Why is Brian Mitchell Relevant?
There are so many questions that arise out of the apparent beef between Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and former Redskin turned media member Brian Mitchell, a man who apparently has license to refer to himself in the third person, and enough clout to be referred to as “B-Mitch.”
The D.C. Sports Bog chronicles their on-air tiff this afternoon if you care to read some of the heated exchange, but what was said is not the issue. What’s at issue is the fact Mitchell, well-past his glory days of being a kickoff return specialist, is now trying to make the most of his media “career” to be a star.
And much like his playing career, he just doesn’t have star quality.
People debate who was better between Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Joe Montana and John Elway. You ever heard anybody debating who was a better special teams player between Brian Mitchell and Eric Metcalf? Didn’t think so. Is special teams important? Is it a notable aspect of the sport? Absolutely, when Devin Hester has run one back and you are rewinding the TiVo for your homeboy that just made the beer run.
So while “B-Mitch’s” stats may be gaudy, they are anonymous in the stat-obsessed sports world. And if you are relatively anonymous, should you really try to create yourself to be more than that?
No. You take lessons well learned from high school and play your position. Brian Mitchell carved out a career and a small fortune playing a position that suited him well, so to turn it all over now for a chance to make his jealousy and envy apparent to fans over the airwaves is hateration in its purest form.
Why hate on Clinton Portis? Because he’s been one of the most productive backs in NFL history in his brief career? Because he’s a major part of the Redskins success? Or because his gritty portrayal of Southeast Jerome is the stuff stars are made of?
In either case, the entire New School-needs-to-respect-the-Old-School mentality is so played out. Brian Mitchell had his time, and the fact that he’s trying to create more of it in his new life as a media member shows just how dissatisfied he was with how his previous life as an NFL player turned out.
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Thing is….it was “B-Mitch’s” career which allowed him to become a local media figure.
But to me, we must separate what he did as a player versus what is acceptable for him to do as a member of the media.
Now, I’ll admit that I don’t often view Mitchell’s work, so I can’t really attest to how successful a media figure he actually is…but, it all comes with the territory.
Media folk criticize, players don’t like it all the time, and we blog about it.
[...] which is an excellent companion to the interview itself, and The Player Hater’s Ball and Stet Sports [...]
[...] which is an excellent companion to the interview itself, and The Player Hater’s Ball and Stet Sports [...]
[...] which is an excellent companion to the interview itself, and The Player Hater’s Ball and Stet Sports [...]
Criticism is one thing. Going on someone’s personality or commitment is something totally different.
B-Mitch may think that because other journalists do it, its the appropriate way to conduct himself. But if you don’t have access to coaching staffs, league contacts, or other insight that validates your perspective, you might as well be on the stoop with the rest of us Sunday evening with a brew in hand.
I totally understand both sides of this ongoing argument. Perhaps B-Mitch should go into coaching so that he can impart his considerable knowledge in such a critical way without having it so publicly debated. Perhaps Clinton should ignore what B-Mitch says about him and to continue to do what he does on the field. No one can argue that Clinton gives everything he has on every play during a game. The 84 yards against the Giants were spectacular to me, because I guarantee that not many backs could gain that many against that defense the way they played in that game. Either way, if Clinton respects Big John like he says he does, he shouldn’t have sullied his show with this whole argument and perhaps stepped to B-Mitch “like a man”. Perhaps the issue could have been squashed before it became such a blow-up.
To me, its on B-Mitch to be an objective analyst, and not use his platform to come off holier than thou.
I’ll also say that Mitchell could have been more professional instead of getting gully with it.
[...] Daniel Snyder, Brian Mitchell doesn’t have a job on ESPN 980, Clinton Portis’ pockets would not be straight, and Chris Cooley is nothing more than a D.C. [...]
[...] exposed the calamity of the pairing when Mitchell showed his lack of savvy and professionalism in last year’s on-air clash with Clinton Portis. Mitchell’s ‘former player’ perspective offered little more than “show some [...]
[...] was one thing when it was Brian Mitchell; his entire career has been built on running his mouth, and fortunately, [...]