Chicago writer should get fired for this article

[randallscott35]

Who is this loser? I love when people who know nothing about racing write articles like this.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Who is this loser? I love when people who know nothing about racing write articles like this.

Seems to me like he knows a little...

[JJP]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Seems to me like he knows a little...

Not really. And while I've been critical of the track surface, this is an example of the media piling on. Why wouldn't the Sun Times have Jim O'Donnell, a writer who's qualified on the subject of horse racing, do a report?

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by JJP

Not really. And while I've been critical of the track surface, this is an example of the media piling on. Why wouldn't the Sun Times have Jim O'Donnell, a writer who's qualified on the subject of horse racing, do a report?

Because it wouldn't be the back page and people outside of racing would not read it. This article was meant to be shocking and read by the masses

[dellinger63]

he's the feature sports writer for the Suntimes and also writes for Sports Illustrated. Has won many awards and usually is top notch but I agree he knows nothing about horse racing

Originally Posted by dellinger63

he's the feature sports writer for the Suntimes and also writes for Sports Illustrated. Has won many awards and usually is top notch but I agree he knows nothing about horse racing

Didn't he use to appear on ESPN? Can't believe this is the same guy.

Ez

[prudery]

The article certainly works for schlock shock. Whether his statistics are correct or not, his ideas about where euthanized horse go are completely off . They are NOT sent to slaughterhouses . Only live animals are . The chemicals in the euthanasia solution prohibit the animal from being fit for consumption . Pity, because equine slaughter, if it had to be, would be far more humane than the methods used . Nor are horses used for dog food anymore . Occasionally horsemeat is used for zoo animals, but again, the animal must be alive for these purposes . Dead animals may be rendered . Renderers out in the west, often pick up sick, dead or unwanted equines and euthanize the live ones in a van . While I can see the writer's purpose and frustration with the death toll at Arlington, this article was both crass and inaccurate . The mention of Barbaro's name was close to blasphemy .

[dellinger63]

All I have to say is he did his job...... right or wrong.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by prudery

The article certainly works for schlock shock. Whether his statistics are correct or not, his ideas about where euthanized horse go are completely off . They are NOT sent to slaughterhouses . Only live animals are . The chemicals in the euthanasia solution prohibit the animal from being fit for consumption . Pity, because equine slaughter, if it had to be, would be far more humane than the methods used . Nor are horses used for dog food anymore . Occasionally horsemeat is used for zoo animals, but again, the animal must be alive for these purposes . Dead animals may be rendered . Renderers out in the west, often pick up sick, dead or unwanted equines and euthanize the live ones in a van . While I can see the writer's purpose and frustration with the death toll at Arlington, this article was both crass and inaccurate . The mention of Barbaro's name was close to blasphemy .

I agree with you. I am glad that I am not the only one who saw distorted facts and a poorly written article.

[somerfrost]

Well, he wrote the piece to "shock and anger" and he did his job. Lets be honest here...while certainly from an anti-racing point of view, the bottom line is that he is correct...something has caused an increase in fatalities at this track and saying, "the surface is fine" doesn't answer many questions. Far...FAR too many horses breakdown and die every year, we need to keep searching for answers and it needs to be THE HIGHEST PRIORITY...not only for the horses but to protect those brave little folks who sit atop them! I think the article, while certainly antagonistic, has a place in the debate and I support this guy's right to put it out into the public domain....these pieces will cease to be published when racing does it's part to safeguard all aspects of the sport!

[alysheba4]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Well, he wrote the piece to "shock and anger" and he did his job. Lets be honest here...while certainly from an anti-racing point of view, the bottom line is that he is correct...something has caused an increase in fatalities at this track and saying, "the surface is fine" doesn't answer many questions. Far...FAR too many horses breakdown and die every year, we need to keep searching for answers and it needs to be THE HIGHEST PRIORITY...not only for the horses but to protect those brave little folks who sit atop them! I think the article, while certainly antagonistic, has a place in the debate and I support this guy's right to put it out into the public domain....these pieces will cease to be published when racing does it's part to safeguard all aspects of the sport!

....always the voice of reason.

[2MinsToPost]

He achieved what those types are after, attention. That sells papers. That gets people like you and me fired up and send in responses.

[2MinsToPost]

Did Jay Marriotti get fired?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by 2MinsToPost

Did Jay Marriotti get fired?

He has been on a 6 week vacation, he is still on Around the Horn on ESPN at the Sun Times Building but not sure.....been absent for some time now, alot of it had to do with how he called out his employer for not 'protecting' him or something, pretty comedy

[Gander]

Please clue me in on to what is so far off from the truth in this article?
So you have a guy who refuses to sugarcoat what is going on in this sport and how badly the animals get treated. So what, you want the guy to write an article beautifying Arlington and the sport and telling fabrications? I just dont get it.

[JJP]

Rick Telander has been writing long enough that I don't believe the powers that be at the Sun Times told him to "write something shocking". They didn't dictate that to him. He wrote it because he felt like it. If the papers sells a few more copies today, do you think he'll see additional profits? Of course not. I've known a few writers. Regardless of what you may think, they are looking out for numero uno, first and foremost.

[JJP]

Rick Telander has been writing long enough that I don't believe the powers that be at the Sun Times told him to "write something shocking". They didn't dictate that to him. He wrote it because he felt like it. If the papers sells a few more copies today, do you think he'll see additional profits? Of course not. I've known a few writers. Regardless of what you may think, they are looking out for numero uno, first and foremost.

As for Mariotti, he's still listed as a columnist on the ST's web site. Probably just on vacation.

[paisjpq]

holy sh*t....this guy knows just enough to be dangerous but not enough to exact any meaningful action...how does something like this get printed?

[Scav]

The sick thing is that he is right about it, but if you are attacking the sport, talking about it in this gruelsome manner will not get fans, especially alot of the pansies that live near Arlington