06-17-2006, 10:57 AM
I don't know if you've heard this, but two radio reporters in Kansas City- Bob Fescoe and Rhonda Moss- just had their credentials taken away from them by the Kansas City Royals.
Their sin was presenting tough questioning at a press conference.
This is absurd and many organizations have gone to bat for them, but it reminds me what David Mullins did for me.
I realize it is a bit odd for a guy in the media to post on here like this. However, we have brought out several other media members and coaches on here at times and this has become- by all intents and purposes- a dream blog.
Since the other "open forum" medium in town- talk radio- does not have any teeth- this is it.
It's also the reason why Mullins hates me. Without these boards football would have been completely buried and people would still want George Pitts to be the ETSU basketball coach.
If you're not aware- I had covered ETSU- usually on my own dime- since 1996 as a radio reporter, then as a columnist for Sports Talk- back when that meant something.
They quit credentialling me when Mullins took over because he knew how critical I was of dropping football.
I basically was never told why they did this to me- but there were two main items of speculation.
One- A post I made on a board about Tim Mullins.
I have no real idea who Tim Mullins is. I never met him.
I do remember writing a column critical of him when he was involved in taking away critical placards from the student section during a basketball game.
The fact of the matter is whatever I said about Mullins- and I challenge anyone to produce it (it's probably still up there)- was tounge in cheek. Furthermore, since when do you take away a reporter's credentials because of something he says in jest on a forum such as this?
Two- The real reason- what Mike White told me when I asked for credentials and he said- off the record- that it was because of the comments I made on forums like this.
So, in other words, Bill Meade can criticize ETSU for playing football games indoors and hiring Ed DeChellis over George Pitts- and even program Science Hill games over ETSU at one point- and they'll make him the PBP man when Jay is in Iraq.
But I can't be critical of destroying the athletic program in a private forum.
I see.
But there is a parallel here to what Mullins did to me and what the Royals did to these two reporters. Both losing athletic entities embarassed themselves and reacted to reporters who challenged their incompetence.
We also saw how gutless the Tri-Cities media is for not picking up on my plight and rallying to my defense. So instead we see Kelly Hodge ignoring it and writing the company line in his columns where he interviews David Mullins and lets him have a forum unchecked with no other sources quoted.
What is ETSU going to do if he doesn't mail in his coverage of the team? Quit credentialing him?
HO! HO! You want to talk about the move that would cut off their nose to spite their face- assuming Hodge wouldn't say "I'm sorry. Yes Mr. Mullins- I'll send Joe Avento."
I dont have a current forum to cover ETSU. To tell you the truth I'm not looking for one. So being credentialed or not being credentialed doesn't mean a whole lot to me right now. It did then from a professional standpoint, it doesn't now.
But I write this post because we all know how incompetent the Royals are. And the Football Foundation is going to need all the help they can get to put down the demons that would doom them.
So here's my part. The Royals-ETSU comparison is valid.
Only the Royals fell to reach this point. David Mullins-led ETSU began here and then just went lower.
Their sin was presenting tough questioning at a press conference.
This is absurd and many organizations have gone to bat for them, but it reminds me what David Mullins did for me.
I realize it is a bit odd for a guy in the media to post on here like this. However, we have brought out several other media members and coaches on here at times and this has become- by all intents and purposes- a dream blog.
Since the other "open forum" medium in town- talk radio- does not have any teeth- this is it.
It's also the reason why Mullins hates me. Without these boards football would have been completely buried and people would still want George Pitts to be the ETSU basketball coach.
If you're not aware- I had covered ETSU- usually on my own dime- since 1996 as a radio reporter, then as a columnist for Sports Talk- back when that meant something.
They quit credentialling me when Mullins took over because he knew how critical I was of dropping football.
I basically was never told why they did this to me- but there were two main items of speculation.
One- A post I made on a board about Tim Mullins.
I have no real idea who Tim Mullins is. I never met him.
I do remember writing a column critical of him when he was involved in taking away critical placards from the student section during a basketball game.
The fact of the matter is whatever I said about Mullins- and I challenge anyone to produce it (it's probably still up there)- was tounge in cheek. Furthermore, since when do you take away a reporter's credentials because of something he says in jest on a forum such as this?
Two- The real reason- what Mike White told me when I asked for credentials and he said- off the record- that it was because of the comments I made on forums like this.
So, in other words, Bill Meade can criticize ETSU for playing football games indoors and hiring Ed DeChellis over George Pitts- and even program Science Hill games over ETSU at one point- and they'll make him the PBP man when Jay is in Iraq.
But I can't be critical of destroying the athletic program in a private forum.
I see.
But there is a parallel here to what Mullins did to me and what the Royals did to these two reporters. Both losing athletic entities embarassed themselves and reacted to reporters who challenged their incompetence.
We also saw how gutless the Tri-Cities media is for not picking up on my plight and rallying to my defense. So instead we see Kelly Hodge ignoring it and writing the company line in his columns where he interviews David Mullins and lets him have a forum unchecked with no other sources quoted.
What is ETSU going to do if he doesn't mail in his coverage of the team? Quit credentialing him?
HO! HO! You want to talk about the move that would cut off their nose to spite their face- assuming Hodge wouldn't say "I'm sorry. Yes Mr. Mullins- I'll send Joe Avento."
I dont have a current forum to cover ETSU. To tell you the truth I'm not looking for one. So being credentialed or not being credentialed doesn't mean a whole lot to me right now. It did then from a professional standpoint, it doesn't now.
But I write this post because we all know how incompetent the Royals are. And the Football Foundation is going to need all the help they can get to put down the demons that would doom them.
So here's my part. The Royals-ETSU comparison is valid.
Only the Royals fell to reach this point. David Mullins-led ETSU began here and then just went lower.
