Joe Cowley
Encyclopedia
Joe Cowley is a columnist writer for the Chicago Sun-Times
. Cowley, a graduate of Kent State University
, served the same role for the Sun-Times sister publication, the Tinley Park
, Illinois
Daily Southtown, for several years before being hired by the downtown paper before the 2006 season.
Cowley was one of the regular beat writers covering the White Sox during their 2005 World Series
championship.
Cowley staged a successful battle against cancer
in the winter of 2004-05.
He should not be confused with former White Sox pitcher Joe Cowley
, who threw a no-hitter
in 1986.
, Cowley made disparaging remarks about the city of Toronto in a radio interview, calling it “nothing but a city in a third-world country." Subsequently during the series in Toronto, Cowley refused to stand for the Canadian national anthem prior to a game. Toronto Blue Jays
president Paul Godfrey
described Cowley as having “bad manners” and had letters of complaint sent to both Cowley and his publisher over the incident.
Cowley gained notoriety nationally when he admitted on November 21, 2006 on the Mike and the Mad Dog
show, which is heard on WFAN
New York, to be the only writer to vote Derek Jeter
in sixth place on the American League
MVP ballot. However, if Cowley had placed Jeter first on the ballot, Justin Morneau
still would have won.
That was the second such incident for Cowley; after omitting Blue Jays players Carlos Delgado
and Vernon Wells, two top-ten overall finishers, from his 2003 AL MVP ballot, the Chicago chapter suspended him from voting the subsequent year. They accused Cowley of not voting seriously, saying he "embarrassed" the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA. http://www.nypost.com/seven/11222006/sports/yankees/why_we_snubbed_jeter_for_award_yankees_george_king.htm
In November 2009, a Chicago White Sox fan blog posted a report that their sources had said the White Sox were having preliminarily discussions to acquire Adrian Gonzalez
from the San Diego Padres
in a three-way deal. Cowley called the blogger a "trekkie turned blogger" who wrote from his basement. Cowley occasionally mocks SoxNet.net on Twitter
and on the radio from time to time. Cowley's initial mocking prompted a response from the SoxNet.net blog calling his attacks "unprofessional, offensive, and completely inappropriate". Cowley replied, but SoxNet.net opted not post his reply, calling Cowley's initial attack "mature" compared to his response.
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
. Cowley, a graduate of Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, served the same role for the Sun-Times sister publication, the Tinley Park
Tinley Park, Illinois
Tinley Park is a village located primarily in Cook County, Illinois, United States with a small portion in Will County. The population was 48,401 at the 2000 census, and 58,322 in the 2007 census. It is one of the fastest growing suburbs south of Chicago...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Daily Southtown, for several years before being hired by the downtown paper before the 2006 season.
Cowley was one of the regular beat writers covering the White Sox during their 2005 World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
championship.
Cowley staged a successful battle against cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in the winter of 2004-05.
He should not be confused with former White Sox pitcher Joe Cowley
Joe Cowley (baseball)
Joseph Alan Cowley is a former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies . On September 19, 1986, Cowley threw a no-hitter for the White Sox with seven walks versus the California Angels in a 7-1 victory...
, who threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in 1986.
Controversies
In May 2004 while traveling with the White Sox on a road trip to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Cowley made disparaging remarks about the city of Toronto in a radio interview, calling it “nothing but a city in a third-world country." Subsequently during the series in Toronto, Cowley refused to stand for the Canadian national anthem prior to a game. Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
president Paul Godfrey
Paul Godfrey
Paul Victor Godfrey, CM, OOnt is a businessman and former Canadian politician. During his career, Godfrey was a North York alderman, Chairman of Metro Toronto, President of the Toronto Sun and head of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was instrumental in bringing the Toronto Blue Jays to Toronto and has...
described Cowley as having “bad manners” and had letters of complaint sent to both Cowley and his publisher over the incident.
Cowley gained notoriety nationally when he admitted on November 21, 2006 on the Mike and the Mad Dog
Mike and the Mad Dog
Mike and the Mad Dog was an afternoon drive sports radio program based out of WFAN in New York City that featured Mike Francesa and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo talking sports and taking phone calls from listeners. From 2002 onwards the show was simulcasted on the YES Network...
show, which is heard on WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
New York, to be the only writer to vote Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
in sixth place on the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
MVP ballot. However, if Cowley had placed Jeter first on the ballot, Justin Morneau
Justin Morneau
Justin Ernest George Morneau is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Minnesota Twins. At 6 feet 4 inches and 225 lbs, Morneau was originally drafted as a catcher by the Twins in 1999. He converted to first base in the minor leagues and made his MLB debut in 2003...
still would have won.
That was the second such incident for Cowley; after omitting Blue Jays players Carlos Delgado
Carlos Delgado
Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players....
and Vernon Wells, two top-ten overall finishers, from his 2003 AL MVP ballot, the Chicago chapter suspended him from voting the subsequent year. They accused Cowley of not voting seriously, saying he "embarrassed" the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA. http://www.nypost.com/seven/11222006/sports/yankees/why_we_snubbed_jeter_for_award_yankees_george_king.htm
In November 2009, a Chicago White Sox fan blog posted a report that their sources had said the White Sox were having preliminarily discussions to acquire Adrian Gonzalez
Adrián González
Adrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
from the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in a three-way deal. Cowley called the blogger a "trekkie turned blogger" who wrote from his basement. Cowley occasionally mocks SoxNet.net on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and on the radio from time to time. Cowley's initial mocking prompted a response from the SoxNet.net blog calling his attacks "unprofessional, offensive, and completely inappropriate". Cowley replied, but SoxNet.net opted not post his reply, calling Cowley's initial attack "mature" compared to his response.