There's the story. (I wish I knew the HTML to make the link my own words instead of the boring URL )
Anyway, I think this is complete bullshit. I mean, if you DEMAND teams to interview minority coaches, they will just do it because they HAVE to, not because they want to. I really believe that teams choose their coaches based on coaching ability, not on race(just like with their athletes). And what makes someone a minority anyway? I mean, do you have to interview someone of every minority group?
What's worse is the fact that the NFL would rather force the team and force black candidates into conducting a dog and pony show rather than just cut to the chase.
Doesn't matter what the NFL does, Jesse Jackson and Johnnie Cochrane are going to complain and sue anyway...
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Ben Franklin, 1759
I'd like to see a team interview Johnnie and Jesse for a head coaching vacancy.
Baseball's Sad Lexicon
These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance." Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds, Tinker and Evers and Chance. Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble, Making a Giant hit into a double- Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble: "Tinker to Evers to Chance."
So the NFL thinks it's better for the Lions just to waste everyones time going through the motions of interviewing people they have no interest in. That's pretty dumb and I'd say insulting to all involved especially the minority coach who's just getting a petty interview.
cause there's limits to our liberties. 'Least I hope and pray that there are, cause those liberal freaks go too far.
I'll crush all opposition to me And I'll make Ted Kennedy pay If he fights back, I'll say that he's gay
Originally posted by StaggerLeeThey should interview some Samoans or Puerto Ricans next time. Then hire whoever the hell they were going to hire in the first place.
I don't know about the Shark. I just see it playing out like this:
Knock Knock
GM: Who is it. Person at the Door: LandShark GM: Who? LandShark: Umm coaching canidate
GM answers door, gets eaten, NFL fines team when GM doesn't return Black canidates calls. Although the Lions couldn't get any worse if Millan got eaten by a shark.
Now you will receive us. We do not ask for your poor, or your hungry. We do not want your tired and sick. It is your corrupt we claim. It is your evil that will be sought by us. With every breath, we shall hunt them down. Each day we will spill their blood, 'til it rains down from the skies. Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. These are not polite suggestions, these are codes of behavior, and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost. There are varying degrees of evil. We urge you lesser forms of filth, not to push the bounds and cross over, in to true corruption, into our domain. For if you do, one day you will look behind you and you will see we three, and on that day you will reap it. And we will send you to whatever god you wish. Collin & Murphy MacManus
I imagine that Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford must be feeling like the poster child for the "Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't" brigade. It's been less than two years since Ford Motor Co. (of which Ford is CEO) had to shell out $10.5 million to settle two class action lawsuits because they were accused of discriminating against white males (joplinglobe.com) in the name of workplace diversity. Now the general manager of his football team is being forced to pony up two hundred grand for failing to comply with the NFL's diversity guidelines.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's decision to fine Matt Millen was wrong on so many levels it's difficult to know where to begin. That is, it's difficult for me. However, Bill Ford seemingly had no problems expressing his thoughts (bayarea.com) on the subject and basicly ripping Paul Tagliabue a new one. Best observation made by Ford in the article: The Lions have a better record for hiring minorities than the NFL league office does.
Originally posted by Ramblin WreckBut the Cowboys have no problems for landing the Tuna without interviewing minorities? What a load of crap and double standards.
Don't forget to include the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Francisco 49ers along with the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously only Tagliabue himself knows the real reason why he chose to screw the Lions while turning a blind eye to the hiring practices of the other NFL teams, or his own league office for that matter. All we can know for sure at this time is that Matt Millen and the Detroit Lions have been subjected to a gross miscarriage of justice.
Originally posted by Downtown BookieDon't forget to include the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Francisco 49ers along with the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously only Tagliabue himself knows the real reason why he chose to screw the Lions while turning a blind eye to the hiring practices of the other NFL teams, or his own league office for that matter. All we can know for sure at this time is that Matt Millen and the Detroit Lions have been subjected to a gross miscarriage of justice.
The 49ers interviewed Ted Cottrell before deciding on Erickson, and the Cowboys "interviewed" Dennis Green (although it was really just Jerry Jones and Green having a telephone conversation). Cottrell and Green were and still are African-American.
The Lions, despite their "best" efforts, could not find an African-American to interview because they all knew Steve Mariucci would be hired.
The lesson, apparently, is Jerry Jones is smarter than Matt Millen.
Washington Huskies, 2003 Pac-10 football champs. Coming soon.
Yeah Millen got screwed for doing the right thing and being honest. The 49ers should've gotten fined for firing Mooch w/o a real reason and replacing him with a older coach who has proven he can't cut it in the NFL. That's ok, cuz that little fine ain't gonna nothing compared to the potential dynasty that can be created.
