Mariotti Embraces Negativity in Face of Cubs Loss

"Goodbye, everyone," ex-Cub Mark Grace, now an D-Backs broadcaster, said as he left the press box. "Tell everyone the Cubs had a nice season."

Then he looked at me. "I know you won't," he said. - Jay Mariotti

The consequential home run given up by the first pitch thrown by Rich Hill seemed to say it all for the 2007 Chicago Cubs.

Wait til next year.

Despite the disappointment of witnessing the Arizona Diamondbacks close this series out in convincing fashion, I can only tip my cap to Lou Piniella and management for transforming this team from a NL worst into a division pennant winner one year later. For realistic and pragmatic Cubs fans, that in itself is more than most dared to hope from this season.

Mariotti feigns calamity on the back page today. There is no agony, sadness or personnel embitterment conflicted within the hollowness of the camera mugging hyperbole inclined columnist towards the one hundred years that separate present day Cubdom from the team's last World Series victory celebration. Mark Grace was absolutely correct in his assessment.

And rather than feeling a slight sense of shame or reflect upon Grace's comment in the press box, Mariotti relishes the limelight of negativity, never the happier to be acknowledged once again as the perpetual loathsome beacon of dismay and malcontent. What a horribly grotesque way to earn a living, let alone choose to live such a dismal existence.

Once again Cubs, thanks for the turnaround this season from management to the players. It could have been so easy for the Tribune to not bother attempting to field a competitive team in light of the company sale. However, despite the all too easy catcalls and ridiculing of the money spent on this team from exploitive zealots such as Mariotti, the effort is recognized and appreciated among intelligent and well meaning fans that truly care about the Chicago Cubs.

As for Mariotti, next time the Cubs bandwagon looks inviting, don't bother jumping aboard. Just like Chris Young's home run baseball, your arse will be tossed out of the cozy confines by the true believing inhabitants.

For more articles on Chicago sports, please visit AngryOrange55 & Jay the Joke

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TyduffyRed-Shirting

764 days ago

Score 6

It's hard to find a bigger Negative Nancy than Mariotti...except maybe Shaughnessy (who chose to write a critical article about the Celtics they day the Red sox won the division)

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ASwaffAll-American

764 days ago

Score 1

To be fair, Shaughnessy was probably slated to write a column about the Celtics before the Red Sox clinched the division. Boston is a big sports town with multiple teams that need coverage. Just because the Red Sox clinch the division doesn't mean that the Celtics aren't news.

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Tmil42AAA-er

764 days ago

Score 3

Why does this man still have a job? I've never heard anyone say, "Jay Mariotti? Man, I love that guy. He's so well-spoken and such a straight shooter. I love reading his columns and watching him on Around the Horn. He's a real American hero."

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

764 days ago

Score 2

He has a job because we all know him, and lots of us read his column, ESPECIALLY if we hate him. Twisted, isn't it?

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EmmettjonesSoccer Kid

764 days ago

Score 1

Yeah, I agree with Rawbeez, he has a job because he's hated. People who are hated will always have their columns read because they generate a buzz, they get people talking (even if its to say how stupid they are). Look at how people have flocked to this article, I read it in the first place because I wanted to see what nonsense Mariotti was spewing now...

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PickemgeniusWaterboy

764 days ago

Score 0

I like seeing Jay Mariotti get killed by Woody Paige on Around the Horn.

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TylersaltAll-Star

764 days ago

Score 2

Paige is just as bad.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

764 days ago

Score 2

The Cubs did have a very good season, and it could be something to build on in the long term. And give credit to Arizona, they were simply better.

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DemonboyDraft Pick

764 days ago

Score 1

Going into this series, I knew that Arizona was going to win (this coming from a die hard bleed Cubbie Blue fan)... it was just too early for them... they (Cubs) have a lot more to work on before they can sniff the WS or even the NLCS again... winning the division is great and as a fan, I'll take it even though it is a weak division... but still, I was thinking that they would only win 75-80 games going into the season...

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ASwaffAll-American

764 days ago

Score 2

You know, I'm not a fan of Mariotti, and I fully agree that he is a "negative Nancy" (though I'd NEVER use that phrase myself). However, I have to say that I can kind of understand where he's coming from on this one. Yes, they had a monumental turnaround, even if you do have to take it with a grain of salt when you consider just how great it is to win the division that's the laughing stock of baseball, and only with the assistance of a total implosion by the Brewers. BUT, once you have that turnaround, you expect to see some results. I think most people expected Arizona to win this series with relative ease. But, when you have Zambrano, Lilly and Hill, you'd expect them to at least win ONE game. When you consider that they couldn't take one measly game with a solid front three, and when you consider that their winning this division was a marginal accomplishment, I can kind of understand why Marotti's still concerned about the future. He might be absurdly melodramatic about it, but I can get where he's coming from, because I feel the same way about my Astros.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

764 days ago

Score 0

I honestly didn't expect the Cubs to win a single game (easy for me to say now). Zambrano-Lilly-Hill is not a scary 1-2-3 combo in the post-season. With Webb-Davis-Hernandez, no matchup favored the Cubs. Chicago was also on the road.

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Boski93JV Squad

764 days ago

Score 0

Well hopfully the Cubs will follow the White Sox in their hate for Jay, just please watch you language.

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Dcsundevil2002Div-I Stud

764 days ago

Score 0

Lou did a great job...in making sure his head never exploded during the season. Go D-Backs!

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

764 days ago

Score 1

If Jay Maryotti is gonna grill Graciew for burning the Cubs he's inserting what's not his foot and inserting into what's not his mouth.

I first met Mark Grace in 1989. I have seen him in the press box (Oooh! I'm as special as Maryotti!)

Gracey was, is and always will be Gracie. He is always a breath away from a zinger.

But he can't hear Maryotti anyway not with the W.S. ring in his ear...

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Ea34Div-I Stud

764 days ago

Score 1

Jay Mariotti's negativitely is pathetic. One can only imagin how empty and sad his life must be- he gets paid (very well, I'd imagine) to write/talk about sports, yet he's unable to truly appreciate anything he sees without soiling it with his negativity.

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