January 3, 2009 - January 9, 2009, The Washington Afro-American A9
Opinion
Too Many Bowls, Too Few Black Coaches
The Greatest Gift of
Commentary
Black coaches in 15 years. As coaches for openings, many How do we put an end to
recently as 1997, there were universities are still more will- this nonsense?
All at Christmas and
twice as many African- ing to recycle failed White One approach would be to
American coaches as there are coaches than take a chance on adopt a college version of the
New Year
now. a promising African American. Rooney Rule. Some have sug-
Evidently, the football side- Two examples immediately gested calling it the Robinson
of our problems; some solu-
lines suffer from the same on- come to mind. Rule, in honor of Doug Commentary
tions must come from above.
field racial stereotypes of the Auburn University hired Williams’ former coach, Eddie
For example, my Christmas
past. For years, they said Gene Chizik as its new head Robinson of Grambling. For
wish is that a lightning bolt
Blacks were excellent players coach after he went 5-19 over that to work, however, penal-
hits the Supreme Court build-
but didn’t have the intellect to two seasons at Iowa State, ties must be assessed against
ing and knocks Justice
GEORGE E. CURRY
play the so-called “thinking including 10 straight losses. universities that fail to cooper-
Clarence Thomas to the floor,
AFRO File Photo
positions” – quarterback and Meanwhile, the University of ate.
and miraculously revives him
middle linebacker. Of course, Tennessee, eager to get back on A sure-fire way of forcing
as a principled Black man. He
Basketball’s “March
that was pure hogwash. For the winning track after forcing change would be for star high
continues to be an embarrass-
Madness” has nothing on the
years, Grambling, Florida out Phillip Fulmer, hired anoth- school players and their parents
ment.
college football bowl frenzy –
A&M and Tennessee State er losing coach, Lane Kiffin, to spurn athletic programs that
The latest scandal is how
34 games over a 19-day period
were football powerhouses and formerly of the Oakland spurn Black leadership. If play-
REV. BARBARA
Uncle Thomas took up the
spanning the last month of the
it wasn’t because they played Raiders. Kiffin was fired by the ers refuse to enroll in universi-
REYNOLDS
cause to deny Barack Obama
old year and the first month of
10 men on each side of the ball NFL team after compiling a ties that have never hired a
the new one. Let’s face it, not
– or without a coach on the record of 5-15. Black head coach in any sport
The greatest gift of all this
his history-making presidency
all 68 teams deserve to be in a
sideline. These two losers were hired or an African-American athlet-
Christmas was the emancipa-
based on the stupid challenge
bowl. Some — including North
And if there were any lin- while promising African- ic director at any time, univer-
tion of the human spirit, a
that he was not a “natural
Carolina State, Kentucky,
gering doubts about the Black American coaches were sities would finally get the
present everyone can receive
born” American, which would
Bowling Green, Southern
gridiron intellect, they were ignored, some of whom had message. What I like about this
but virtually no one can buy.
forbid him from becoming
Mississippi, Northern Illinois,
approach is that it empowers
With plant closings, home-
president under the
Notre Dame and Vanderbilt –
owner evictions and unem-
Constitution.
got invitations after winning
“…many universities are still more willing
the athlete and does not rely on
the so-called good will of
ployment on a frightening
None other than
only 50 percent of their games.
to recycle failed White coaches than take a
schools eager to exploit Black
rise, this Christmas was not
Republican Alan Keyes, who
Even worse, nine teams –
athletes.
just another celebration of the
had parachuted into Illinois to
including Florida Atlantic and
chance on a promising African American.”
Five bowls – the Rose,
acquisition of more stuff. As
run against Obama for presi-
Memphis – are going to bowls
Orange, Fiesta, Sugar and BCS
we lost stuff—wages, stocks,
dent, teamed up with Thomas
after accumulating losing
removed by Washington turned around losing programs. championship game – will each
houses — we were forced to
to press the case even after
records. Unfortunately, bowl
Redskins quarterback Doug For example, Turner Gill took generate $17 million for
see what else there is about
other justices ignored it. The
games are no longer rewards
Williams’ MVP performance in over a program at Buffalo that schools and their respective
ourselves that gives us mean-
argument was that since
for an excellent season. Now,
Super Bowl XXII and when had not won five games in a conferences. If Blacks stop
ing and purpose.
