A.P. runs hit piece on Mulkey

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Just when you think Kim Mulkey can’t go any lower, the LSU coach manages to defy expectations. After an ugly brawl broke out in the closing minutes of the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game, Mulkey’s lack of class and character revealed itself again as soon as she spoke up. Instead of taking the high road — a route that rarely has been on Mulkey’s map throughout her storied career — she essentially called out rival South Carolina for not picking on someone its own size. “No one wants to be a part of that. No one wants to see that ugliness,” Mulkey said. “But I can tell you this: I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese.” In Mulkey’s warped view, that would have been more of a fair fight, since Reese is 6-3 and closer in size to Cardoso The more proper response came from South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who was downright appalled at what she had witnessed on what should’ve been a day of celebration for her sport. Back to Mulkey, who seemed to think the root of the problem was the referees swallowing their whistles. “Do you realize there was only one foul called on each team with two minutes to play in the fourth quarter?” Mulkey said. “Are you kidding me? That might have created some of that.” That’s utter nonsense, of course, but it’s hardly the first time Mulkey’s moral compass has pointed in the wrong direction. After all, this is a coach who — despite a glittering record that includes more than 700 wins and four national titles — never has seemed like a champion for women’s sports. She failed to publicly support perhaps the greatest player she’s ever coached, Brittney Griner, after the former Baylor star was arrested on trumped-up charges in Russia and essentially used as a political pawn by President Vladimir Putin. Maybe Mulkey was still perturbed at Griner, who is gay, for saying that the then-Baylor coach told players not to be open about their sexuality because it would hurt recruiting and look bad for her program. After moving on herself to LSU, Mulkey gave a glimpse of how little she really seems to care about the women she coaches. She called on the NCAA to halt testing for COVID-19 at both the men’s and women’s Final Four in 2021 — even while the world was still in grips of a pandemic that has killed more than a million Americans and many times more around the globe. Mulkey was back to spouting more nonsense on Sunday, which only solidified what we’ve long known. As a basketball coach, she’s one of the best ever. As a leader of young people, she leaves a lot to be desired.

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