Welcome to the Jay Mariotti mailbox

March 31st, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

The Tribune and Sun-Times like to have their fair share of spats, most of which revolve around one of two things: Whether or not the Sun-Times is in fact dying (if the quality of its broadsheet is any indication, the answer is a wholehearted “yes”), and whether or not Jay Mariotti is indeed the spawn of the devil.

What’s funniest about the latter is that Mariotti is, in fact, quite bad at his job, though that’s only if you value insight and analysis and an interesting read. If you value controversy and papers sold — as a struggling paper like the Sun-Times might — then Mariotti is one of the best in the country at bringing it nearly every single day. It’s dishonest and silly, but it moves papers. Also, the Trib shouldn’t throw stones: They give Mike Downey ink twice a week, and even the Trib’s good columnists aren’t above the occasional dopey pander.

Still, this is hilarious: The Tribune has opened up the Jay Mariotti mailbox, a not-at-all-subtle jab at the Sun-Times‘ recent decision to outlaw reader feedback on Mariotti’s columns. (That way, no one can challenge Jay’s authoritah!) Readers can put whatever comments they’d rather have put under Mariotti’s byline on the Tribune’s site, and can thus have their feelings made known to the world. Little do they know, they’re only making Jay more famous. Whoops!

The Tribune’s site looks to be flooded with comments, which is no surprise. The real surprise is that an intern agreed to this. Poor bastard.