Super BOWL XL: Pittsburgh Steelers v. Seattle Seahawks in Detroit! (I'm going)

After a 2005 which saw me cancel my trip to Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, due to my Mom's battle with Breast Cancer -- she's much better now -- I'm proud to be attending the 40th Super Bowl game. This is one of the "row of three" host cities that bidded for the right to host a Super Bowl with Oakland.

I must admit that I'm surprised to see the Pittsburgh Steelers as the AFC Champion, as I expected and wanted to see the Indianapolis Colts play the Seattle Seahawks. I also want to see Indy Coach Tony Dungy lift the Lombardi trophy over his head.

Oh, well.

But I am looking forward to the events, the people, and the game, and Detroit. I'm confident the city will put it's best foot forward. What I like is that they -- unlike Jacksonville -- didn't lie to the NFL about the number of hotel rooms they had under contract.

Moreover, Larry Alexander and Susan Sherer of the Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau were very nice to me when we met in Atlanta at the 2000 Fall NFL Owners Meeting.

I only hope the weather's over 30 degrees!

Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis Can Trump NFL by Hiring Black or Latino Coach - Monte Poole of The Oakland Tribune

Note: The reason why I didn't link to the article is ANG Newspaper's website archive is so poorly designed and maintained, the link would go bad after 30 days. Here's Monte's article below, and his photo to the left.



Al could trump rest by hiring minority
Monte Poole

MAYBE AL DAVIS, often accused of being past his prime, is the one NFL executive who will see what his colleagues have missed.

And wouldn't he love that?

The Raiders owner is the last of the nine bosses to have interviewed candidates but remain undecided about his next head coach. Six have hired their new man, and two others are believed to be an announcement away.

Which leaves Al in a position he relishes, able to defy convention, be contrary, go his own way.

It's as easy as hiring Maurice Carthon or Ron Rivera as Oakland's next head coach. Or Tim Lewis, Jerry Gray, Hue Jackson, Ted Cottrell, Greg Blatche or Donnie Henderson.

Each is a man of color, touted as capable of a being quality head coach in the NFL. Men of color, given such an opportunity, have done exceptionally well. So well, you'd think NFL owners would have noticed.

Maybe they have, but are too race-conscious to acknowledge it.

Otherwise, they are clinging to ignorance in spite of the obvious.

Most observers noted the results achieved in 2005 by Tony Dungy in Indianapolis, Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati and Lovie Smith in Chicago. There was widespread acknowledgment of the strides made by Romeo Crennel in Cleveland.

Four African-American head coaches, all former coordinators, all longtime dues-paying members of the coaching fraternity, experiencing success in a league reluctant to hire head coaches of color.

With Smith and Dungy finishing 1-2 in the Coach of the Year voting, and Lewis tied for fourth, it was an undeniable breakthrough. Equality, finally, is at hand. Fairness at last. That's what the folks at the barber shop say.

Ahh, but team owners and presidents, those who do the hiring, don't go to the barber shop. Don't hear what's said there, either.

How else to explain the sixhires this off-season, as well as the two reportedly decided? The new wave looks a lot like the old wave. Some are relatively young, maybe prematurely promoted. Some are relatively old, perhaps overdue for an opportunity. Several were downright mystifying.

All are indisputably white.

Brad Childress (Minnesota), Mike McCarthy (Green Bay), Eric Mangini (New York Jets), Rod Marinelli (Detroit), Sean Payton (New Orleans) and Scott Linehan (St. Louis) now have their chance. Buffalo reportedly is ready to hire former Chicago Bears coach Dick Jauron, while Houston will hire Denver assistant Gary Kubiak, who became available Sunday after the Broncos were ousted from the playoffs.

Eight positions filled, none by anyone who brings similar socio-ethnic experiences or points of view as those currently among the most successful coaches in the league.

It is apparent is that few employers are influenced when Denver safety John Lynch says two of the greatest positive influences on his life — his life! — are Dungy and Herm Edwards, neither of whom coaches the Broncos. And that few understand the amplitude of the statement when Bengals receiver Chad Johnson says his head coach, Lewis, is "like a father" to him.

