Black Sunday
As everyone has heard countless times over the past two weeks, when Tony Dungy’s Indianapolis Colts meet Lovie Smith’s Chicago Bears in today’s Super Bowl, it will be the first one ever to feature a black head coach. It will also be the first Super Bowl featuring two black head coaches.
Lost in all that, is the fact that this will also be the first Super Bowl won by a black head coach and it will also be the first time a black head coach loses the Super Bowl.
Seriously, why does the NFL seem to try so hard to make it known that blacks are a minority and that they should be treated special? They are the only sports league (perhaps the only organization, period) that requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach. People are getting interviewed because of their skin color. How is that not as bad as not being interviewed because of your skin color?
Why make a big deal over the fact that black head coaches have led their teams to the Super Bowl for the first time ever? Why should it be special? Its not a handicap to be black, is it?
Why can’t we just celebrate the accomplishments of Dungy and Smith because they are honorable men, brilliant football architects and tremendous motivators? Isn’t that enough of a reason to be happy for these two men? Then why should we marvel that they’re mainstream African-Americans who are articulate and bright and clean and nice-looking guys?
Is it possible that minorities continue to struggle opportunistically and financially because we keep reminding them that they’re different? Are we teaching young black children that their color is an obstacle and that they should look up to men like Dungy and Smith because they persevered despite their skin tone?
Nobody looked at Winston Churchill and refered to him as a “great white man” so why look at Dungy and Smith and refer to them as “black coaches”?
February is Black History month. I think its time to make that distinction history. The more we differentiate, the longer we remain different. The goal was always to be equal but it seems that we’re clinging to ’separate but equal’.
By the way, take the Bears and the points. Final score will be Colts 27, Bears 23.
February 4th, 2007 at 9:05 am
you’re THE MAN guapo!
you said it, by pointing out their skin color they are perpetuating racism! i don’t want to be defined by the color of my skin, tits nor twat! labels they mean JACK SHIT! accept me for ME!!
i like you more and more each day, as if that were possible!
February 4th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Blogtien are you jewish?
February 4th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I’m not racist - I hate everyone equally. That levels the playing field substantialy.
February 4th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Tisha: Amen, sister!
r2k: I’m funny and rich, of course I’m Jewish!
Ryan: I knew there was a reason I liked you!
February 4th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
We always confuse race with culture and for the love of me I don’t know why.
We’re taught not to judge a book by its cover, yet it’s the first thing we do. Martin Luther King: we’ve learned nothing in the past 35 years.
February 4th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
“Its not a handicap to be black, is it?….Is it possible that minorities continue to struggle opportunistically and financially because we keep reminding them that they’re different?” Can you have it both ways? Having said that, I think your second point has merit. More attention to the person than the package, in any area of life, would go a long way toward reducing prejudice towards groups.
February 4th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Dave: Those two statements that you quoted are contradictory? I’m trying to figure out how. I trust you, you’re a lawyer, but please explain.
February 4th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Well said… but give the points.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Can’t we all just get along?
February 4th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
this is a preview of my post tomorrow:
Lex is right! What is keeping me and you from understanding one another and sharing what we have instead of fighting over it? Is it survival of the fittest. A meritocracy, theocracy, oligarchy, monarchy, democracy or dictatorship? We live like rats in structures we call buildings, co-ops you get the picture? We were not meant o live this way. Some of us have understood that going to battle is sometimes necessary when someone is trying to annihilate you! That is what the US and Israel have done for the whole Western World with Iraq and does anybody freakin appreciate that? The answer is a BIG fat No! I am for pluralism, the idea that each person, regardless of race, religion, gender, economic status, sexual preference can contribute to the group in an equal manner, perhaps a different manner yet equal.
This is my wish and see that you Lex, Dr. Blogstein, Bond, Anndi, Starr, David, Jenn you all have that and that is why I spend so much time around you folks. You pick my brain, make me reflect and that is why I stick to you.
February 4th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
whoa! Tisha! Calm down, sweetheart. We’re talking football here!
February 4th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
you thought but the underlying message was equality my friend and lover Doc.
February 4th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
But its my message…I decide what we underline and I underline football!
February 4th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Wow! Did I cause that??
February 5th, 2007 at 1:07 am
ha ha Lex yeah it’s all your fault and Doc likes to be in control, well at least he likes to feel he is!
February 5th, 2007 at 2:01 am
its goes along with HAVING to interview a black applicant too. Never let the owner just pick the best guy he thinks e can hire, they have to interview a black applicant, or get fined. All is good in PC world.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:58 am
Well Doc you were close! BUT the Colts did blow them out of the water!!
February 5th, 2007 at 4:16 am
Oh, was their something about both coaches being black? Didn’t notice. However, I did notice CBS’ commercial starting out with the words: “We hear so much about what’s wrong with America.”
Something’s wrong with America?
Couldn’t be, we have two black coaches leading their teams into the Super Bowl. All is dandy.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Anyone else think that black history month ad that showed up around halftime with all the black people and the Duke Ellington (?) music going “We All Won” was so mindblowingly stupid?
What Ryan said is seconded.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Doc,
Trust a lawyer? Come on, that is no way to succeed in life.
Maybe I misread you; but, it seemed to me that you were saying that black people aren’t handicapped by the color of their skin. Some aren’t at all. Some are depending on who they are dealing with. The second sentence implied that the “handicap” is in their mind, to be dismissed if only we, the majority would ignore the differences.
Hell, I don’t know. I think we’re on the same team. Except for the Superbow. I think Lex Luthor and Rex Grossman have a similar split personality problem going. Inept Rex showed up last night.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Dave: I’m either confused by you or confused by me. All I know is that Lovie Smith is the first black coach to ever lose the Super Bowl.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Lovie has one thing going for him - the Falcons chose Jim Mora over him a few years back.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Well, that and he’s named after Mr. Howell’s wife on Gilligan’s Island.