Hawk vs. Marriotti

[winninguglyin83]

here it is from Saturday's Trib.

 

 

 

The link:

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

 

 

 

The story:

 

 

Harrelson-Mariotti name-calling feud heats up

 

 

By Teddy Greenstein

Tribune staff reporter

 

July 2, 2004, 10:57 PM CDT

 

 

Jay Mariotti likes to tell his morning radio listeners not to focus so much on him.

 

"It's not about me," he said earlier this week on WMVP-AM 1000. "It's about the teams."

 

 

 

 

Maybe, but lately Mariotti has been a story.

 

The Sun-Times sports columnist and regular on ESPN's "Around the Horn" went nose-to-nose Wednesday with White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson in the the press box at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

 

At one point, witnesses say, Mariotti told Harrelson: "I ought to clock you right now."

 

Harrelson's response: "Go ahead. Do what you've got to do, Jay."

 

The two have been feuding in print and on air since SoxFest, when Harrelson called Mariotti "the biggest sports fraud" and added: "Mariotti wouldn't know a good or bad team if he saw one … In six or seven years, I've never seen him in the clubhouse."

 

Days later Mariotti wrote: "Now that official team puppet Hawk Harrelson has targeted me as Osama Sox Laden—the one and only reason why the ballmall is obsolete, the fan base is shrinking and bad drunks rush the field and attack people—allow me to use my almighty powers in a more productive manner."

 

Since then, Mariotti has written about Harrelson four times, describing him as "[Chairman Jerry] Reinsdorf's shameless mouthpiece," "whiny … bitter" and sounding "like he's constipated."

 

Harrelson has struck back on his telecasts, most recently after Mariotti likened U.S. Cellular Field to a "state penitentiary" after describing a fight in the stands. But the two men didn't cross paths until about an hour before Wednesday's Sox-Twins game.

 

Harrelson was walking to the TV booth, taking the required route past the back row of the press box. There's not much room to maneuver, and Mariotti, talking on his cell phone to ESPN program director Len Weiner, was leaning back in his chair.

 

Harrelson said he "brushed" past the chair, unaware of who was sitting in it.

 

Mariotti said Harrelson "rammed into him," prompting Mariotti to tell him: "Watch where you're going."

 

The incident grew heated, with Harrelson and Mariotti yelling insults at each other.

 

Witnesses say Mariotti, after rising from his chair, came within three to four inches of Harrelson and said: "I ought to clock you right now."

 

After more name-calling, witnesses say Mariotti told Harrelson: "You want a lawsuit? I can make you a poor man."

 

Mariotti denied that he threatened to sue Harrelson.

 

"No," he said. "There was an exchange. He was yelling silly things that are beneath me. He needs to be a professional. Am I going up to his [TV] booth and yelling at him? If I did, would that be a violation? Yes. End of story."

 

Not quite. After the game, Harrelson said he and analyst Darrin Jackson saw Mariotti working alone in the press box while other writers were in the clubhouses.

 

Harrelson said he told Mariotti: "'Now, Jay, have a nice evening.' And he muttered something I couldn't make out."

 

Mariotti said the incident occurred while he and others were on deadline. "You don't come into a press box after a game and start yelling at a guy when writers are on deadline," Mariotti said. "He's thoroughly unprofessional."

 

But not even that marked the end of the dispute.

 

A friend of Harrelson's called him Friday morning to report that Mariotti had said on his radio show, "I can pinch his beak off any time I want to," referring to Harrelson.

 

That prompted Harrelson to call the station and ask producer Shaun Witt to put him on the air. Witt declined, telling Harrelson: "Jay said he'd take a pass."

 

Harrelson called Mariotti "gutless" and told Witt: "Just tell Jay that next time he comes to U.S. Cellular Field, I'll give him a chance to pinch my beak off."

 

Mariotti denied having referred to Harrelson on his Friday morning show.

 

Witt said late Friday morning that he would review a tape of the show. But he never reported its contents and didn't return phone messages left for him.

 

Mariotti said he declined to put Harrelson on the air because "I have no interest in these silly little things. I am above that. I'm trying to do a radio show. The White Sox just need to play baseball and stop worrying about the media. That goes for him too."

 

Mariotti attributes his dispute with Harrelson to a "10-year war" between him and the Sox.

 

"Jerry Reinsdorf," Mariotti said, "is trying to get one of his trusted longtime hands to goad me, whether it's on the air or in the press box, to do something that will perhaps end my radio career on his flagship station. I'll never do anything that stupid. That is what the story is here.

 

"I am provoked constantly and it's in my best interests to walk away," Mariotti said. "I have been provoked by athletes, owners, their sons, writers and broadcasters a good 15 to 20 times in this city and every time I have walked away. How many other people would?"

 

Mariotti said he is "appalled" that so many people want to confront him.

 

"These people need to get me off the brain," he said. "I'm not worth it. I'm just a guy in the media. I'm trying to lay low."

Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

[Goldmember]

this confirms what i already knew, mariotti's a f***o.