Mangini, who turned 35 last Thursday, spent one season as defensive coordinator in New England, after five years coaching defensive backs. Before that, he was a quality control coach, which means he was responsible for coffee and doughnuts.

And McCarthy, architect of a 49ers offense that finished at the bottom of the league, gets rewarded by the Packers.

Why not hire former FEMA boss Michael "heckuva job" Brown?

Whatever happened to the notion that the NFL is a copycat league, where needy teams try to mimic the latest, hottest organizations?

Rivera, defensive coordinator under Smith with the Bears, went from hot to not hot in the blink of an eye. Same with Tim Lewis, who serves in the same capacity for the New York Giants. Henderson and Cottrell, two more DCs, got courtesy interviews and now find themselves unemployed.

Boys and girls, black head coaches typically make a positive impact. Art Shell improved the Raiders, Ray Rhodes improved the Eagles, Edwards improved the Jets, Dungy improved the Colts. Dennis Green improved the Vikings (he's got a ways to go with the Cardinals).

For evidence of turnaround jobs, consider Dungy with the Bucs. Or Smith with the Bears. Or Lewis, becoming the second coach in Bengals history to have a winning record (27-21) after three seasons.

Only Rhodes (37-42-1 with two teams) and Edwards (41-43 after going 4-12 with the injury-depleted Jets in'05) are sub-.500.

These men have done well not because they are black but because they were highly qualified by the time opportunity knocked.

History reveals progress is not progress until those in power see it as progress. The hirings this off-season serve as a potent reminder — even if Al bucks the trend.


Monte Poole can be reached at (510) 208-6461 or by e-mail at mpoole@angnewspapers.com

USC's Matt Leinart Selects Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who guided Southern California to a 37-2 record during the past three seasons, will be represented by agents Leigh Steinberg and Chuck Price in upcoming contract negotiations.

"Matt is a dominating franchise quarterback who should be picked at the top of the first round," Steinberg said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Steinberg has represented the first pick in NFL draft eight times. Several past standout quarterbacks including Hall of Famer Steve Young, Warren Moon and Troy Aikman were among his clients. He represents current starting quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Mark Brunell.

Steinberg and Price will work with Air 7, Leinart's management team.

Leinart announced last week that the talent and literary agency Creative Artists Agency would represent him for his off-field business ventures.

"With the combined team of CAA, Chuck, Leigh, and Air 7, I am confident that my business affairs are in the very best hands," Leinart said. "This gives me the freedom to focus on becoming the best football player I can be."

Leinart is expected to be one of the first three players chosen in the April 29 draft, along with USC running back Reggie Bush and Texas quarterback Vince Young. Bush won the 2005 Heisman, with Young finishing second in the voting and Leinart third.

SUPER BOWL XL To Reach More Viewer in Europe - NFL

From the NFL:

SUPER BOWL XL will reach more viewers in Europe than ever before following the signing of two new network broadcast agreements, giving the NFL high-level presence in its three major European markets of Germany, the United Kingdom and France, it was announced today.

In Germany, the Super Bowl XL action from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday February 5 will be aired live on ARD. It will be the first time that the No. 1 network in the country has broadcast the finale of the NFL season.

For the first time, Super Bowl will be aired on terrestrial network in France, following an agreement with France Television, which will show the game live on France 2, the second largest station in the country. In the United Kingdom, the NFL is in the second year of a three-year deal with ITV, the biggest commercial network in Europe.

JIM CONNELLY, Managing Director of NFL Europe, said: "We are very excited about securing such highprofile broadcast partners in our three key European markets. This level of exposure is unprecedented for any American sports event in Europe.

"The key to the growth of our NFL business is exposure to a mass audience and these agreements give us a great platform upon which to build. Super Bowl is the NFL's showcase event and is like no other sporting event in the world, with its mixture of show business, music and exciting action on the field. We hope that many new people will become interested in the NFL after having the chance to watch this year’s game. We are excited about the opportunity of growing our sport in conjunction with these partners in years to come."

