Comments on: NO WAY TO RUN A COLOR BLIND SOCIETY

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:44:20 +0000

P.S. You know what I find remarkable? That Dennis Green has been fired twice, and I have heard no mention that he was let go because he was black. He was let go because his teams weren’t very good. In short, he was judged on his merits, not his skin color.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:42:20 +0000

I don’t understand the tone of this piece. Like Mike Ulrich, I read and enjoy your work every day. Instead of seeing the glass half full (like Lovie would), you insist on describing the glass as empty, and cracked to boot.

Success stories are just that, not opportunities to berate the circumstances of that success. Black quarterbacks are no longer a curiosity in the NFL, they are fast becoming a staple. In short, not many people think about a quarterback’s race any more. I thought that was what a color-blind society would look like.

The NFL owners are a good-ole boy network. So what? They exist everywhere. Coaching vacancies often get filled by some of the usual suspects. When more of the usual suspects are black, then more black coaches will be hired (and fired) routinely. The current policy requiring token interviews by minorities is insulting to everyone, because many of those interviews are just that, tokens.

Belittling real progress toward an admirable goal is not helpful.

By: Rick Moran

Rick Moran — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:01:37 +0000

My point about Young and Vick helping to change the dynamic of how we look at black quarterbacks was poorly made. I should have added that in the past, either one of those two QB’s would have entered the NFL and could have been turned into receivers or DB’s.

Better example might be Culpepper or Leftwich - two serviceable pros who will never make the Hall of Fame.

By: worknonjoy

worknonjoy — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:51:33 +0000

“The dirty little secret in the NFL and, in all professional sports save perhaps the NBA, is not the success of Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith but rather of all black head coaches. In fact, black coaches are more successful as a group than the average. Why is that? Itâ€™s because the secret that is whispered in the halls of power in the NFL and the various teams is that in order to be hired in the first place, an African American coaching candidate must be better than the white candidate.

The same held true for years regarding black quarterbacks and still does to some extent although players like Vince Young and Michael Vick are rapidly changing that dynamic.”

Exactly how is Vince Young changing the dynamic? Is he less talented, and now teams can take less talented black QB’s? Having trouble following your logic.

By: Homer

Homer — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:24:20 +0000

Before you assume rampant racism in the NFL, perhaps we should look at the pool of applicants available. Where do head coaches come from? Some are groomed as assistants, some are former college coaches, and I’m sure there are other ways. If there are fewer minority coaches available in the hiring pool, it is not surprising that there are fewer minority heach coaches hired. As more minorities come up through the trenches, I think we will see more minority head coaches. Before we completely ream the good ol’ boy club of owners, we might want to look at who colleges and high schools are hiring, too. Problems like this are seldom simple to fix.

By: Mike Ulrich

Mike Ulrich — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:04:34 +0000

Wow. Rick, what side of the aisle are you on? First, I’m happy Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith are in (GO BEARS). But the lack of black head coaches in the NFL is not some conspiracy to keep the pockets of rich, white males filled and the black man down. Is YOUR white guilt getting to you. Heck, until this weekend, Coach Dungy had the reputation of not producing in the post season with talented teams. Is this because he’s black? No. For whatever reason, Tony’s teams choked in the post season. Not this year. So, did Tony get an extra shot of black to help push him over the hump and into the Super Bowl? I understand there has been bad (horrible) white coaches (see Jauron, Dick with the Bears and Mularkey, Mike who Dick replaced at the Bills). But to imply a black coach would have done or should have done better or at least given a chance is hindsight. But, you want to bring color into football. Those 35 football players arrested for various degrees of stupidity, how many were black. Let me guess, there’s white men behind that too. We’re opening up a huge can of worms. I can go on and on. Should we feel sorry for the players who get “rode like cheap horses” for big bucks and retire/get released broke because the market for used bling and Escalades is weak? What, no national health care plan for the superstar and subpar players who have the potential to make millions? Maybe, like responsible adults, they should plan for the future. Most of these guys went to college, right? They should know, right? HA. Mr. Upshaw’s right. If it is such a problem, have the current guys vote something in. But, they’re too busy looking for the next big paycheck.
Rick, I read your posts everyday. I almost always agree with your points. This affirmative action stuff, no way. Like Mr. King said,”… not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Enough said. Lovie Smith is a good head coach, who just happens to be black. GO BEARS!

By: Seth Charnes

Seth Charnes — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:48:10 +0000

Rick:

Outstanding persective on the NFL.

Please note that Jews also use the term “Common Era” not just agnostics.

Thank you.

By: Kim Priestap

Kim Priestap — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:30:16 +0000

Good post, Rick.