More oportunities?

cat's meow · #1 (**permalink**) 01-21-2007, 11:47 PM

So a Black coach will now win the Superbowl. Does this open the door for GMs to be more inclined to hiring a Black coach and not stay with the good 'ol boy perceived network of coaches?

BTW...I cannot be happier about the Colts making this...for several reasons...Manning was total class act today both in performance and his comments after the game about the Patriots. I am sorry I missed this game and had to work.

Areyouforreal · #2 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 12:06 AM

I hate it when color always has to be a factor, why can't the hire based on performance not race?

cat's meow · #3 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Areyouforreal

I hate it when color always has to be a factor, why can't the hire based on performance not race?

I hate it too. I think both of these men had to overcome a lot to make it this far quite frankly, both the Bears and the Colts gave these guys a fair shot and supplied them with the tools to win. They are two of only five coaches that are Black in the NFL which is poipulated by 70% Black players. There is no requirement or government madate for #s of Black coaches and the coaching ranks have been woefully underrepresentled by Blacks. In no way am I opposing what you say but the owners (IMHO) have been behind the times. Another thought I have is Al Davis was trying to be politically correct by giving Art Shell another chance but did not give him the players to get the job done. Cardinals did not give Deeny Green enough firepower either (I am not sure that was PC thing though). In addition, many bad white coaches get recycled in the system.

So, what does that all mean.

If you are the GM for the Cardinals right now then who is it going to be and how are going to go about hiring someone? Will what goes on with the SB effect your thinking here?

River Ridge · #4 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat's meow

So, what does that all mean.

If you are the GM for the Cardinals right now then who is it going to be and how are going to go about hiring someone? Will what goes on with the SB effect your thinking here?

It's about winning and making money. I would not care what color the coach is, I'd care about his professionalism, knowledge and track record ( in whatever coaching positions he has had)

It's plain as day that both of these men are caring PROFESSIONALS. There are a whole bunch of ex coaches doing TV now and it's quite clear that some of them are NOT professional ( white and black )

While I don't follow football that close, the coach for the Colts has always seemed to be a superior person. Today was the first time I saw anything about the coach for the Bears, but he seems to be very professional also. I think Sean Peyton is among those with the elite professionalism. I don't see color with any of those three, I see superior people.

cat's meow · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River Ridge

It's about winning and making money. I would not care what color the coach is, I'd care about his professionalism, knowledge and track record ( in whatever coaching positions he has had)

It's plain as day that both of these men are caring PROFESSIONALS. There are a whole bunch of ex coaches doing TV now and it's quite clear that some of them are NOT professional ( white and black )

While I don't follow football that close, the coach for the Colts has always seemed to be a superior person. Today was the first time I saw anything about the coach for the Bears, but he seems to be very professional also. I think Sean Peyton is among those with the elite professionalism. I don't see color with any of those three, I see superior people.

The comment was made today that both of these men have gone out of their way to not use profanity and insults with thier players and officials. They really have tried to raise he conduct to a much higher level. What do you think of that?

Areyouforreal · #6 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 02:30 AM

I think that is great. People look up to these coaches and players. They need to act their best.

cat's meow · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 02:51 AM

I found this....

Quote:

Smith, Dungy make history

Associated Press
Posted: 2 hours ago

CHICAGO (AP) - It took 41 years for a black head coach to make it all the way to the Super Bowl.

Lovie Smith did it Sunday on a snowy afternoon in Chicago. Four hours later, his good pal and mentor Tony Dungy joined him. Not one, but two black coaches meeting in the nation's biggest sporting spectacle.
It's historic. And it's about time.

Change has come appallingly slow. But now two of the most decent, deserving men have pushed the NFL forward.

And that is a very good thing.

"It means a lot," Dungy said after his Indianapolis Colts beat New England 38-34 in the AFC title game. "I'm very proud of being an African-American. I'm very proud of Lovie."

And Smith equally so of Dungy.

