybe that's why Ken Williams, the Sox general manager, stopped by Wrigley Field on Sunday to visit his old friend, Cubs manager Dusty Baker. If this was a goodwill mission, it made sense. The day before, Baker wasn't pleased to hear about Guillen's remarks, which included this shot at the Cubs: ''They have the pressure, they have to win. They lose a game, and everybody is panicking. We lose a game, and nobody knows about it. I like that.''

 

Responded Baker, with more diplomacy than the matter deserved: ''I have good buddies over there -- Kenny, Ozzie -- but I just find it kind of strange. Because a lot of times we don't say much about the Sox, but they probably talk more about us. But that's their prerogative.''

 

How interesting that Baker phoned Williams on Saturday, after learning of Guillen's comments the night before. ''Dusty called and [said] I don't keep in touch enough,'' said Williams, dressed in Sox black.

 

''That's my buddy,'' Baker said. ''I asked if he was spying. He said, 'No, man, I came to see you.' I told him I owe him. Now I've got to show up at White Sox park one day and surprise them.''

 

He'd better bring bodyguards.

 

How nice, in a turbulent world, if we could share something as pleasant as baseball peace in Chicago. And how nice if folks would stop asking me the same questions after 13 years. No, I am not a Cubs fan. No, I am not a Sox fan. Yes, I'd love to see both clubs vie in the World Series, even if the city imploded and slid into the lake. No, I don't hold a bigger grudge over one owner than the other. Without bias, my daily purpose in this column is to gravitate toward the better story. This season, it's the Cubs, who pay little mind to the team on the other side of the skyline.

 

''The guys don't talk about it. They play,'' Baker said. ''That's the thing I like about this team. They don't talk, they just play.''

 

Hopefully, the Blizzard of Oz is taking notes.

[DBAHO]

Bashing Ozzie cos he hates the Cubs. What's Ozzie supposed to do, be best friends with them or sumthin.

[Steff]

Bashing Ozzie cos he hates the Cubs. What's Ozzie supposed to do, be best friends with them or sumthin. 

I think he was bashing Ozzie because of Ozzie's big mouth.

 

If the shoe fits..

[southsider2k5]

Kotex-Boy thinks he is a "sporting independant"? Try a f***ing hypocrate. honestly I couldn't read anything past that point, because my eyes had rolled so far back into my head.

[keninem]

Not living in Chicago, I enjoy Mariotti in most cases on ATH, but everytime I see him in print, I want to put a foot in his ass.

[flippedoutpunk]

Please Mariotti. Call me when the Cubs play Houston or St. Louis or a team that matters, congratulations on beating up on pittsburgh and the mets with your high powered offense.

[gettysburg32]

One week ago, Cincinnati was beating the Cubs, and trash was flying all over Wrigley. Some were panicking to the extent that the Cubs were now going to lose 100 games, etc, etc. I loved the fact that the Cubs were struggling, but (at least tried to) stop myself from taking a couple games out of context. (The garbagefest was really funny however!)

 

Now, they beat up on Pittsburgh and NYMets, and they are the unquestionable, undeniable team of destiny that everyone should bow down to and then get out of the way?

 

Both extremes are stupid in April, Mariotti should realize this. :dips***

 

:fthecubs

[POTUSChris]

Both extremes are stupid in April, Mariotti should realize this. :dips***

 

My Thoughts Exactly!

 

:fthecubs

[BridgeportHeather]

"South side inferiority complex"???? Puleeeeeeez!!!! We're just beyond sick of hearing Cub infatuation from every corner of the universe!!! Our team has been historically better than their's, and we haven't been given any sort of media frenzy...

 

Perhaps we SHOULD start making losing look lovable, because our media will only look at LOVABLE losers.

 

Moronotti needs to take a jump into the deepest part of the lake...

[Queen Prawn]

I think he was bashing Ozzie because of Ozzie's big mouth.

 

If the shoe fits..

As long as the Sox keep winning, he can have as big a mouth as he likes IMHO.

[Queen Prawn]

"South side inferiority complex"????  Puleeeeeeez!!!!  We're just beyond sick of hearing Cub infatuation from every corner of the universe!!!  Our team has been historically better than their's, and we haven't been given any sort of media frenzy...

Brian and I went to the GameStop in Merrionette Park Saturday and I had my Sox jacket on and he had his Mariners jacket on - of course it turns out the putz at the counter is a Cubs fan - he asks me how I can like the Sox since they are boring to which I just smiled and said they aren't. He kept hitting the button and Brian saw how pissed I was getting so he told the guy we'd go to another location to return the game (it was a defective disk).

 

Hey MP guy, I got something for ya ... :fyou .

[cwsox]

I think he was bashing Ozzie because of Ozzie's big mouth.

 

If the shoe fits..

I didn't realize Ozzie was saying that much -

 

oh the bliss sometimes of not having Chicago media -

 

 

and I think Ozzie should tone it down vis a vis the north side team

[BridgeportHeather]

As long as the Sox keep winning, he can have as big a mouth as he likes IMHO. 

I completely agree! And Ozzie has a reason for yapping...He's as sick of it as we are. Someone notable has to say something...

[mreye]

''That's my buddy,'' Baker said. ''I asked if he was spying. He said, 'No, man, I came to see you.' I told him I owe him. Now I've got to show up at White Sox park one day and surprise them.''

 

He'd better bring bodyguards.

 

What the f*** is that supposed to mean?

[Steff]

"South side inferiority complex"????  Puleeeeeeez!!!!  We're just beyond sick of hearing Cub infatuation from every corner of the universe!!!  Our team has been historically better than their's, and we haven't been given any sort of media frenzy...

