Mariotti Quits Sun-Times, Newspaper Biz

Jay Mariotti has resigned from the Chicago Sun-Times, the controversial sports columnist tells the rival Tribune, after observing the toll the Internet has taken on newspapers. “I don't want to go down with it,” said the 47-year-old known for his contrarian opinions and run-ins with colleagues and athletes alike, adding that his stint at the Beijing Olympics convinced him of the impending doom.

Mariotti signed a lucrative 3-year contract extension in June, but after seeing the proliferation of web writers covering the Beijing Games, he decided that the future was online. “I'm a competitor and I get the sense this marketplace doesn't compete,” said Mariotti, adding that he doesn’t have an immediate destination but will continue appearing on ESPN’s Around the Horn.