If a Mount Rushmore of Black coaches is ever erected, who would be the four faces to grace that mythical mountainside?
Black coaches
Posted inSports
The day I met Clem Haskins
I will never forget meeting one of the best basketball coaches the University of Minnesota ever had: Clem Haskins.
Posted inSports
Cultural conditioning still relegating Blacks to also-rans
Yes, cultural conditioning is alive and well in the NFL. It’s called the Rooney Rule.
Posted inSports
History-making Black coach savors Final Four memories
Mike Davis was the first Black coach at Indiana and one of five Black coach to have a team play for a NCAA title.
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
C. Vivian Stringer’s ‘coaching tree’ yet to be measured
A “coaching tree” historically refers to a head coach whose career has produced head coaching jobs for others. Sadly, this reference seems only to apply to White coaches. You often hear about the late Pat Summitt’s “tree,” but we hear nothing about Rutgers’ C. Vivian Stringer’s, the only Black coach to amass 1,000 career victories. […]
Posted inSports, Vikings/NFL
Five African American NFL head coaches fired
‘Not a good look for diversity today in the NFL.’
Posted inSports
Cheers to all Black coaches, no matter sport or gender
Dwane Casey and J.B. Bickerstaff are members of the NBA’s “second chance” coaching fraternity. They, along with Nate McMillian, Alvin Gentry and David Fizdale, are in their current positions after getting second or third head coaching opportunities — a rarity for Black coaches. Both Casey and Bickerstaff got their second chances after leaving Minnesota. Now […]
Posted inSports, Twins/MLB
Three of four new Twins’ hires Black
Is this the beginning of greater team diversity? A non-shopping “Black Friday” took place at the Minnesota Twins ballpark last week when it was announced that three of four new hires are Black. This comes on the heels of our criticism of the Twins’ on-field and off-field diversity efforts, or lack thereof, a couple of […]
Posted inNews
Dennis Green, a great and pioneering coach
Early Sunday morning en route to church, a Black woman mournfully asked, “Did you know about Dennis Green? It’s sad.” The unnamed woman affirmed how many local Blacks and others felt when the news broke Friday, July 22 that Green died at age 67 of cardiac arrest. This reporter thereafter trolled the web and other […]
Posted inOpinion
Karl-Anthony Towns: NBA Rookie of the Year
Sam Mitchell: we thank you for a job well done We are elated that Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns was voted 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year (the second year in a row for a Timberwolves’ player: Andrew Wiggins was 2015 Rookie of the year). But don’t forget the key role Sam Mitchell played in developing […]
Posted inSports
Creating opportunities for coaches of color
The headline writers for the local Minneapolis daily newspaper — well known in our community for its culturally conditioned coverage, especially in sports — were recently in rare form: The headlines “In Good Hands” and “We finally got it right” were placed above photos of White faces along with one columnist’s thesis that they provide […]
Posted inSports
NBA playoffs: Two Black coaches take center stage for Raptors vs. Caviliers series
This year’s Eastern Conference winners will ensure that the 2016 NBA Finals will have a Black head coach on the sidelines. Black coaches oftentimes aren’t given enough credit, especially during game telecasts of their leadership ability on and off the court.