Here we go: Historic meeting of two African-American coaches in
Super Bowl XLI.
Here we go: Historic meeting of two African-American coaches in Super Bowl XLI.
Gag me! Yes, this is the first time African-American coaches have led their teams into the Super Bowl. But that is not what the Big Game is all about, as Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy pointed out.
It may have been noteworthy when Doug Williams won a Super Bowl as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. After all, back in the 1980s there were some idiots living under the misconception that African-Americans weren’t “smart enough” to be NFL quarterbacks.
It is difficult for me to fathom that there are some out there who think that African-Americans are not smart enough to coach a team to a Super Bowl, or in this case a championship.
It’s all about opportunity. Dungy didn’t suddenly get smarter. The Colts’ coach has been one of the better NFL coaches since he was in Tampa Bay.
There is, however, a certain amount of luck that goes into winning a Super Bowl. No doubt Bill Belichick is a great coach. He surrounds himself with great personnel and excellent coaches.
Dungy has done the same. The man is not only a top-notch coach but a wonderful human being as well. How many of us could have handled the burden of a son committing suicide last year and still held up to the rigors of coaching in the NFL?
Some would argue that the Saints making the Super Bowl would have been the feel-good story of the NFL this season. My vote is for Dungy and Peyton Manning, if nothing else because the burden of not having won the big one has been finally shaken. Also, the way the Colts came from behind against a team that has been their playoff nemesis makes the Dungy-Manning story even better.
And that’s what we should be talking about, just as about how Rex Grossman did an outstanding job leading Chicago this past week. Give Lovie Smith credit for sticking with Grossman when many of us were calling for his head and worse a few weeks ago. Smart coaching decision.
Hey, this is the 21st century. The Pittsburgh Steelers tabbed relative unknown Mike Tomlin, another African-American, to be their next head coach. After the Super Bowl, Mexican-American Ron Rivera’s name will surface as a head coaching candidate.
It’s not about color or heritage. It’s about individuals who have paid their dues and need to be judged on how they do as coaches, not as black coaches. Dennis Green was fired by the Arizona Cardinals not because of the color of his skin, but for his inability to win.
That’s how it should be, no matter what the level or sport.
So let’s skip the politics of the Super Bowl and stick with the game. It’s human nature to analyze the coaches, but it’s a crock to analyze them because of the color of their skin.
The only glass ceiling is created by those looking for a different storyline. But the one that includes color is tiresome and boring.
