ESPN's Jay Mariotti Has New Twitter Account @realjaymariotti

ESPN's Jay Mariotti (who will be referred to as that until it's totally certain he's not coming back to ESPN), has a new Twitter account after his original one was "hacked."

According to The National Sports Journalism Center, the former AOL Fanhouse and Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist and ESPN Around The Horn TV personality lost his original account on October 22nd, and gained @realjaymariotti Monday.

In contacting the NSJC, Mariotti showed his hostility to blogs, even though he may wind up with his own blog, or being on someone's blog, some day soon. Jay wrote:

"In response to a typically inaccurate blog item referenced by your site, my first Twitter account had to shut down due to suspected hacking. My new account, @realjaymariotti is up, complete with photo."

Frankly it's sad that someone out there feels they have to take away Jay's ability to express himself. Look, we may not agree with what he says, but he not only has a right to say it in America, Mariotti represents one of a few of a dying breed, and that's the well-paid sports columnist.

Mariotti is the custodian of the art of the argument in sports in America. That' a key part of American Culture not appreciated today.