2 Black NFL Head Coaches to Superbowl XLI!!!

[Tom Earp]

WOW, more important than who is going to the Super Bowl.

Granted, it is news, but it will be news forever.

So, there were two Men who are Coaches who are Black. It is something that has been to long in coming. So, now lets concentrate on FooseBall and not people!

Oh, who is playing anyway?

[Alpha Sig Scott]

Bears by 7. You heard it here first.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

WOW, more important than who is going to the Super Bowl.

Granted, it is news, but it will be news forever.

So, there were two Men who are Coaches who are Black. It is something that has been to long in coming. So, now lets concentrate on FooseBall and not people!

Oh, who is playing anyway?

Tom,
I don't assume any negative intent in your comment, and I hope you will take this in the spirit in which it is sent, but I do have to say, that yes, it's a BIG DEAL to millions of Americans of color, (African Americans and others, and I would hope, as well to White Americans) and it is worth it to concentrate on "the people" as well as the event.

Our history in America makes it so. Generations before us have grown up in an America that routinely told them that they were were not good enough, not strong enough, not smart enough to be leaders, to rise to the top and to do anything that would be "valued" in America. Our ancestors knew it wasn't true and persisted in advancing and teaching those who would come behind them the fundamental lesson that "hard work, despite the obstacles you face, leads somewhere...."

And so for not one, but two sons of the African Diaspora, to lead their teams to the the biggest event in sports and one of the largest in American society (the Superbowl is annually the most watched event in the nation), yes, it does mean a great deal.

[AlexMack]

I'm cheering for the bears, on account of, screw the Colts and Peyton's ugly and what the hell kind of name is Peyton anyway?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Tom,
I don't assume any negative intent in your comment

Then you don't know Tom very well.

[33girl]

Speaking of Super Bowl...the Super Bowl XL champions (THAT'S THE STEELERS IN CASE YOU FORGOT) just named Mike Tomlin their new head coach. He is the first Black head coach in Steelers history (and much nicer to look at than Russ Grimm, might I add).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/...eelers_coach_7

[shinerbock]

Not to rain on the parade, but I think it's a stupid discussion. I mean, its fine to be excited about it, but I do think it is dumb when people act like this is some victory in the fight against discrimination. I'm pretty excited that there are two white SEC QB's in the Super Bowl.

[DeltAlum]

Considering that it wasn't all that long ago that there were no black NFL head coaches at all, I think that this is a nice milestone and worthy of note.

I think the first was Art Shell in 1989, hired by the Raiders. But I'm not an NFL historian.

[shinerbock]

I agree, not having any would be rather suspicious. However, we don't need an exact percentage for things to be fair. This stuff goes on in college coaching, and its ridiculous. Alabama got crapped all over for not hiring Sylvester Croom, who may not even be the coach at Miss State much longer. If the ability is there, they'll get a shot. I have a tough time believing that organizations are purposefully avoiding black coaches. Then again maybe they are, just like NFL scouts avoid white running backs.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

WOW, more important than who is going to the Super Bowl.

Granted, it is news, but it will be news forever.

So, there were two Men who are Coaches who are Black. It is something that has been to long in coming. So, now lets concentrate on FooseBall and not people!

Oh, who is playing anyway?

Shut up.....

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Not to rain on the parade, but I think it's a stupid discussion. I mean, its fine to be excited about it, but I do think it is dumb when people act like this is some victory in the fight against discrimination. I'm pretty excited that there are two white SEC QB's in the Super Bowl.

Shut up.....

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Tom,
I don't assume any negative intent in your comment, and I hope you will take this in the spirit in which it is sent, but I do have to say, that yes, it's a BIG DEAL to millions of Americans of color, (African Americans and others, and I would hope, as well to White Americans) and it is worth it to concentrate on "the people" as well as the event.

Our history in America makes it so. Generations before us have grown up in an America that routinely told them that they were were not good enough, not strong enough, not smart enough to be leaders, to rise to the top and to do anything that would be "valued" in America. Our ancestors knew it wasn't true and persisted in advancing and teaching those who would come behind them the fundamental lesson that "hard work, despite the obstacles you face, leads somewhere...."

And so for not one, but two sons of the African Diaspora, to lead their teams to the the biggest event in sports and one of the largest in American society (the Superbowl is annually the most watched event in the nation), yes, it does mean a great deal.

TonyB06, that was not the intent as some want to make a big deal about on site.

It is my feeling that both of these gentlemen would prefer the spot light not be on them, but on the players and the game.

Do they desearve it, YES. Did they earn it, YES!

The coach I admire the most is Eddie Robinson of Grambling who did not get the recognition that He so richly desearved.

Oh, for those who do not know, he was happy at what he was doing and where he was with the school, his team, and its athletes.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Do they desearve it, YES. Did they earn it, YES!

Does celebrating FIRSTS mean that the people don't deserve it, didn't earn it, and mean we can't enjoy the Superbowl as we normally would? No.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Does celebrating FIRSTS mean that the people don't deserve it, didn't earn it, and mean we can't enjoy the Superbowl as we normally would? No.

I never said they did not desearve it!

I just said they probably rather be out of the lime light and be know for Coaches as opposed to being the first Black Coahes in the Super Bowl.

Should we as semi football fanatics enjoy the game, I guess so!

It is not the coaches who make the difference, it is the big SOBs on the field who do!

Maybe, the media should give Tony and Lovie a break!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

I never said they did not desearve it!

I know you didn't and neither did we.

Since no one said they didn't deserve it, why do you keep ranting about "yeah, they're black but they aren't here because they're black...they deserve to be where they are...they would probably rather not be in the spotlight about being the first blacks."

We know they deserve to be where they are and (again) you don't know what these coaches care about or if they're offended about being an acknowledged FIRST. It's like you're trying really hard to appear colorblind or something (as do many whites) when this discussion never called for it.

[starang21]

go colts