Obama was born in Hawaii
it’s all about the money. And
two Black head coaches, Tony season for nearly a decade. playing for schools that refuse
And when the euphoria
and his father was a Kenyan
the more bowls, the more
Dungy and Lovie Smith, paced Within three years he turned it to hire African Americans in
fades from the election of our
national, Obama had dual citi-
money.
the sidelines in Super Bowl into Mid-American Conference leadership positions, it would
first Black president, Barack
zenship at birth, which dis-
qualified him from the presi-
An over saturation of bowl
XLI. champion and this year had a lessen the chances of universi-
games is not my No.1 com-
Of the 32 NFL coaches, record of 8-5. ties getting a share of that
plaint against college football.
seven are Black, largely When Auburn selected Gene lucrative pie. With so much
“If we can elect a Black president, surely we
Rather, it’s the fact that
because the league adopted the Chizik over Gill, one of its money in jeopardy, universities
can achieve the next miracle of creating a
approximately half of the play-
Rooney Rule requiring teams most famous alums, Charles will be forced to do the right
ers are African Americans, yet
to interview at least one person Barkley, was livid. thing.
culture where a Supreme Court justice to a
only 3.4 percent of the college
of color for all head coach “I think race was the No. 1
football coaches are Black.
vacancies. If African factor,” said Barkley. “You can George E. Curry, former pornographic rapper can stop projecting
That’s four among the 119
Americans can coach in the say it’s not about race, but you editor-in-chief of ‘Emerge’
major division coaches.
pros, they certainly can suc- can’t compare the two resumes magazine and the NNPA News
values that kill and destroy.”
According to the Institute
ceed at the college level. and say [Chizik] deserved the Service, is a keynote speaker,
for Diversity and Ethics in
In addition to the failure to job. Out of all the coaches they moderator and media coach.
Obama, we must still face
Sports at Central Florida
interview an ample number of interviewed, Chizik probably His Web site is www.george-
those issues of self-hate and
dency. Happily on Dec. 8, the
University, that’s the fewest
top-flight Black assistant had the worst resume.” curry.com.
cultural rot that no one person
court rejected the case. Only a
in the White House can fix.
lightning bolt from heaven
Republican Parody Plays Race Card
But for now at the highest
could release Thomas of his
level, virtue is making a
inbred self-hatred, which he
comeback. For eight long
bitterly projects on other
years under George Bush, we
Blacks.
Commentary
anyone would think this is chair, Ken Blackwell (former out of context and indirectly
have seen how mega-lies,
Second on my wish list that
appropriate as it clearly does state treasurer of Ohio) and blames Obama for being
cronyism, unbridled greed and
we can’t expect President
not move us in the right Michael Steele (former lieu- Black. Steele sounds a lot
corruption have destroyed our
Obama to fix is the obsession
direction.” tenant governor of like Sarah Palin when she
economy, tarnished our image
with thug culture. The specta-
Michigan Republican Maryland). starts rambling in her
around the world and need-
cle of so many “credible”
Party chairman Saul Anuzis, “Unfortunately, there is attempts to answer questions
lessly cost the lives of thou-
adults standing and applaud-
who’s also seeking the RNC hypersensitivity in the press from the media. I have
sands of our own soldiers and
ing Lil Wayne at a recent BET
chairmanship, said the song regarding matters of race. absolutely no idea what
Iraqi civilians.
event was typical of why so
isn’t his idea of “appropriate This is in large measure due Steele was trying to say.
Today, with the election of
many of our young people are
humor. “In my opinion, this to President-elect Obama Gingrich says Saltsman
President Obama, we see a re-
drugging, gang-banging and
isn’t funny and it’s in bad being the first African- isn’t fit to be chair of the
birth in the American charac-
busting through the charts
RAYNARD JACKSON
taste,” he added, noting that American elected president. I party (interpretation—he
ter of the blessings of hard
with HIV/AIDS.
the GOP isn’t helped by criti- don’t think any of the con- should drop out of the race).
work, integrity and the pursuit
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
Well, here we go again.
cism of Obama that doesn’t cerns that have been The two Black candidates say
of excellence as realities
(Lil Wayne) has a CD on the
Just couldn’t end the year on
stem from philosophical dif- expressed in the media about it’s OK; it’s not his fault (it’s
rather than storybook fan-
charts called “The Lollipop.”
an upbeat note regarding the
ferences with the president- any of the other candidates the mean, biased, liberal
tasies.
While the lewd lyrics are too
Republican Party. Chip
elect. for RNC chairman should media); he’s a friend of mine
I see the torch passing, not
pornographic to be quoted
Saltsman, candidate for
Even former Speaker of disqualify them. When (he has a good heart).
just from Dr. Martin Luther
here, I assure you the lollipop
national party chair and for-
the House Newt Gingrich is looked at in the proper con- Herein lies the problem
King Jr. to Barack Obama, but
Little Wayne is encouraging
mer chair of the Tennessee
quoted as saying in an e-mail
from our African slave ances-
our boys and girls to lick is
state party, has played the
message, “This is so inappro-
tors to every living soul with a
not candy. Yet, respectable
“race” card and now wants us
priate that it should disquali-
“Candidate for [GOP chair] wants us to
vision, a dream, a legacy to be
adults who appear to be in
to believe that it “was just a
fy any Republican National
built and passed on.
their right minds stand and
joke.”
