The NBA Adding More Color To Front Offices?

  When I think about Affirmative Action I think about underprivileged children getting a chance to reach their highest educational potential. But this policy doesn’t start and end with just education. It translates into sports as well.

Dan Rooney who the rule is named after and coach of the Pittsburg Steelers, Mike Tomlin.

In the National Football League (NFL) they have the Rooney Rule established in 2003, which states that NFL teams are required to interview  at least one minority  for a head coaching or front office position.  Its pretty pitiful that in the year 2016 a policy of this nature has to be in place but here we are.

NBA Commmissioner Adam Silver

The National Basketball Association (NBA) seems to have joined the club by creating a Basketball Operations Associates Program for ex players and others looking for front office positions. 

Since 2010, 30 positions for front office positions were filled. Only three of those 30 people hired were African American. –Comcast SportNet Chicago

However,  the NBA has had a “good” track record  as far as racial hiring practices go. But to me good isn’t good enough. We have all these black players who go hard day in and day out but they don’t have anyone one in the offices who they can relate to. Im not saying because the league is mostly black that black people need to be in the front office. What I would like is to have black business men and women to be in high positions to show inclusiveness and possibilities for the players and others who may want to pursue that route.

Nonetheless, Im enthusiastic about this news in the NBA and look forward to the doors it will open for people of color. What are your thoughts on the Basketball Operations Associates Program?

– It Is I Dèsirè

The University Of Missouri Protest Gets A Win With Football Team

Social media has been buzzing with the news of students protesting because of racism that occurs at the University of Missouri. There are so many angles to this story and I’m choosing the biggest angle of them all. Sports.  I’m taking it back to elementary school with the five W’s and sometimes How formula to simplify the events.

WHO: Jonathan Butler – He went on a hunger strike to bring attention to the racism occurring at the University of Missouri.

Concerned Student 1950 – an organization on campus that gets its name from when the institution began accepting black students.

Missouri Tigers – The University football team that joined in the protest.

Timothy Wolfe – President of the University of Missouri System who was asked to step down due to neglecting to tackle the racial problems on campus.

WHAT: Students have been complaining for months about racial slurs being said at them. Also, during the school’s homecoming protestors blocked Wolfe’s car where he ignored them and they were moved by police. Tired of not being acknowledged Butler  begins his hunger strike. Students begin to sleep in tents on campus and the football team joins to support the movement as well. 

WHEN: The homecoming parade incident occurred on October 10th, Students began sleeping in tents on November 2nd, the hunger strike began on November 6th, November 8th it becomes a real story when the Missouri Tigers release the following statement, Wolfe steps down and hunger strike ends on November 9th. Chuck Henson (a black man) is hired as interim Vice Chancellor for inclusion, Diversity and Equality.

“(We) Will no longer participate in any football related activities until President Tim Wolf resigns or is removed due to his negligence toward marginalized students’ experiences.”

WHERE: The University of Missouri Campus

WHY: To integrate a racial- awareness program, for more black faculty and staff to be hired, and receive an apology from Wolfe.

Chuck Henson – Interm Vice Chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equality

HOW: The coming together of the youth accomplished this goal. But it was the power of the Missouri Tigers and money that got the job done. This is a testament of how sports transcends X’s and O’s and can make an impact on this world. This is why sports are so crucial however, it’s the money behind them that really did the talking. Did you know that if the team did not play their upcoming game against Brigham Young University at Arrowhead Stadium (home of the NFL Kansas City Chiefs) the university would have lost more than $1 million? At the end of the day money talks and that’s why the story played out the way that it did. A hunger strike or students feeling unsafe at school is not enough for people in power to make changes. This is just a battle won in the current war of racism.

-It Is I Dèsirè