Mailbagg™ is normally a cute place, but Pacers VP Danny Lopez unleashed an attack ad so...

The Mailbagg™ is generally a place for cuteness and personality. My personality can be cute, is my point, and I get to show that side of me in Mailbagg™ . See that trademark there? Cute!

But along comes a story like Pacers executive Danny Lopez – whom I considered a friend until this week; who knows now? – putting out a vicious, anti-transgender ad to get political points in his campaign for Indiana House District 39 in Hamilton County. I wrote my thoughts, and here's a spoiler alert:

When someone combines hypocrisy and hate, my thoughts are going to be angry.

Long story short? Mailbagg isn’t feeling cute this week. Mailbagg is feeling angry. So are a lot of you – and some of you are a lot angry with me.

Let’s get to it.

Doyel in his lane: Pacers, Fever have a problem on their hands named Danny Lopez

From: Scott G.

Stay in your lane Doyel.

My lane? Supporting the least vulnerable of us – that's my lane. Just because your lane has lots of traffic doesn’t mean it’s headed in the right direction. You’re lost, Scott.

From: Ms. F

Thank you, Gregg. I'm a mother of a trans daughter, and it means a lot to have someone like you speak up on this.

My heart goes out to you and your girl, Ms. F. Please tell her this from me: Angry people make the loudest noise – but there are so many kind, gentle people out here who would love to know her.

From: Gregory W.

Wow, are you the biggest idiot? You are saying there is no difference between helping SUPPLIERS and tilting the field for actual athletes.

Math is logic, Gregory, and I’m betting the house you got poor grades in math.

From: Mike H.

Thank you. Hypocrisy needs to be called out. Hopefully Danny Lopez decides to answer your follow-up questions. His choice. Then our choice.

Indeed, he made his choice to hop down into the meanest gutter in politics. Now we get to decide – at the polls, and with our pocketbooks – if we like the way this Pacers executive smells.

'Lopez’s campaign has nothing to do with you'

From: Ms. M.

I work at a nonprofit that provides services to LGBTQ+ youth – and am the parent of a trans teen. I can tell you, personally and professionally, that those statistics you cited about depression and suicidality in gender-diverse teens are very real. Thank you for calling this out, and shame on Lopez for stooping to this level. Now that his race is getting closer, he's just bullying the easiest and most vulnerable target of all – trans teens.

I think you’re terrific – and thank you for supporting some of the most vulnerable kids among us. And for being what sounds like a heck of a mom.

From: David T.

I love you enough to tell you I think you’re overreacting on this one. I believe (Lopez) thinks biological-born males have physical advantages even after transitioning – that’s what he cares about. I don't think he hates trans people. I disagree with his opinion, but not that hard.

His ad has a girl calling trans girls “boys.” That’s hurtful at a level I’d call hateful. Surely you can see THAT. Think what you want on this issue, but when you put it on a TV commercial? That becomes public cruelty.

And thank you David, for the first sentence. Truly.

From: John M.

I think it's possible to be an LGBTQ supporter AND to oppose athletes born as men participating in women's sports. But making up an opponent's position just so you can pretend to object to it, especially in the insensitive language of that ad, is both hurtful AND dirty politics. Proud of you for weighing in on a subject that will undoubtedly get you some troll action .

You’re awfully reasonable, John. You lost?

From: Scott G.

Do you live in House District 39?

Nope.

From: Scott G.

Then Danny Lopez's campaign has nothing to do with you.

And therein lies the crux of your cruelty: Caring only about issues where you have a personal stake. I’d remind you of former Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who voted against gay marriage for years … until his son came out as gay. Then, Sen. Portman supported gay marriage.

Why should someone have to sit at the family dinner table for us to see their humanity?

From: Jason G.

I agree with you and MAN hope I am wrong, but the hate you’re going to receive on this … takes (courage) to write it.

The day could come, Jason, when fear stops me from writing what I believe. But it didn’t come today.

Palate cleanser, courtesy of Colts

The Colts are secretive to the point of brazen silliness when it comes to the health of quarterback Anthony Richardson – they’re so transparently unhelpful, coach Shane Steichen is smiling at us as he refuses to give us information – so I had some fun with it last week. I went around the locker room to ask players about the benefits of deception, nicely pushed Richardson for details, and even asked Joe Flacco a teasing question: “Do you ever get worried about spilling the beans?”

The story was clearly playful to the point of being lighthearted, and I ended it by pondering the question – who starts the next game, Richardson or Flacco? – and answering this way:

“Don’t know. And even if I did, why would I tell you ?”

From: Sid B:

Your last sentence. 😂

Creating a story is its own form of art, as I say – wait, have I said that yet? – and that column was an exercise in absurdism. Think: Andy Warhol.

From: Bob P:

What?!?

"Don’t know. And even if I did, why would I tell YOU?"

We are your "people." Or we aren't...

And you’re over there wondering why Andy Warhol would waste his time painting a can of Campbell’s soup.

