Blackistone: Coaching hires prove NFL discriminates

[AbeBeta]

Impossible! He can't be more qualified, can he? (gasp) Because that would go a long way towards discrediting these cries of discrimination. But I'm sure the Rams went in there with their minds made up already.

I think the issue is that measuring qualifications is a judgement call --- and often when forced to make these judgements people favor member of their own ethnic groups -- about 35 years of science backs up that claim.

And if "qualifications" are so important why does Eric Magini with a whole year of experience have a head coaching job when more experienced black coaches don't?

 

[superpunk]

Of course you know for a fact they didn't....................

Of course you know for a fact they did......

see how that pointless speculation goes round and round? It's just as pointless as ASSUMING that race has ANYTHING to do with the head coaching hirings. I could list several reasons there are more white head coaches selected, but the most blatantly obvious is the one that is glossed over in favor of "discrimination." The fact is, for whatever reason, there are more white football coaches to choose from. Which presents more qualified candidates, so of course the ratio is gonna favor white coaches. It only makes sense.

 

[aikemirv]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2297806

It is believed the decision came down to Linehan over Cameron, as Rams officials had come to believe in the last few days that a coach with an offensive background would best fit their team. Rivera met last week with the Rams and, while he was said to have been impressive, he was not as detailed as the others in his ideas for staffing.

The consensus around the NFL earlier Wednesday was that Linehan and Cameron were very close in the running as the Rams continued to deliberate the strengths and weaknesses of all the candidates. During an informal brainstorming session among team officials last week, Linehan rated as the most impressive candidate.

That one sentence is more proof than Blackistone put in his entire column - except it is proving the opposite of what he is trying to prove with his "observation".

What do you know, this writer actually has some form of statement from an owner or team as to why one person did or did not get a job. If he does not have that info from a source within the organization then I am wrong but it looks like he researched it.

 

[superpunk]

And if "qualifications" are so important why does Eric Magini with a whole year of experience have a head coaching job when more experienced black coaches don't?

Without knowing the Jets full set of reasons for hiring him, it's pointless for me to speculate. I think it's a little ridiculous to intimate discrimination on the part of the Jets organization, though, when they've had a black head coach for the last five years. Mangini has good pedigree. Many didn't regard him as that big of a step down from Crennel. My guess is that's how the Jets felt.

 

[Kilyin]

Now that is just ignorant -- considering that just about everything in this country is WHITE oriented. Minority groups need these things to establish their own identities in a country that far too often pays more attention to what the majority group is doing.

When I was in elementary school in the 70's our U.S. history books mentioned two blacks -- MLK and George Washington Carver. If you didn't have the dominant culture refusing to recognize the contributions of other groups then you wouldn't need stuff like black history month to make everyone aware. Every freaking month of the year is White history month.

And affrimative action -- that is not a "black" thing. In fact, many policies focus much more on gender discrimination.

This isn't the 70s, and I can tell you that in the 80s alot more blacks were mentioned in the history books than the two you mentioned. That shows efforts being made to correct mistakes of the past. There is no "dominant culture" refusing to recognize the contributions of minorities. In fact, I see concessions being made everywhere for the purpose of recognizing them. Perhaps even going a little overboard and creating more discrimination.

And don't give me your hyperbole about every other month is "White History Month". That's a crock. There is no "White History Month" because if there were, well I think we both know what would happen.

I'm aware that Affirmative Action encompasses more than one race, but why was it originally implemented, and why is it still in effect?

 

[AbeBeta]

Without knowing the Jets full set of reasons for hiring him, it's pointless for me to speculate. I think it's a little ridiculous to intimate discrimination on the part of the Jets organization, though, when they've had a black head coach for the last five years. Mangini has good pedigree. Many didn't regard him as that big of a step down from Crennel. My guess is that's how the Jets felt.

Then what are these "qualfications" you refer to? Surely amount of time as a coordinator would be a "qualfication" --- I certainly don't think the Jets discriminated -- they have one of the better minority hiring records in the league -- meaning they've actually hired one in the past. My point here is that you can say "oh, this person is just more qualified" all you like -- but measuring qualifications is something that is a judgement call -- and when you have a judgement call like that, the people making the decisions tend to favor people more like them.

 

[WV Cowboy]

No one has denied whites the opportunity on the field.

Not so fast.

I have really never told many people this but I believe that the "perception" that the black athlete is always going to be better has cost a few white guys the chance to be a RB in college and the pros.

Hear me out on this.

Remember guys like Walt Garrison, Dan Reeves, Larry Czonka, Jim Kick, etc. I am sure there are others but I can't recall.

They were real good RB's. But since they probably weren't going to be as exciting as guys like Gale Sayers or OJ, they were phased out.

But they were real good and helped their teams win.

Since then, the white RB has become almost non-existent because they are always considered inferior to the black RB.

The perception is that the prototype black RB is faster and shiftier, and would naturally be the better back, and in many cases I am sure that is true.

The white RB does't get a chance much beyond high school, and I guarantee some would have turned out to be very good, look at Mike Allstot.