ARD will have a 15-man crew in Detroit to broadcast the game. In the booth as color commentator will be German-born offensive lineman TOM NÜTTEN, a Super Bowl XXXIV winner with the St Louis Rams. France 2's coverage will be anchored from their studios in Paris, where the station is hosting the NFL's official Paris Super Bowl party, featuring performances by the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders.

ITV’s coverage will be co-hosted from Ford Field, where former Pittsburgh Steelers running back MERRIL HOGE will be one of the game analysts, and from London, with Philadelphia Eagles linebacker DHANI JONES a studio guest, along with World Cup-winning England rugby captain MARTIN JOHNSON. The game also will be screened live in the UK by long-time NFL broadcast partner Sky Sports, whose show will feature Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX winner SHAUN GAYLE, and will air live on BBC Radio
Five Live.

Ex-Carolina Panther Cheerleader Pleads Guilty to Fight and Sex in Bathroom Stall

For some reason, this story still captures the immagination. I think it's the sign of the changing times. But changing to what?

TAMPA, Fla. - A former Carolina Panthers cheerleader got six months probation for her role in a bathroom brawl sparked by accusations that she was having sex with another cheerleader.

Angela Keathley, 26, pleaded guilty Wednesday to disorderly conduct and obstructing a police officer during the Nov. 6 fight, which broke out when women in line to use the bathroom made the allegations about Keathley and fellow cheerleader Victoria Renee Thomas.

Thomas, 20, denied the sex allegation. She has pleaded not guilty to giving a false name to a police officer, battery and unlawful display of a license.

JT The Brick - The Most Dynamic Sports Talk Show Host in America

I've gotten into a habit of listening to a man I first met at Leigh Steinberg's Super Bowl Party in Houston. Then, as my life would have it, we saw each other again at Oakland Raiders Headquarters for the 2004 NFL Draft.

JT's show and approach have grown over the years. He's now -- in my view -- the best of the national sports talk show hosts.

To learn more about JT, click on the title of this post.

New Golden State Warriors Blog!

Yep. We've got another blog. This one on the Golden State Warriors. Check it out with a click on the title of this post above the cool Warriors logo.

NFL Coaching Openings As of January 17, 2006

Listed above are all of the NFL teams with open coaching positions, who the previous coach was, and who was hired to replace that coach. (Update this to reflect the selection of Sean Peyton to coach the New Orleans Saints.)

If you look at this from a perspective of minority hiring, there has not been a net gain in the number of African American coaches. Herman Edwards, who's black, shifted teams marking the first time in NFL history that an African American man has went from one team to another without being fired first.

But the pattern of disturbing hires continues. The latest being Eric Mangini, who after only one year as a defensive coordinator -- one year -- is selected as the new head coach of the New York Jets. Meanwhile, Donnie Henderson, who's black and who interviewed for the Jets head position, may not be retained on the current staff.

This follows the Packers' shocking, disturbing, and alarming hire of the 49ers Offensive Coordinator Mike McCarthy, and Sean Peyton was just hired as the new head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

There are currently six head coaches and 31 assistant coaches who are black in the NFL. You can't tell me the teams can only find three African American assistants -- Tim Lewis of the NY Giants, Maurice Carthon of the Cleveland Browns and Donnie Henderson of the NY Jets -- to interview for head coaching positions? Look, if New York Jets Owner Woody Johnson can hire Mangini, with a paper-thin resume he can select Hue Jackson.

What really bothers me is the complete silence of the black football writers -- Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post and Michael Smith of ESPN, to name some of the most widely read scribes. They've not raised a voice in protest over this problem at all.

Heck of all the famous pens out there, only Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Mike Silver has actually tried to do something about this both by mentioning it in his writing and even lobbying our beloved Cal Berkeley to hire a black coach -- Marvin Lewis -- before he was rightly snapped up by the Cincinnati Bengals (Cal hired Jeff Tedford).

Oh, I forgot to mention that my friend Sil's Jewish, not black.

Michael Smith -- in a ridiculous puff job written for ESPN's website -- even went as far as to recommend Mangini for the Jets job. Way to stick it to the brothas, brotha.

