We were trying to stay out of the Jay Mariotti fray — after all, we would hate to make him more famous — but the statement from Chicago Sun-Times Editor in Chief Michael Cooke put the story over the top. Here is what Cooke had to say about the resignation of Mariotti:

The Chicago Sun-Times had the best sports section in the city before Jay Mariotti came to town — that’s why he signed up with us — and his departure does not change that. … The Chicago Sun-Times and suntimes.com will continue to have the scores and the stories before anyone else, anywhere, and the deepest and most comprehensive stats and standings. We wish Jay well and will miss him — not personally, of course — but in the sense of noticing he is no longer here, at least for a few days.

In other words, don’t let the door hit your ego on the way out.

Deadspin has had very fine coverage of this story all day; RandBall colleague Casey C. also noted the hilarious manner in which the story was broken:

1. Mariotti sends resignation e-mail to Sun-Times publisher.
2. Mariotti calls Tribune to give them the story.
3. Tribune e-mails Sun-Times editor for reaction; he has no idea:

When asked whether Mariotti had resigned, Sun-Times editor Michael Cooke responded, “You’re kidding?”

Mariotti, of course, sees newspapers as a dying industry and wants a slice of the Internet pie now — his reason for leaving the paper. We’re sure he’ll find quite a following in the land of tubes, where a new generation of readers can’t get enough of him.

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