 

Perhaps we SHOULD start making losing look lovable, because our media will only look at LOVABLE losers.

 

Moronotti needs to take a jump into the deepest part of the lake...

 

 

"The media doesn't pay attention to us... "

 

Bla, bla, bla... :headshake

 

 

I'm glad I'm not the kind of fan that depends on the media so much, and the kind that pays attention to - and cares about - what goes on between the lines. Half the time I don't even open the newspaper to the sports section.

[Queen Prawn]

Half the time I don't even open the newspaper to the sports section.

The only time I do is when the paper in the lunch room is opened to that page. I come here and to yahoo for my sports info.

[Steff]

I completely agree!  And Ozzie has a reason for yapping...He's as sick of it as we are.  Someone notable has to say something...

And it makes him look like a whiney little baby.

 

Worry about the problems with your team and not about how many stories are in the paper about you.

 

Attention starved media monger... some things never change.

[cwsox]

And it makes him look like a whiney little baby.

 

Worry about the problems with your team and not about how many stories are in the paper about you.

 

Attention starved media monger... some things never change.

and this is one of the down sides of Ozzie that I was afraid of

 

 

he doesn't need to be calling out the north side team nor the press, only makes him look bad

 

and it will come back and haunt him (us) some day

[SoxFan562004]

I'm just waiting for Dickface's column when he jumps on the Sox bandwagon (It's bound to happen). I say it happens if the White Sox play well against Boston, or if the Sox make a major trade near the deadline.

 

He did it last year when he did the column praising Manuel.... It'll be his same old s*** about how "he had a feeling" about this team and no mention of his ridiculous columns earlier in the year.

 

I don't know if anyone remembers it, but about 2-3 years ago he wrote a column about how "hip" he was (I'm f'n serious about this), and how he cruises in his sports car. It was one of the creepiest columns I've ever read, but the funny thing was after he wrote it a caller on WSCR called up on "Who Ya Crappin?" and said "Hey Jay, Miata's don't count as 'sports cars'"

[Flash Tizzle]

And it makes him look like a whiney little baby.

 

Worry about the problems with your team and not about how many stories are in the paper about you.

 

Attention starved media monger... some things never change.

It does make him look like a baby, but in this instance I don't support what Mariotti wrote. Every Sox fan on this site knows Mariottis agenda: highlight every downfall of the team, organization, manager, fans, ballpark, and exploit it. Once again, he uses another Sox blunder (Ozzie complaining about the media coverage in this instance) as another excuse to jab at the White Sox. He labels himself as an impartial observer to this team.....who the hell is he fooling? Saying Mark Prior can "alter baseball history", what bulls*** is that!? Oh, and I loved his comments about Hawk

 

Some of you may believe this whining serves no good, but I believe it does help us in atleast one area. Complaining about coverage tells these media outlets that both the Sox and its fans are not impervious to becoming overshadowed. No more 4 page, full color features of a 10-2 Cub loss (Where Sosa hits two solo shots) when the Sox win 7-3 over their division rivals Minnesota on the same night. I would be one of the first to admit that the Cubs deserved more coverage after coming with 5 outs of the world series, and then upgrading on almost every aspect of their team. But when Mariotti comes out and tells his readers that the Sox should stop whining (when he's responsible for the hype machine and ridiculous biased columns) it lends him zero credibility.

 

Ozzie is first and foremost a Sox fan. He has finally relayed onto the media what nearly ever Sox fan is thinking: White Sox are second to the Cubs in this city, and have been for a long time. Because they have ONE f***ing stellar season in their existance all of the sudden the media has an excuse for blushing over the Cubs.

 

:fthecubs

[YASNY]

We really need to get over this obsession with the Sox vs. Cubs in the media. I've been guilty of it, and I probably will again. But, I'm going to turn it down a notch, at least. Until the Sox show that they have a team cpapbale of some late October heroics, this crap is not going to change. The Sox, as an organization, needs to focus on the Sox and forget about the Cubs. They can focus on them in June and July.

[cwsox]

no one is supporting Mariotti here -

 

the only solution to media attention is to win, just win

[Steff]

Flash, I agree with you.. but I just don't think it's necessary to whine like a baby in the media about the media.

 

Do what you were hired for. Manage. Win games. Do that and the rest will fall into place.

 

The last thing Ozzie needs is to prove everyone who called him a whiney bigmouth right...

[mmmmmbeeer]

Yeah, the bodyguard reference was nice jab. As was the jab at the DRays, which are no by no means a great team but most certainly better than PIT or the NYM, which are the two teams the sCrUBS just swept to get their record over .500. The Prior comment was ludicrous. The fact he tried to hail "blurrying" pitching performances for the sCrUBS again is misleading, considering those performances have only come against two of the most offensively anemic teams in the league. And the "winning for the franchise's self esteem" comment was a bit out there as well. We've been winning, or atleast in comparison the northside club we've been winning.

 

"On behalf of every Chicagoan sick of these juvenile, dumb and civically demeaning spats over the Cubs and White Sox, allow me to propose a truce. Can't we all just get along?" Something tells me that journalism school didn't teach him how to support your introductory statement throughout your article.

[mreye]

Do what you were hired for. Manage. Win games. Do that and the rest will fall into place.

I think you can add "Bring interest to White Sox baseball" to his list of jobs. I think that's what he's trying to do. He's bringing up what he believes are facts. Maybe it'll be enough for the media to take a look in the mirror.