Liberal media bias permeates the fabric of our sports world. This fact is something we’ve come to accept. What I refuse to accept is the idea that the general population’s election of Barack Obama has given the national media free reign to bash university and college administrators in their sports coaches hiring processes.
The argument national media makes has been consistent for the last few years, especially in regards to NCAA Division I football. Basically, the argument goes that college and university Presidents are all racist, and refuse to hire African American coaches to run their big time football programs. This past year alone, Turner Gill became the new Martyr of Black Coaches when white coaches “leapfrogged” him for some high profile jobs (notably Auburn, Washington, Tennessee). Especially infuriating to the press was Auburn’s choice to bring Gene Chizik in as head coach after 2 miserable years at Iowa State. Whether Auburn will be vindicated for bringing Chizik home or not will take a few years to play out, but I’m hear to announce, “Enough of the bitching!”
Simply put, the media takes the issue of race to the opposite extreme in perpetuating racism in this country, and sports has finally joined in the fray. For too long, people have worked hard to avoid “offending” minorities by being political correct and “sensitive” to the plight of the black man. Affirmative action became commonplace around 15 years ago in many states as well as on University campuses nationwide. You rarely find someone willing to venture out on a limb to criticize blacks for fear of being called a racist. Rush Limbaugh was fired from ESPN for making the statement that Donovan McNabb received unfair credit for the success of the Philadelphia Eagles because he was black (Limbaugh explained the credit belonged to the defense). Whether the statement held truth or opened dialog, ESPN feared the backlash such a “controversial” statement might bring, and forced Limbaugh’s resignation. The University of Texas is threatening to end varsity sports because a state law requires that a student who finishes in the top 10% of his senior class can attend any state school he chooses. This law is adamantly supported by the likes of the NAACP and other minority interest groups because it allows, in theory, minorities access into a top public institution. In reality, the school acknowledges that over 85% of all incoming freshman are admitted based on this law – leaving well deserving, well rounded individuals heading to Lubbock, College Station, Dallas, and well, not Austin. The President warns this could include football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer, and other athletes in the near future.
Let’s look at the college football landscape specifically. Turner Gill may have had a successful season at Buffalo (7-5) last year. Certainly the turnaround Gill led should be admired. But does that qualify him to be a big time college football coach? Not sure. The real question – should race play a role at all? The media would have you believe they say, “No.” But what they are really saying is, “No, so long as you hire more black coaches.”
You see, anytime you use race as a factor in determining a hire, you are being inherently racist. By giving the benefit of doubt to a black head coach candidate, you automatically assume he is more qualified for the job than a white counterpart. Is it the job of Athletic Directors to push social justice? Not really – it’s their job to build successful football programs. This means hire the person they feel would be most successful in their current open position, REGARDLESS of race. When I say regardless of race, I mean regardless of whether the candidates are white or black. ESPN talking heads arguing that the NCAA needs to do something to get more black coaches hired is simply instituting a racist tinge on every major program hire.
Look at the flip side argument. Would you call me a racist if I said that 75% of all college scholarships for basketball should go to white players? I mean, the population in this country is 75% Anglo, so it makes sense this number would equate on the basketball court for scholarship offers, right? No – this is ridiculous. Universities and coaches work their hardest to get the best players for their programs, regardless of race. Why can’t administrators do the same without media crying foul? If you accept that black athletes make better basketball players than whites, then you can’t cry foul when people claim white coaches coach better than blacks. You’ve set a double standard whereby it’s OK to be racist against whites on the field of play, but certainly not OK to be racist against blacks off it.
I’m not saying it’s OK to select coaches based on the fact that white coaches are better suited for success than blacks. That’s stupid. Ask Mike Tomlin and the Steelers if they think a black man can be a successful head football coach. I’m saying, stop bitching about University selections of coaches because schools refuse to buy into your media bias toward social justice. Hiring a black coach instead of a white coach simply because a coach is black is as racist as refusing to hire a black coach at all.
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