It's too bad the Johnnie Cochran's of the world are passing on; they're leaving us with a world mostly populated with African Americans in postions where they can make a difference, but are afraid to make a difference.

Do SF 49ers Talks with Ex-Raider Coach Norv Turner signal the end of The Walsh Offense in SF?

According to many reports, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan is negotiating to bring ex-Oakland Raiders Head Coach Norv Turner in as their new offensive coordinator to replace Mike McCarthy, who after one subpar year was hired by The Green Bay Packers as their new head coach.

Turner, long considered one of the league's brightest minds, is not known as an expert in the Bill Walsh system of timed passes, large steps, muliple formations, and team organization. Indeed, he's placed as an expert in a style of offensive passing popularized first by Sid Gillman, and then Oakland Raiders Head Coach and now Owner Al Davis before being improved by San Diego's coach Don Coryell during the 80s, and who's system set numerous passing records with Quarterback Dan Fouts as the target.

The reasons why Turner is being considered by the 49ers are someone strange.

First, when Turner was the head coach of the Washington Redskins, he hired Nolan as Defensive Coordinator, then was forced to let him go by Dan Snyder, the team's owner. Pro Football Weekly reports that there may be "some issues" with what would be a reversal in relationships, but it appears Turner is able to come into the 49ers fold without a problem. He certainly wouldn't have to uproot his family and leave the Bay Area.

In my view, the real problem exists for the Niners 2005 NFL First Round Draft Pick Alex Smith. After just one year of not only learning a new system and the speed of the NFL, he faces the very real prospect of having to learn a new offense all over again. There are over 10 different teams that use the Walsh Offense terminology, including the 49ers under McCarthy.

Turner's not familar with a lingo that really can take a simple play and make it sound more complex than it is. So if Turner comes in as the Niners new offensive caretaker, will the plays and nomenclature change?

I think Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Coach Hue Jackson would have been a better choice for the Niners needs.

But that's not going to happen, so if Turner's able to come in and rip apart the playbok look out for another long year for Alex Smith.

Statement by NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira On Troy Polamalu Play in Yesterday's Steelers-Colts Game

I obtained this directly from the National Football League

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573
WWW.NFLMedia.com

Joe Browne, Executive Vice President--Communications
Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations
January 16, 2006


"The definition of a catch -- or in this case an interception -- states that in
the process of making the catch a player must maintain possession of the ball
after he contacts the ground. The initial call on the field was that Troy Polamalu
intercepted the pass because he maintained possession of the ball after hitting
the ground. The replay showed that Polamalu had rolled over and was rising to
his feet when the ball came loose. He maintained possession long enough to
establish a catch. Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the
field that it was a catch and fumble.

"The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies
when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did
not happen here."

Indy Coach Tony Dungy on NFL Network's "CoachSpeak" Today

I just watched "CoachSpeak" on The NFL Network about 15 minutes ago. Host Darren Horton and Coach Jim Mora Sr. interviewed Indianapolis Head Coach Tony Dungy.

Always the class person, Dungy did back his quarterback and explain that Peyton Manning didn't mean to point fingers, but he was referring to a problem that, from listening to Coach Dungy, was part of the team's conversation during the ebb-and-flow of the Steelers game.

Dungy also said that he would take these next two to three weeks and reflect on his family and the passing of his eldest son, but for now, he was enthusiastic about returning to the Colts and being with the organization for a long time.

As a person who lost his father October 13th of 2005 and his stepfather on March 17th of the same year, I can totally understand what he's going through. I only hope Colts fans can be supportive and encourage him to stay the course. I also wish that sports fans would be more mature and reflective in their evaluation of Dungy this year.

The Colts will be back. But for a very clear set of spritual reasons, I don't think this matter of a Super Bowl win was suppose to happen this time.

But it will.

Mother Jones' Editor Clara Jeffrey shows how far women still have to go (sigh!)

