Super Bowl Week: Psssst…Did You Hear About the Two African-American Coaches?
Posted January 30th, 2007 by George Thomas
Yup, I come back from vacation only to have to look outside at a foot of snow; I do so love Northeast Ohio - seriously.
Of course I'd much rather be in Miami right now for a little shindig known as the Super Bowl, but that's not about to happen. I'll have to be content to impart my wisdom from afar - in 20 degree weather.
Oh where do I start? Oh, wait. For those of you who didn't realize it. I'm what is known as African-American. In my short 41 years I remember being called Negro, colored, black and now, yes, African-American. Gee, there's something to be said for variety. Why do I bring this up? Well, in case you have been living in some remote cave in the mountains of Colorado, we have not one, but two African-American coaches in the Super Bowl. And, yes, this fact has been played up by the media, the group to which I belong.
Do I have a problem with it? Somewhat because it only reinforces the belief that some people still living in the 1930s still think - what a shock!!! They must be the exception to the rule!!!
But I can also see the other side of this, having grown up with darker skin. It is a momentous occasion -one that's taken far too long for the NFL - and it deserves recognition. That being said, a tip of the hat to the Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers for The Rooney Rule, which requires at least one minority candidate to be interviewed for a head coaching vacancy. Notice that it only requires an interview. In spirit, it opens doors that's it. It doesn't require a hiring.
But funny things happen when you open doors to people you might not have before - you actually find that you like their company. That's what happened with the Steelers when they granted Mike Tomlin an audience. Tomlin, a promising 34-year-old defensive coordinator witht the Minnesota Vikings, knocked Steelers management off their feet and boom! (to be Maddenesque) he had the gig. It was about opportunity - not charity.
That's why what Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith have accomplished merits some attention this week. They've further shattered decades - maybe centuries - old stereotypes both regarding ethnicity and with respect to the way sports coaches should behave.
However, it's the first time we've dealt with the issue and it should be the last. Why? Because their success should make it a non-issue.
January 31st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
It's easy to forget that Dungy was regularly passed over for jobs, barely over a decade ago. If he wins a Super Bowl or two, he should be remembered as a very important figure in NFL history. He helped Tomlin, Smith and Herm Edwards get head coaching jobs and in ten short years has helped make it almost a non-issue. Dungy's a great role model for anyone and you almost have to root for him. I used to live in Tampa and he could run for mayor and easily win there.
January 31st, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Larry:
Some people like to claim we've not made progress with respect to racial tolerance and relations. In the past two decades alone I've seen progress, significant progress. Part of me is just shocked that there is discussion of it.