"NOW YOU GET YOUR WHININ ASS OUTTA HERE!!" Sid Vicious after slapping Bret Hart
Originally posted by Downtown BookieObviously only Tagliabue himself knows the real reason why he chose to screw the Lions while turning a blind eye to the hiring practices of the other NFL teams, or his own league office for that matter. All we can know for sure at this time is that Matt Millen and the Detroit Lions have been subjected to a gross miscarriage of justice.
I'm not sure of the actual reason why Tagliabue and Ford Sr. hate each other, but I'm pretty sure Ford hasn't been to an owner's meeting since Tagliabue became commissioner.
Also, the Lions did speak over the phone with Dennis Green about the head coaching job. Unfortunately, it was BEFORE they fired Morninwheg. Supposedly, Green wanted too much money and Ford Sr. told Millen to hold a press conference stating that Morninwheg would be retained. A couple of weeks later, Mooch got fired and the Lions fired Marty. (This, according to Detroit News columnist Terry Foster)
Originally posted by NEOYeah Millen got screwed for doing the right thing and being honest. The 49ers should've gotten fined for firing Mooch w/o a real reason and replacing him with a older coach who has proven he can't cut it in the NFL. That's ok, cuz that little fine ain't gonna nothing compared to the potential dynasty that can be created.
Originally posted by Grimis
Originally posted by JayJayDeanThe 49ers interviewed Ted Cottrell before deciding on Erickson
And then the 49ers proceeded to make the retarted decision of hiring Erickson over Cottrell
Originally posted by JayJayDeanThe lesson, apparently, is Jerry Jones is smarter than Matt Millen.
Ah, but the Lions got the better coach(for the present at least)
But this isn't about who hired the better coach, it's about who got fined and who didn't. You can praise Millen for being honest, but he was still pretty dumb in how he handled it. What if he'd called the League before he hired Mariucci and said "Look, I've called "X" number of African-Amerian assistant coaches and none of them want to interview with me because they all think I'm hiring Mooch. How do I handle this so I'm following the rules?" Perhaps they could've given him a pass on the rule, or even forced one of those coaches to interview. Either way, I think the Lions could have easily avoid the whole fine situation if Millen has handled it differently.
Also, while I can't believe the Niners fired Mariucci and replaced him with Erickson, anyone who suggests they should be fined for doing so needs to get back in touch with reality. You can't fine teams for making bad decisions, otherwise the Bengals, Cardinals, and Jerry Jones would've been subsidizing the League for the last ten years.
Washington Huskies, 2003 Pac-10 football champs. Coming soon.
Originally posted by JayJayDeanPerhaps they could've given him a pass on the rule, or even forced one of those coaches to interview. Either way, I think the Lions could have easily avoid the whole fine situation if Millen has handled it differently.
But they should not have to act differently because there should not be a rule like this in the first place. It is a completely asinine rule.
And how can the NFL "force" anybody to interview for a job they don't want?
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Ben Franklin, 1759
I'm not debating the validity the rule, because it's there and that's all that matters.
I don't think the NFL calling African-American assistant coach X (Malcolm's cousin) and saying "Hey, Coach X, we understand Matt Millen up in Detroit wanted to interview you for the head coaching job even though it's more or less a formality since he's 99% sure he's hiring Steve Mariucci. In spite of that, we'd STRONGLY suggest you go to Detroit for the interview anyway. Think of it this way: not only will you be referred to as a guy who was a candidate for the Lions' job when future jobs open up, you will have a chance to make a favorable impression on the Lions' brass, and who knows when THAT job might become available in the future? All in all, there is absolutely no downside for you personally to go up there and spend a few hours with Matt, so enjoy yourself." is THAT far-fetched a scenario. It's something Major League Baseball could never do, but somehow I think Tags could pull it off. After all, he's got the stroke to have the silly rule in there in the first place, for better or worse.
Washington Huskies, 2003 Pac-10 football champs. Coming soon.
Originally posted by JayJayDeanThink of it this way: not only will you be referred to as a guy who was a candidate for the Lions' job when future jobs open up, you will have a chance to make a favorable impression on the Lions' brass, and who knows when THAT job might become available in the future?
But there is a potential downside to that too. If one guy goes to itnterview for several jobs(i.e. Marvin Lewis for a few years) and comes away with nothing it can potentially impede his ability to be a serious player for other jobs, which is probably why he wound up with the Bengals job.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Ben Franklin, 1759
That's true, but I was thinking of a lesser-known assistant who would like to be a future head coach but hadn't really gotten his name out there or maybe didn't have enough experience to warrant mention as a serious candidate. He's the guy the rule is supposed to be helping anyway.
Washington Huskies, 2003 Pac-10 football champs. Coming soon.
So we're four weeks into the College Football Season and whats everyone take? They're a lot of stories already. The biggest one to me in Injuries, or the lack of impact they have in today's game.