Jay Mariotti arrested in Los Angeles, booked on suspicion of a felony (UPDATED)
Aug 21, 2010, 1:00 PM EDT
Jay Mariotti, a Fanhouse columnist and resident ESPN talking bloviating head on Around The Horn was arrested at some point last night by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division.
Details are incredibly sketchy at this point, but an unnamed source with knowledge of the situation indicated to the Los Angeles Times that the arrest may be related to “a domestic disturbance charge involving his girlfriend.”
I’ll withhold from the finger-shaking and passing judgment at this point, at least until more details are known, but Mariotti has put himself in quite the pubic relations predicament – not to mention what this may do to his career – some may say a position of abject hypocrisy, given his propensity for self-aggrandizing moralizing and knee-jerk, reactionary admonishments of athletes who find themselves caught on the wrong side of law; individuals which is he quick to condemn when he pontificates about their mistakes so eloquently from his personal bully pulpit, whether that be via his online columns or during his appearances on Around the Horn.
Speaking of ESPN, despite the relative “newsworthiness” of his arrest, not a peep regarding Mariotti’s arrest can be found on their website. But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, nor can we blame them, I suppose. To paraphrase one of their own, nobody circles the wagons like the so-called Worldwide Leader In Sports.
More on this story as it develops…
* Update from the Los Angeles Times after the jump *
[Updated at 9:30 a.m.: LAPD sources said Mariotti allegedly got into an argument with his girlfriend at a club in Santa Monica.
The argument continued at the couple's apartment in Venice, where some type of physical altercation allegedly occurred. Police were called to the apartment, and Marioitti was arrested. He is currently being held at the 77th Street station.]
Hoo boy. No bueno, man.
UPDATE #2:
A little over an hour ago, ESPN published a story regarding Mariotti’s arrest on their fine site. I would have posted this update sooner, but I unfortunately lost track of time reading Rick Reilly’s new book while sipping on drinks I made in my “ESPN: The Margarita Maker.” Also, I am apparently a moron for my inability to accurately predict the future. Apologies on all counts.
UPDATE #3:
According to the Los Angeles Times, Mariotti was released midday today from jail on $50,000 bail. Additional developments:
LAPD sources said Mariotti allegedly got into an argument with his girlfriend at a club in Santa Monica, and they were observed exchanging harsh words just before getting in a car to leave. Mariotti got angry after he believed his girlfriend had been flirting with another man, police sources said.
The argument continued at the couple’s apartment near Venice where Mariotti allegedly pushed and shoved the woman. During the altercation, Mariotti grabbed her arm, leaving marks, the sources said.
Police were called to the apartment and found his girlfriend, who has not been identified, with cuts and bruises.
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ESPN’s Jay Mariotti arrested by L.A. police [Los Angeles Times]
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- Tony M. - Aug 21, 2010 at 1:25 PM
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The big asshole deserves all he gets! Hope it’s life without parole!
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- Fatty - Aug 21, 2010 at 2:11 PM
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Is anyone else getting sick and tired of all this ESPN bashing that goes on here? It really makes MSNBC look petty and I personally feel that it is having a reverse effect on me.
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- longthoughts - Aug 21, 2010 at 2:17 PM
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…and in fact, I can hardly watch it anymore. But aside from any theories about how ESPN would or would not be hurting its brand, to think that an EMPLOYER would post sketchy information about the legal proceedings of an EMPLOYEE speaks to the education–or lack thereof–of the blogger.
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- Tom Hanson - Aug 21, 2010 at 3:38 PM
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ESPN.com has it on their front page
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- TwoBeans - Aug 21, 2010 at 3:39 PM
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“Speaking of ESPN, despite the relative “newsworthiness” of his arrest, not a peep regarding Mariotti’s arrest can be found on their website. But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, nor can we blame them, I suppose. To paraphrase one of their own, nobody circles the wagons like the so-called Worldwide Leader In Sports.”
Really? Looks like they’ve posted something about the arrest. Better do an update, moron!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5481872
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- leonHparks - Aug 21, 2010 at 3:52 PM
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Now Jay Mariotti can see first hand how it feel to degrade Athletes and any other person when it comes to judging people.He has always had a big mouth about people of color. First off, he talked about Tiger Woods like he was A nobody. Mariotti forgot scripture, JUDGE YE NOT, THAT YE MAY ALSO BE JUDGED. Will ESPN keep him on Around The Horn? If they keep him on the show how can they justify him judging other people? MAYBE HE HAS BLOWN HIS LAST HORN.
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- love 2run - Aug 21, 2010 at 9:11 PM
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How soon before we see this piece of **** go on air and say…Oh, I am soooo sorry….All because he ONLY cares about the paycheck….OK Tony Reallie….your call bro……….
R
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- Leo - Aug 22, 2010 at 12:40 AM
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He’s an arrogant, egotistigal prick and a whiney sissy on top of that. Anyone that bashes Woody really takes this stuff too seriously. Woody and Callishay are tongue in cheek and cetainly don’t take themselves more important than the reality of show. Marrioti thinks he should win everyday and whines when he doesn’t.
It’s a sports entertainment show and nothing more.
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- Leo - Aug 22, 2010 at 12:48 AM
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does anyone wonder why your reading Today Sports and not espn? maybe it’s because this is better and less biased reading.
at least this sight didn’t pull lebron when he threatened them.
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- robert dimond - Aug 22, 2010 at 10:45 AM
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It is sickening to read how bloggers/columnists love to jump on someone who runs into a little trouble and tries to degrade them, humiliate them and take away their livelihood. It speaks more of the writer than the person being written about. And it doesn’t speak well at all of them.
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- TwoBeans - Aug 22, 2010 at 4:54 PM
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Also, I am apparently a moron for my inability to accurately predict the future. Apologies on all counts.
I apologize for the harsh, knee-jerk comment.
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- Ozzie Guillen - Aug 24, 2010 at 7:29 PM
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Jay Mariotti is a piece of shit.
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- Dave King - Aug 31, 2010 at 12:18 AM
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They talked about it on “around the horn” today. Many people are
beating up Jay because he is one of the few sports comentators that takes what tiny stand he is allowed under the projectile vomit level of political correctness in todays sports media in general and ESPN in particular. Are some of you seriously suggesting that even if Jay is guilty that it in any way equals the thuggary that he has very mildly spoken about? If he went to a club with his gal and went to their house and got into a jealous argument and she pulled away from him leaving a bruise. The law probably rightfully says someone, probably Jay, needs to go with the cop. 24 hour truces and sobreity often help. OK. But to rationalize that this is in the same realm as Tyson forceably raping that little gal? Kobe (the most popular in the world!!! whee!!) pushing a gal half his size over a chair and having his way? Or big Ben using booze, intimidation and physical strength on young women? Shame on you. Sports commentators, local and national have to walk on eggshells to keep the gig. Critizing leagues, players, officials impartiality, coaches, gm’s, owners, etc, particualrly if they are a ethnic minority, is a big no no. And wou loses? We do. I would love to see Bob Ryan or Kornheiser say what they really think. But both have been suspened for very minor politicaly incorrect statements. ESPN literally makes me sick. Farve, Anything Nu Yak, Lebron(the level of desease here was terminal before the free agency fiasco) and Tiger constitute 90% of the programing. Sick.