I see some at the collegiate level, and I see them being very good NFL backs, but because they aren't seen as a RB that can take it to the house, they aren't given a chance.

I am sure many many white RB's would have been much better RB's than Hambrick and some others.

So I think some whites have been denied the opportunity on the field.

 

[AbeBeta]

And don't give me your hyperbole about every other month is "White History Month". That's a crock. There is no "White History Month" because if there were, well I think we both know what would happen.

I still don't understand how events that raise awareness about other groups that don't get the sort of "coverage" in the mass media is a problem for you.

Son, I want you to turn on your TV tonight. I want you to go from channel to channel on all the major networks during primetime -- I want you to count the White folks on the shows and the minorities. Then you come back here and tell me that you were wrong about there being no "dominant culture" failing to recognize others.

and AA, as per the executive order focused on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

 

[Kilyin]

I still don't understand how events that raise awareness about other groups that don't get the sort of "coverage" in the mass media is a problem for you.

Son, I want you to turn on your TV tonight. I want you to go from channel to channel on all the major networks during primetime -- I want you to count the White folks on the shows and the minorities. Then you come back here and tell me that you were wrong about there being no "dominant culture" failing to recognize others.

and AA, as per the executive order focused on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

Don't call me son, my father passed away in 2002.

What the hell does channel surfing have to do with recognizing minority achievements? Nothing.

I'll tell you this much, if I decide to channel surf, I won't find any exclusively white networks, but I bet I'll see a few exclusively black ones. And yes, I do have a problem with that. If the crusade for more recognition in regards to minorities involves labeling something as exclusive to one race, then I want no part of it, because all that does is compound the problem. Alienation of other races creates and breeds discrimination and racism. If you can't see that, you're blind.

 

[Charles]

Of course you know for a fact they did......

see how that pointless speculation goes round and round?

I totally agree. There is no way knowing exactly why a certain person was hired or not hired unless your the individual making the final call.

It's just as pointless as ASSUMING that race has ANYTHING to do with the head coaching hirings.

You'd be correct if the results reflex otherwise. The results have shown that white males are more likley to get a Head Coaching or prominent front office job (like GM etc) over minorities.
There is absolutely no way that you or any of those people who make the final decision can say factual that ALL those white males whom have acquired or got those opportunities were more qualified.

I could list several reasons there are more white head coaches selected, but the most blatantly obvious is the one that is glossed over in favor of "discrimination." The fact is, for whatever reason, there are more white football coaches to choose from. Which presents more qualified candidates, so of course the ratio is gonna favor white coaches. It only makes sense.

No it doesn't make sense. There have been just as many, minority assistant coaches as there are white male assistant coaches over the years.

The facts are that as you go up the pyramid minorities tend disappear...........Ever wonder why their are "more" white football coaches to chose from. Look at the roots.........the fruits rarely if ever give the entire story.

Are you telling me that over the past century more white football coaches have been hired because they have factually been proven to be more qualified. We are talking about history. By your birth date I can see how you could live in a utopia world and harbor that reasoning.

The facts are the ratio of minorities to white males in sports is in favor of the minorities, but the ratio is significantly reversed once we get into upper echelon jobs in Sports. That is why the Rooney rule was created.

 

[JIGGYFLY]

Don't call me son, my father passed away in 2002.

What the hell does channel surfing have to do with recognizing minority achievements? Nothing.

I'll tell you this much, if I decide to channel surf, I won't find any exclusively white networks, but I bet I'll see a few exclusively black ones. And yes, I do have a problem with that. If the crusade for more recognition in regards to minorities involves labeling something as exclusive to one race, then I want no part of it, because all that does is compound the problem. Alienation of other races creates and breeds discrimination and racism. If you can't see that, you're blind.

There are no exclusive black channels either, There are channels that cater to a
certain demographic like ESPN, Nickelodian, lifetime, MTV etc and for your information I gurantee there are more white veiwers of BET than black. Why exactly does a show that caters to black audience bother you so much. These Black things you noted earlier should not alienate anyone I was not alienated because there were no black people on Happy Days

 

[Kilyin]

There are no exclusive black channels either, There are channels that cater to a
certain demographic like ESPN, Nickelodian, lifetime, MTV etc and for your information I gurantee there are more white veiwers of BET than black. Why exactly does a show that caters to black audience bother you so much. These Black things you noted earlier should not alienate anyone I was not alienated because there were no black people on Happy Days

I've watched BET quite a bit. I'm not talking about the audiences, I'm talking about the actors/actresses. I never once saw an actor that wasn't black. Happy Days at least had Pat Morita. None of the other channels you mentioned feature one race exclusively and declare it in the channel name. How is that not discrimination?

 

[Alexander]

I gurantee there are more white veiwers of BET than black.

:laugh2:

 

[Tio]

And if "qualifications" are so important why does Eric Magini with a whole year of experience have a head coaching job when more experienced black coaches don't?

More experienced white coaches were turned down too you know.