OK, this isn’t volleyball, but I think Ben Graham’s participation in the Superbowl was of good general sporting interest…
Unfortunately, Graham’s Arizona Cardinals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the last minute or so. bummer. On googling the Steelers, they’ve been owned by the Rooney family since they started in 1933. Their current owner, Dan Rooney, who is also chair of the NFL’s diversity committee, introduced “The Rooney Rule” in 2006, which required all teams interviewing a head coach position to interview a “minority” candidate.
As a result, within a year, African American head coaches went from representing 6% of head coaches to 22%. In real terms, the 32 team NFL went from having 2 African American head coaches to 7 (including the Steelers’ current coach who led them to the superbowl). The Rooney Rule didn’t require any of these “minority” coaches to be hired, just interviewed, so it’s not really affirmative action. But without the rule, would they have been interviewed at all?And if they got rid of the rule, would it go back to the way it was.
In either case, The Rooney Rule seems to be a good alternative to systemic discrimation and retarded reactionary affirtmative action policy (yeah as a “minority” i’m not a fan of affirmative action). 16% progress i suppose.
February 10, 2009 at 7:59 am |
I support the Steelers as well – Reason – They are the only team that do not have “cheer leaders”. Any sport than need “cheerleaders” need to look at itself.