Systematic Racism in Sports

[Tmy]

Dan Marino gets front office job (http://sports.iwon.com/news/01132004/v9926.html?PG=home&SEC=news)

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - He was at his best in the pocket, where he became the most prolific passer in NFL history.

Now Dan Marino embarks on a new career in an office as an inexperienced executive. But his goal remains the same: lead the Miami Dolphins to a Super Bowl title.

_____________________________________________


In the NFL there has always been this claim that blacks (who make up about 1/2 of the players) are left out of head coaching and front office jobs. Right now there are maybe 4 or 5 black head coaches.

There has always been this thought that the NFL has a good old boy network running the top end. The NFL has even put in place a rule requiring that teams interview at least one minority candidate when searching for head coaches. Soem people complained that the rule was not needed cause they look to hire the "best possible candidate". Of course the "best guy for the job" seems to be totally arbitrary when you look at who actually gets hired.

Now this Marino thing. Hes was a great player an all but everyone seems to agree that hes not qualified for the job. Not to say he was hired cause hes white, but dont you think there may be somthing to the institutional racism claims?

[Grammatron]

Originally posted by Tmy
Dan Marino gets front office job (http://sports.iwon.com/news/01132004/v9926.html?PG=home&SEC=news)

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - He was at his best in the pocket, where he became the most prolific passer in NFL history.

Now Dan Marino embarks on a new career in an office as an inexperienced executive. But his goal remains the same: lead the Miami Dolphins to a Super Bowl title.

_____________________________________________


In the NFL there has always been this claim that blacks (who make up about 1/2 of the players) are left out of head coaching and front office jobs. Right now there are maybe 4 or 5 black head coaches.

There has always been this thought that the NFL has a good old boy network running the top end. The NFL has even put in place a rule requiring that teams interview at least one minority candidate when searching for head coaches. Soem people complained that the rule was not needed cause they look to hire the "best possible candidate". Of course the "best guy for the job" seems to be totally arbitrary when you look at who actually gets hired.

Now this Marino thing. Hes was a great player an all but everyone seems to agree that hes not qualified for the job. Not to say he was hired cause hes white, but dont you think there may be somthing to the institutional racism claims?

I sincerely doubt it, because if that is indeed the case, a team owner has to be incredibly stupid and all but allergic to money. At team owner stands to gain great amounts of money if a team wins, team wins if it has great players and coaches, hiring either because of their race and not skill is potentially forgoing all the winning money.

[Michael Redman]

Maybe, however owners may not give credence to the idea that the best candidate might not be white. It's not like there's any objective proof of who the best candidates is. Just because they want to make money doesn't mean they can properly identify the best way to do so. It's not like professional sports owners have a track record of making good financial decisions while running their teams.

[Tmy]

Whats the average workspan of a coach? 3 or 4 years? Theres so much turnover that you would think the numbers alone would generate more black coaches. While many coaches are recycled there are still just as many who are plucked from the lower ranks and given a chance.

The stats are even worse in college ball where the alumni run the show.

[Evolver]

So hiring a guy who gave many years to the team, whose name and face are recognized across the country is racism?

The Indiana Pacers hired Larry Bird to be their GM. Is that racism?

The Boston Celtics hired Danny Ainge. Racism?

Damn, if I owned the Dolphins, I'd want to keep Marino representing the team.

[Grammatron]

Originally posted by Michael Redman
Maybe, however owners may not give credence to the idea that the best candidate might not be white. It's not like there's any objective proof of who the best candidates is. Just because they want to make money doesn't mean they can properly identify the best way to do so. It's not like professional sports owners have a track record of making good financial decisions while running their teams.

Well you do have a point there, I won't deny that. I still, however, don't see any signs of racism in a sport where people who make most of the money are not white.

[rikzilla]

...So that's why there are hardly any white NBA players!

:D

[Michael Redman]

Originally posted by Grammatron


Well you do have a point there, I won't deny that. I still, however, don't see any signs of racism in a sport where people who make most of the money are not white. The people who make most of the money in professional football are white. But I understand your point.

[Tmy]

Originally posted by Grammatron


Well you do have a point there, I won't deny that. I still, however, don't see any signs of racism in a sport where people who make most of the money are not white.

Im making a distinction tween players and management. Its relativley easy to pick the "most qualified" players. You have objective criteria. The kicker is the guy who can kick far and consistant, not the guy who the coach thinks is a nicer person.

The coaching and management tends to be subjective. You just sort of pick a guy. Now many of the coaches are former players. SOOOOOO if 1/2 the former players are black you would kinda think that the ratio of coaches who were former players would be similar. INTSEAD the stats are way off. There are very few black coaches and fewer in management.

Why is that?

[pgwenthold]

Originally posted by Tmy
Whats the average workspan of a coach? 3 or 4 years? Theres so much turnover that you would think the numbers alone would generate more black coaches. While many coaches are recycled there are still just as many who are plucked from the lower ranks and given a chance.


This has been a huge problem, especially historically. Teams recycle guys who have been canned from other places.

I was flabbergasted this morning when I heard guys on Chicago complaining that (recently fired Bears coach) Dick Jeron was not being considered for other coaching positions. Excuse me? Don't you remember why he was just fired? Because he did such a bad job in Chicago! Now you think others will jump to pick him up?

Sports teams are weird. In what other industry would companies look to the guys fired by their competitors because they couldn't succeed for their new CEO?

[Aoidoi]

Originally posted by pgwenthold
Sports teams are weird. In what other industry would companies look to the guys fired by their competitors because they couldn't succeed for their new CEO? Ah, but CEOs never actually get fired. Coaches and GMs can get fired for the poor performance of their underlings, but CEOs somehow just glide on through without ever getting fired. ;)

[WildCat]

Originally posted by pgwenthold
I was flabbergasted this morning when I heard guys on Chicago complaining that (recently fired Bears coach) Dick Jeron was not being considered for other coaching positions. Excuse me? Don't you remember why he was just fired? Because he did such a bad job in Chicago! Now you think others will jump to pick him up?
Whoaaaa there! No one I know is upset Jauron is gone, and no one wants him back! The farther he goes the better. Now, I'd love to see him coaching the Packers (w/ John Shoop (http://www.firejohnshoop.com/) running the offense ;) ) but they aren't that stupid. :(

[WildCat]

Wait a minute, maybe the Chicago people you know wanted Jauron to be picked up by some other team because then the Bears wouldn't have to pay his $2.4 million salary next year?