It’s black history month in January!!
Last night, history was made with Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts beating the Patriots like a damn dusty sofa. This marks the first time ever that two black coaches will meet in the Super Bowl.
And as my uncle said last night, “Next year we’ll have a black president and a white woman vice president. We just keep flippin’ shit on ‘em!”
Amen to that, Uncle.
I won’t pretend to be an ESPN writer. I don’t know all the plays or stats, but what I do know is that after nine years, Payton Manning is going to the Super Bowl. Two black coaches, friends no less, will be going up against each other for the biggest Head Honcho title in the NFL. I also know that last night’s game had to be some of the most exciting minutes of football that I’ve seen in a long time. And my heart didn’t implode with anticipation. Always a good thing.
But what I’m really wondering is how this monumental occasion will affect the world of football.
Blacks have been applauded on the field, known for our athleticism, grace, and ability to run and throw like gods. Black men playing football are paid boatloads of money to run shit on the field, but how many times are they seen behind the Motorola headsets?
Football is an old sport. The game as we know it today, started in the early 1900’s. And in the time since then, this is the first meeting of this magnitude? In 2007?
So now that Dungy and Smith have proven they’ve got what it takes, will we start seeing more minorities on coaching staffs? Will the big bucks start trickling down to folks of color? Will we be acknowledged for our tactical brains as well as our game winning brawn?
Times they are a changing, and I for one am happy as a clam. How’s that for cliché overload?
Come February 4th, I’ll be smack dab in front of the television with my beer and guacamole, knowing that this time I’m not just rooting for a football game, but I’m watching a moment in history.
Now, go Bears!!
