Sun-Times still in a trap without 'rat'

Phil Rosenthal writes:

Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert—long the Chicago Sun-Times' heart, soul and conscience—hated hated hated the way sports columnist Jay Mariotti bemoaned the state of the newspaper industry in general and the Sun-Times in particular after quitting the paper this week.

In an open letter to Mariotti on the Sun-Times Web site Thursday, Ebert called Jay a "rat" and referenced Mariotti's columns as "1,000 word rants."

Mariotti's abrupt resignation earlier was showcased on the Sun-Times' front page as enticement for new subscribers, with two pages inside dedicated to celebrating the paper's divorce.

One could almost forget in all the hoopla that the paper had signed Mariotti to yet another multiyear contract extension only a few weeks before. Almost. And it would be quite excusable to overlook the pending layoffs at the paper.

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