Doyel: Nobody's lying about Colts QB Anthony Richardson, but nobody's telling full truth either

Hey look, more on the Lopez column

From: Mark P.

PLEASE stay out of politics. There are fans on both sides of politics, so you can't play favorites without alienating a sizeable segment of your own fan base. Sports is for everyone, and I mean everyone, and a place to forget what divides for a few hours. Please don't ruin the arena.

Nope. The stakes on this story in particular – the stakes are life or death – are too big, and my opinions are too heartfelt, to sit this one out for your sake. No offense, but I’ve got to sleep at night.

From: David M.

I happen to have been in Gainbridge Fieldhouse today, down in the basement using their recording studio in a very non-public space. I noted to a colleague that the restroom was marked "all genders." At their heart, the Pacers organization is inclusive.

Yup, Pacers Sports & Entertainment has been a leader on social issues, and some of that has been spearheaded by one of its vice presidents, a man named … let’s see … Danny Lopez.

And I’m supposed to sit this story out? Seriously?

From: Paul M.

Are trans kids actually an issue in high school sports? Or are politicians like Danny Lopez villainizing a few kids for a wedge issue?

… and bingo was his name, oh.

From: Bill L.

I like reading your text messages and/or columns but I wish you wouldn't go into the politics. Yes you do have your right to your opinion and I have mine. Mine is to read the ones that are strictly on sport .

Then read the columns that are strictly on sports.

From: Kirt H.

Please remove me from your text list. I appreciate and agree with a lot of your sports takes, but since you decided to take a political stand that I so firmly disagree with, I will no longer be following you.

I respect this more than being asked to ignore a story to protect your feelings.

From: Phil S.

Not sure how I personally stand. But kudos for a fair and useful overview. I like having you around.

Your first two sentences: Impressive. Your final sentence? The feeling’s mutual, Phil.

Palate cleanser: Not printing these

From: Rejeana P.

Good article on Purdue’s loss. A little long but good.

That story was less than 1,300 words. My average game column runs about 1,500. This one was a little SHORT but good. Ahem.

Anyway, I’m a rhythm writer. My goal is pace, and for the reader to get through my way too long stories without realizing they’re that long. Homer wrote long poems. Epic poems, you call those. I’m an epic writer, Rejeana.

What.

Doyel on Purdue's loss: Purdue finds its quarterback, pulse and dignity in wild OT loss at No. 23 Illinois

From: John B.

“Onsides" kick in the Purdue game? Is that a typo? Or are you in the camp of those that incorrectly call an onside kick "onsides?

I don’t say Krogers or Walmarts. Did I just do it with onside(s)? Is that incorrect?!? Let me go to Google, plug in “onsides kick” and see what comes up…

From: Google

Did you mean “ onside kick ”?

Pipe down, Google. Not in the mood today.

From: Howard L.

Shouldn't you get a tryout at cornerback for the Colts?

Hahaha HOWARD!!! This'll get you in the weekly Mailbagg every time. But to note, neither of the two sports where I earned all-state honors in Georgia was football. It was baseball and soccer! Then again, I wasn’t all-state in boxing but have a 4-1 record as an amateur.

Did play youth football, but never cornerback. I was the quarterback, because that’s where the best athletes play.

From: Ron D.

Making friends again today with that column on Gus Bradley. You've got grit, brother. Hope it doesn't jump up and bite you.

Just writing what I believe, and letting the chips fall where they may. Most people seem to have a line where they’ll back away from a topic out of self-preservation. If I have a line ... I've not found it yet.

Speaking of, let’s end this Mailbagg with – why not – more on the Danny Lopez column.

Doyel on Gus Bradley: Colts defensive coordinator owes his career to Seattle's Legion of Boom

'I’m not some MAGA nut case'

From: Randy C.

I see nothing hypocritical about Danny Lopez’s two positions. They’re not mutually exclusive. Trans women are not excluded – they simply have to play on the men's team. Do you really want women's sports to be about marginal male athletes transitioning (at taxpayer expense mind you) to become star athletes on the women's side? By the way I voted Democrat in the last five presidential elections, in case you're thinking I'm some MAGA nut case.

What I don't want, as I tried to make clear in the story, is someone to use trans kids – real people with really hard lives – as red meat to awake the voting base. To me that’s not just irresponsible, but reprehensible.

From: KC

The Zach Edey article was good. Lopez article wasn't. No need to share that one.

You like a story: It's good.You don't like a story: I shouldn't share it.

Arrogance, thy initials are "KC."

From: Matthew S.

Stick to sports Gregg.

Throw a stick into the night, and whoever yelps is the one you hit.

From: Jeff B.

I am driving or otherwise unavailable. I’ll return your message soon

Yippee. Can’t wait.

Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/greggdoyelstar .

More: Join the text conversation with sports columnist Gregg Doyel for insights, reader questions and Doyel's peeks behind the curtain.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mailbagg™ is normally a cute place, but Pacers VP Danny Lopez unleashed an attack ad so...