Committee candidate who
believe [‘Barack the Magic Negro’ parody]
I first noticed that foreign-
cheer this pornographic rapper
According to The Hill
would use it.”
ers were looking at African
with his pants down showing
newspaper, Saltsman, in a
But what’s even more dis-
was ‘just a joke.’”
Americans differently, perhaps
his underwear.
Christmas greeting to RNC
gusting than the audacity of
as an extension or a reflection
Lil Wayne, who is up for
members, sent a CD that
Saltsman to send out these
of a rejuvenated spirit, when I
several Grammy awards, is a
included the song about the
insulting CDs is the deafen- text, these concerns are mini- within the Republican Party.
was touring Egypt last sum-
hero to many young people
president-elect as well as
ing silence of Black mal. All of my competitors My criticism of the party for
mer with a group from the
partly because of his thug cre-
other tracks lampooning lib-
Republicans, especially the for this leadership post are playing race politics is well-
Howard University School of
dentials, which includes sever-
erals that were written by
two who’re running for fine people.” documented in my past edito-
Divinity. Other tourists from
al arrests for possession of
conservative satirist Paul
national party chair. Michael Steele, in a state- rials. But equally deserving
Africa, Europe and other
drugs and guns.
Shanklin. When The Hill first
I’ve searched all over the ment said, “I know Chip of criticism are Blacks
countries were smiling and
The rappers and the thug
reported about the CD,
Internet and haven’t found Saltsman, I know his charac- who’re too timid to speak up
waving at us, calling us
culture are creating a homici-
Saltsman noted that “Paul
one word of outrage from any ter; and while his attempt at on principle about issues of
“Obamas” which, based on
dal environment for our
Shanklin is a long-time
of the Black Republican humor was clearly misplaced, concern to the Black commu-
past experiences abroad, I
young people as more Blacks
friend, and I think that RNC
“talking heads.” Where is it does not make him indiffer- nity.
found surprising.
die in Black-on-Black vio-
members have the good
Tara Wall or Amy Holmes ent to the important work of How can I reconcile the
Now, the entire world looks
lence than soldiers killed in a
humor and good sense to rec-
(CNN)? Angela McGlowan building the coalitions neces- fact that White Republicans
at African Americans differ-
declared war in Iraq. Again,
ognize that his songs for the
or Star Parker (Fox News)? sary to make our party (Gingrich, Duncan and
ently because not only is one
as HIV is pandemic in our
Rush Limbaugh show are
Joe Watkins (MSNBC)? stronger. And yet, we must be Anuzis) are more outraged
of our own the leader of the
community, those who sing
light-hearted political paro-
These are the people the mindful that self-inflicted about Saltsman’s actions than
most powerful government on
about rampant sex are
dies.”
party parades out to the wounds not only distract us the two Blacks who would
earth but he is also the new
cheered instead of denounced.
lead our party. No wonder
face and symbol of profes-
If we can elect a Black
This is a bittersweet
media and wonder why these from regaining our strength
Republicans are so comfort-
sional excellence and morality.
president, surely we can
moment for me. On the one
people have absolutely no as a Party, but further dimin-
able playing “race” politics.
Nevertheless, there is still
achieve the next miracle of
hand, finally a couple of
standing within the Black ish our credibility with an
If Black Republicans don’t
demand for a change in our
creating a culture where a
Republicans in leadership
community. increasingly diverse commu-
speak out, why expect it to
culture to embrace this new
Supreme Court justice to a
spoke out against Saltsman.
I’m not surprised at nity of voters. As RNC
stop?
global reality. The greatest gift
pornographic rapper can stop
Again, from The Hill newspa-
Saltsman’s behavior. He is Chairman, I want us to be a
we can give to our first Black
projecting values that kill and
per, “The 2008 election was a
who he is. He’s the same per- lot smarter about such things
Raynard Jackson is presi-
president is to put forth our
destroy.
wake-up call for Republicans
son who was part of the state and more appreciative that
to reach out and bring more
party that ran the infamous our actions always speak dent and CEO of Raynard
best efforts on all fronts: the
“Harold Ford” TV commer- louder than our words.” Jackson & Associates, a
best parents, the best students,
Barbara Reynolds is an
people into our party,” cur-
cial with the White blonde What? Did I read what I political consulting/govern-
the best politicians and the
ordained minister, author of
rent Republican National
bombshell asking him to “call thought I read? ment affairs firm. He can be
best caretakers of our senior
five books and president of
Committee Chairman Mike
her.” But what surprises me, Hypersensitivity? OK, let me reached at Raynard@ray-
citizens.
Reynolds News Service. Her
Duncan, who is again running
no, infuriates me is the make sure I understand. nardjackson.com and Web
For those who believe in
Web site is
for the position, stated. “I am
embarrassing response from Blackwell blames the media site at: www.raynardjack-
miracles, there are a few more
www.reynoldsworldnews.
shocked and appalled that
the two Black candidates for for taking Saltsman’s actions son.com.
needed. Barack cannot fix all
com.
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