Media Challenging Mullen on Confederate Flag: Another Sad Attempt from the Thought Police
Yesterday the Clarion Ledger duo of Mike Bonner and Hugh Kellenberger decided they would bring politics into SEC Media Days by asking what Dan Mullen thought about the confederate flag being displayed on Mississippi’s state flag. Bonner asked the question and Kellengerger opined on how awful it was that Mullen didn’t “take the lead” because he gave a “meandering and weak” response.
You can read Mullen’s answer to the question here. That answer was in line with Mississippi State’s stance on it.
What else was Mullen supposed to say?
1. He is at SEC Media Days representing Mississippi State University, not Dan Mullen. He works for the school. He is not a politician, presidential candidate, business owner or any of the like. He is an employee of an organization who was asked a question while representing his organization. If you take a stance that’s different from your employer’s stance on a subject you open yourself up to potential repercussions. That’s the way in works in the corporate world. I’m not saying Dan Mullen would’ve gotten in trouble for sharing his personal opinions, but the safe play is always to yield to your organization’s position on the topic while on the clock.
2. Dan Mullen can not win by choosing a side. Either he would like to see the confederate flag removed and a large portion of his fanbase does not like the answer, or he doesn’t want it removed and a large portion of his fanbase does not like the answer. Why, as a football coach, would you want to give the fanbase a reason to not like you for any reason other than wins and losses?
It’s pretty clear what this charade was all about from the Clarion-Ledger. Bonner and Kellenberger fully intended to press the issue and write an article criticizing or praising Mullen for his answer. Bonner would ask the question since he’s the MSU beat writer, and Kellenberger would write the opinion piece since he’s the general sports columnist for the C-L. Bonner is an outspoken liberal, Kellenberger I don’t know for sure but I could make an educated guess.
Here are the three answers Mullen could have given and the subsequent reaction by the C-L:
- Flag is good: criticism
- Flag is bad: praise
- No comment: criticism
It’s just another example of the constant bullying by the thought police in this country. Why else would this issue be brought up? The intent was clearly to hammer home the agenda by those who believe the flag should be taken down.
The flag isn’t the issue here. I’ll give you my opinion if you ask for it, but you asked for a sports website, not a political one. The issue here is people so intolerant of others’ opinion thay have to interject their political ideals into sports as another avenue to push their agenda.
One of the great things about sports is that it isn’t politics. What happens in the political realm is vastly more important than in sporting events, and because of that differing opinions and allegiances tend to divide and polarize people. While there are rivalries in sports, it’s nothing like the gap between left and right.
I like going to a football game and agreeing or disagreeing with Dan Mullen on his play calls, not his stance on ____ political issue. He doesn’t need to be a political leader, just a leader of the MSU football program. That’s what he’s paid to do, and that’s what I want him to do.
Enough of the intolerant mob screaming intolerance at the other side. Leave sports alone.