[SoxAce]

:fyou Mariotti

[MinnesotaSoxFan]

Atleast someone is gutless than being a dumbass. Wait, Jay is both a dumbass and gutless. Does anybody find him funny? Another "Sox" fan being a true Cubs fan.

[winninguglyin83]

To me the most telling item was that he didn't go into the clubhouse.

 

THAT I'd like to see.

[Flash Tizzle]

Has anyone else ran across this problem? I just finished writing a long post, attempted to 'add reply', and was promptly kicked off line.

 

The two have been feuding in print and on air since SoxFest, when Harrelson called Mariotti "the biggest sports fraud" and added: "Mariotti wouldn't know a good or bad team if he saw one … In six or seven years, I've never seen him in the clubhouse."

 

This claim is true, as it's supported by a statement in the latter paragraphs of the column. "After the game, Harrelson said he and analyst Darrin Jackson saw Mariotti working alone in the press box while other writers were in the clubhouses. Why is Jay Mariotti alone? Could it be that the entire White Sox clubhouse has developed a strong dislike for Mariottis slanderous remarks, and refuse to grant him access? Jay continues to profess himself as 'being a fan of neither team', but insulting countless aspects of our team (from drunken fans to an obsolete ballmall) only shines the light on your true ambitions: Magnify every negative story from the Sox and expose it to the masses.

 

Since then, Mariotti has written about Harrelson four times, describing him as "[Chairman Jerry] Reinsdorf's shameless mouthpiece," "whiny … bitter" and sounding "like he's constipated."

 

Interesting recap of his previous insults. What the f*** gives Mariotti the right to label Hawk as "thorougly unprofessional" when he characterizes Hawk as "constipated?" No respected journalist would use these words within their column, unless they're writing for the National Inquirer; where Mariotti would likely fit in.

 

That prompted Harrelson to call the station and ask producer Shaun Witt to put him on the air. Witt declined, telling Harrelson: "Jay said he'd take a pass."

 

Nice move, on Mariottis behalf. If Hawk were given air-time to confront Jay's comments, the audience would likely grasp how much of a biased, spine-less coward their host is. Behind a radio microphone, or in the confines of a press box are the locations to which Mariotti fights his battle.

 

In his mind, he's far above anyone else; he rather take his usually pot shots without the risk of confrontation. He may concieve his columns as harmless, but to understate the power/influence the media attributes to public opinion is pure ignorance. When an idea (USCF; dangerous, Wrigley; beautiful) is written over...and over....and over.... those who are susceptible to media propoganda (Lets admit it: Several media outlets portrayal of everything White Sox are just that; propoganda) will soon believe what Mariotti writes as the truth.

 

"These people need to get me off the brain," he said. "I'm not worth it. I'm just a guy in the media. I'm trying to lay low."

 

Quit writing bulls***, or (at the least) admit your personal vendetta towards the White Sox. That way, I can look past this 'impartial attitude' you hold yourself by and merely consider you a f***ing dips***; instead of a lying, f***ing dips***.

[danman31]

Has anyone else ran across this problem? I just finished writing a long post, attempted to 'add reply', and was promptly kicked off line. 

 

Nice move, on Mariottis behalf.  If Hawk were given air-time to confront Jay's comments, the audience would likely grasp how much of a biased, spine-less coward their host is.  Behind a radio microphone, or in the confines of a press box are the locations to which Mariotti fights his battle.

I've had that happen. That's why I copy and paste into Word while making a long post. Even worse, I had it happen when I was writing an article for FutureSox. THAT SUCKED!

 

I would bet Mariotti wasn't even asked if he would talk to Hawk. Any good producer would not allow those 2 on the air together when they want to kill each other. It would get out of hand, beyond what ESPN Radio wants to air.

[aboz56]

Both of these idiots sound like children and I'm tired of hearing about their so-called "feud." I wish Jay would have just swung at Hawk, leading to Hawk knocking him out and this would be over by now.

[EvilJester99]

I agree these two sound like lil kids fighting on the playgrounds. They both need to grow up and ignore each other. Mostly Hawk needs to forget about Kotex Boy. Kotex Boy is just trying to be another Howard Stern and be a "Shock Jock". Does anyone even listen to Kotex Boy anyway? His show is God awful.

[baggio202]

maybe they can do a re-enactment of rocky ll and knock each other out....im sick of both of them

[GoodAsGould]

i find it ammusing.... it really shows you how much hawk likes the white sox and is willing to stand up for his club i wonder what chip carey would do lol

[Al Lopez Ghost (old)]

Hawk is a loyal employee.

[winninguglyin83]

we all need to ignore Eddie Munster.

[southsideirish]

WHy can't they have a boxing match for charity? I bet Hawk take it real serioulsy and trys to knock his block off while mariotti keeps dancing around and goes in between the ropes everytime hawk draws near. Maybe we can get ESPN 1000 to set somethign like this up. I bet it brings in a bunch of money for charity.

[Old Socks]

You can't be serious?

[cwsox]

Not going to start a whole new thread, but did any see on WTTW 11 the Chicago Tonight thing with JR? Pretty good Interview, and there was a point when Bob Sorriot asked him what he thinks about Marrioti and all he said was "Piss-ant"

props to JR