ESPN has 'no plans' to use Jay Mariotti on network amid domestic violence charges [Updated]

ESPN has no immediate plans to have Jay Mariotti rejoin the "Around the Horn" sports commentary show after the writer was charged Monday for allegedly grabbing and shoving his live-in girlfriend.

"We have no plans to use him at this time," ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said Monday.

Mariotti has appeared on the show since Aug. 20, the day before his arrest.

Mariotti faces seven misdemeanor counts in connection with a domestic disturbance call last month at the couple's condominium near the Venice-Santa Monica border, said Frank Mateljian, spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney's office.

Charges include two counts of domestic violence with injury, two counts of domestic violence, one count of grand theft, one count of false imprisonment and one count of vandalism. Each of the counts carries a maximum possible sentence of a year in jail, meaning Mariotti could face up to seven years behind bars.

[Updated: 8:05 p.m.: Debra Wong Yang, an attorney representing Mariotti, said Monday evening that her client was innocent and the alleged victim was "extremely intoxicated" and "abusive."

"The allegations are inaccurate and sensationalized. We are confident that the facts will show that the complainant was extremely intoxicated that night and abusive toward Mr. Mariotti," Wong Yang said, adding that Mariotti tried to get the woman home safely.]

Mariotti is to be arraigned Friday at the downtown criminal courts building.

LAPD sources said the couple began fighting at a club in Santa Monica after Mariotti accused his girlfriend of flirting with another man. The argument continued outside the club and as the pair left in their car.

Mariotti originally was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic assault. He was released from jail on $50,000 bail. But the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said there was not enough evidence to charge him with a felony.

In addition to ESPN, Mariotti also writes for the sports website Fanhouse.com, where he is known for criticizing athletes for their actions on and off the field. In the past he wrote a sports column for the Denver Post and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Fanhouse suspended Mariotti after his arrest.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[Niners baby]

What's next, Woody Paige arrested for DUI

[Joe Gates]

Being ESPN, they should just have had another "The Decision" show and we could all wait to see if Jay stays or goes.

[anth]

What a shame that this happened. Seems that Jay made some bad choices. I hope he humbles himself, recovers, and puts his life back together. If he does this, he deserves another chance.

[xxmaybexx]

Ozzie was right.

[damurphys]

The pot calling the kettle black... All these dudes on the radio blasting athletes have skeletons in their closet.

[saul]

xxmaybexx is correct! Ozzie was right.

[David walker]

I want to see if and when this Mariotti topic be discussed and scrutinize on the show by his fello co-hosts?. The show constantly talk bad about how athletes conduct themselves on and off the court,field, whatever a athlete step on, sport writers kill them!... Mariotti know that he's about to catch it.

[Mark]

There appears to be a word missing from this sentence:
Mariotti has appeared on the show since Aug. 20, the day before his arrest.