Field of Dreams

what martin had in mind...

Like the State of Arizona, the sport of football is not something I'm interested in. Generally speaking. But there's been much-a-do lately about the coming match-up between the Colts' Tony Dungy and Chicago's own Lovie Smith.

And yes struggling stand-up, it's because they're black.

Since both teams were announced, the press has been lauding the fact that, aside from its annual display of human combat and $2.6 million dollar commercials, Super Bowl XLI marks the first time two African American coaches will face off for the Lombardi trophy.

Sounds good, you say. Score one for “us” right? Wrong.

All this talk about Dungy and Smith being black deflates the fact that both men coach football, and coach it well. NPR reporter Melissa Block recently interviewed Cyrus Mehri, an executive who represents a group of NFL minority coaches and personnel, and asked him how long it will be, "..until [race] isn't an important point of conversation, just something that's accepted, not remarked upon?"

Good question, Melissa. Maybe it will happen when we know as much about Beyonce as we do about Pamela Thomas-Graham, CEO and President of CNBC. Or when we see as many articles about Allen “The Answer” Iverson as Kenneth Chenault, Chairman and CEO of American Express. Or when Jesus comes back.

Am I suggesting that there’s a rubric determining which black faces gain publicity? Yes. Am I implying said rubric oft reiterates specific denigrating tropes? You knows it. Do I think the Bears are gonna win? No.

I didn't max on haterade, I'm just suggesting that the number of black folks overseeing other black folks doing fieldwork may not be the best litmus for social parity.

Before we herald two black SBXLI coaches as "progress," let’s wonder why we're not shocked to hear 70% of football players are black.

Update
After a long, soggy game, the Bears lost . It had nothing to do with me.