"We have to play someone and, in my perfect world, I would like to see the Colts be that team," Smith said after his Chicago Bears pummeled the New Orleans Saints 39-14.

"Tony Dungy has done an awful lot for our game," Smith said. "He hasn't had a chance to coach in the Super Bowl. I would love to see it."

Now he will.

It wasn't all that long ago that the NFL's best jobs were off-limits to blacks. Never mind that three-quarters of the league's rosters were filled with black players. Or that there were qualified black assistants. When the time came to hire a new coach, they were passed over, time and again.

Meanwhile, white coaches who had done little to distinguish themselves in their previous jobs got additional chances. It was the old boys' network at its worst.

There's been some progress over the last two decades. It's been far slower than it should have been, and it took an active hand by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue to pull it along.

Art Shell and Dennis Green paved the way in the modern era, and Dungy took it a step further. Low key and humble, he would never be the type to grandstand and bluster about injustice. But he was honest about the league's inequalities, and knew that his success would go a long way in opening doors for others.

One of those would be Smith, Dungy's protege in Tampa Bay. He, too, led by example.

When the Bears and Colts take the field in Miami on Feb. 4, men of color who dream of being in the center on the grandest stages will see that the door has been blown wide open. Men of color who have been held back, told in words or deeds that they weren't good enough, will have not one, but two role models as they fight for equal footing.

"Being the first black coach to lead this team, of course our players knew about it and they wanted to help us make history," Smith said. "So I feel blessed to be in that position.

"I'll feel even better to be the first black coach to hold up the world championship trophy."

If he doesn't, at least he'll have the consolation of knowing Dungy will.

Whether he wanted to be or not, Dungy has long been the standard bearer for minority coaches. He was just 25 when he became the NFL's youngest assistant, taking a job on Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh staff. Three years later, he was the defensive coordinator and the odds-on favorite to advance.

Oh, he got plenty of interviews. But somebody else - somebody white - always got the job.

Smith's odyssey was equally bumpy: Tulsa, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Tampa Bay, St. Louis. Those were only a few of the stops he made in his 20-year journey to become a head coach.

Did both deserve shots before they were hired, Dungy by Tampa Bay in 1996 and Smith by Chicago in January 2004? Certainly. But instead of whining about life being unfair, they have done their part to make sure those who come after them will have an easier path.

"When you have an opportunity like this, of course you want to take advantage of it," Bears running back Thomas Jones said. "Any time you're the first person to do anything, regardless of your race or anything like that, it's special."

Smith and Dungy know the responsibility they carry. Unlike baseball or basketball, it is still news when a team hires a black coach in the NFL. Even bigger news when a black man is hired to run the front office.

With every big victory, they remove another thorn of prejudice.

Smith said before his game that he hopes a day will come when the color of a coach's skin is no longer an issue. That day's not here yet.

But by making history together, Smith and Dungy have brought it a little closer.

River Ridge · #8 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat's meow

The comment was made today that both of these men have gone out of their way to not use profanity and insults with thier players and officials. They really have tried to raise he conduct to a much higher level. What do you think of that?

I sure hope they continue on this path. Hopefully they are setting an example to all new coaches. Sean Payton is the same way. They bring a heavy dose of professionalism to the game that will hopefully continue.

Let's hope that they and any like them are remembered for being sucessful coaches with with a different vision, not because of their color.

Interesting how many people talk more about their color and less about just what great men they are. What a shame.

cat's meow · #9 (**permalink**) 01-22-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River Ridge

I sure hope they continue on this path. Hopefully they are setting an example to all new coaches. Sean Payton is the same way. They bring a heavy dose of professionalism to the game that will hopefully continue.

Let's hope that they and any like them are remembered for being sucessful coaches with with a different vision, not because of their color.

Interesting how many people talk more about their color and less about just what great men they are. What a shame.

The problem is that the NFL owners have been behind the curve and let this become and issue.