Since this blog was started almost two months ago we have received a surprising amount of praise from those readers not related to Jay. That's what is by far the most interesting issue of fag-gate: nobody but family has rallied to support Jay. Sure, people condemned Guillen's word choice, but they didn't have any problem with who it was directed at. This quote is from Michael Wilbon, one of Jay's ESPN colleagues who also happens to be from Chicago:

"Ozzie [Guillen] owes no apology to Jay [Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times], my friend for 16-plus years and someone I like very much. Jay can say all he wants that he's not welcome in the White Sox clubhouse. ... When you write tough, critical pieces, you show up the next day. ... This isn't debatable. It's not optional. It's mandatory. Go to the locker room, period. And Jay doesn't live by the code. And now, understandably, the White Sox are on his butt. ... Athletes respect people who are right there, available and accountable. And if you aren't, you get what you deserve."

Jay is already afraid to enter the clubhouse of professional sports teams, and at some point he's going to become afraid to enter the press box. The universal dislike he enjoys has got to have him considering where he went wrong. But we all know what this really means: if Jay is afraid to go in the press box, then who is going to be "that guy" who touches every hot dog in the press buffet to check its texture before finally selecting one? My vote is for Les Grobstein. We'll be back with more later today. ** Seeing as Michael Wilbon was a Northwestern graduate, and we both attend(ed) the school, we'd be remiss if we didn't send our sympathy to the family of Randy Walker. **