Lincolnshire, Illinois, resident Jay Mariotti attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he developed a solid academic foundation that prepared him for a future as a professional sports journalist. Today, Jay Mariotti is a 20-year veteran of the industry and a former radio broadcaster for such outlets as ESPN Radio and the Sporting News Radio network. At Ohio University, Jay Mariotti studied under a nationally recognized staff. Ohio University has produced numerous award-winning journalists in addition to Jay Mariotti, including Matt Lauer, host of the Today show; Clarence Page, Pulitzer prize-winning columnist with the Chicago Tribune; and Peter King, head National Football League writer for Sports Illustrated magazine. During his career, Jay Mariotti has covered every major national sporting event, as well as numerous international competitions, including the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Jay Mariotti participates as an active member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), a professional association for newspaper, magazine, and online journalists. As a 10-plus year member of the BBWAA, Jay Mariotti is eligible to vote annually for Hall of Fame inductees and he often does. A former sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, Jay Mariotti joined American Online’s in 2008. Jay Mariotti formerly co-hosted a nationwide daily sports talk show broadcasting on the Sporting News Radio network, and he has participated in national programs on ESPN Radio as well. Millions of ESPN fans recognize Jay Mariotti as a frequent panelist on the daily half-hour sports roundtable Around the Horn. Jay Mariotti is one of the show's most regular panelists having appeared on the show 1535 times. Jay Mariotti occasionally guest hosts ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, a weekday sports television program following Around the Horn.