I saw this in the now-current Mother Jones mag and fortunately it was online. I'm going to reprint it below. It's said to note that for all of our "progress" much has not changed. I wonder how much of this is because we as a society-- men and women -- just can't seem to embrace real equality, and so the nation slows progress in this area. I think there have been advances, but we really need to start a national dialog on this issue. We need to review where we are, and why.

Limited Ambitions

News: Why Women Can't Win for Trying

By Clara Jeffery (editor)
January/February 2006 Issue of Mother Jones

Women make 80¢ on the male dollar, even accounting for time off to raise kids. If that factor is not accounted for, women make 56¢.

Over her career, the average working woman loses $1.2 million to wage inequity.

Since 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was signed, the wage gap has closed by less than half a cent per year.

In 1963, RFK withdrew his nomination to a club that had spurned a black official and formed a club that did not admit women.

3 board members of Catalyst--a workplace-equity advocacy group--belong to Augusta National Golf Club, which bans women.

One is the CEO of GE, which won a 2004 Catalyst Award, although the company has a below-average rate of female executives.

Companies with women in top jobs see 35 percent higher returns than those without.

74 percent of female executives have a spouse who’s employed full time. 75 percent of male execs have a spouse who is not employed.

42 percent of female execs over 40 don't have kids.

For full-time working fathers, each child correlates to a 2.1 percent earnings increase. For working moms, it is a 2.5 percent loss.

Every industrialized country except the U.S. and Australia has paid parental leave with a guaranteed job on return to work.

86 percent of guests on Sunday-morning political talk shows are men. So are 80 percent of the guests on The Daily Show.

Only 5 of 20-odd "thought-leader" magazines have ever had a woman as editor-in-chief. Two of those jobs were held by Tina Brown.

Only 24 percent of recent works in The New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times Magazine were written by women, according to WomenTK.com.

1/3 of those were articles on gender or family or were short stories or memoirs.

41 percent of Mother Jones' writers during the same period were women. This issue only 11 percent are.

Magazines that run lists of the best firms for women to work for often accept pay-to-play advertising or use self-reported data. Working Mother lists firms facing class-action suits for sex harassment and pregnancy discrimination. (Wow. This means most PR on this matter may be fixed!)

Working Mother recently found Allstate, American Express, and General Mills among the 8 best firms for women of color. At each, 30% of new hourly hires are women of color, but 0% of newly hired executives are.

Women over 65 are almost twice as likely to be poor as men.

Actresses over 40 account for 9 percent of movie roles. Actors over 40 account for 30 percent.

Anne Bancroft was 36 when she played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate. Dustin Hoffman was 30.

Chances that a Best Actress winner portrayed a prostitute, a nun, or a mute: 1 in 8.

Since orchestras started requiring musicians to audition behind screens, the number of women hired has increased 20%.

40% of married professional women feel their husbands do less work around the house than they create.

Each teenage girl increases a mom's weekly housework by 1.5 hours, but leaves a dad's unchanged. A teenage boy adds 3 hours to mom's chores, and an hour to dad's.

Heavyset women get fewer promotions and face more job discrimination. Heavyset men do not.

Models weigh 23% less than average women. In 1986 it was only 8 percent less.

The above statistics were quoted in a press release for a Dove product whose adcampaign uses full-figured models but the use of which is claimed to reduce cellulite.

Asked to pick a partner for a relationship, college men tend to choose women in subordinate jobs. College women show no preference, nor, for a one-night stand, do men.

Men only earn 3/4 as many B.A.s as women. Some colleges now admit to practicing affirmative action for male applicants.

Only 1/3 of female Ph.D.s who get on the tenure track before having a baby ever do so.

31.5 percent of Iraq's parliament are women. Only 15 percent of the U.S. Congress are women.

15 African nations have a higher percentage of female legislators than does the U.S.

69 percent of men believe America would be better off if women occupied more top political jobs. Only 61 percent of women agree.

Among Republicans, that split is 52 percent to 34 percent.

Under Bush , the Labor Dept. has eliminated 25 publications on pay inequity and child care.

After a woman filed a sexual-harassment complaint against her Merrill Lynch superior, she circulated an article titled "Stop Whining," which warned that "constant complaining can cost you your job."