2008 Woodie Awards
Dungy, Smith Provide Important Role Models
Mike Jeffries/Sports Editor
Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: Sports
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The popular sidebar story in the midst of Super Bowl XLI hype seems to be a bit overdone. The fact that Indianopolis Colts' coach Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears' coach Lovie Smith will become the first non-white head coaches to walk the sideline as the head man in America's most popular entertainment event seems to be making headlines everywhere.
More than making waves in the world of sports, media outlets everywhere are shedding light on the social impact of having African-American head coaches in the Super Bowl.
Many people are wondering why the media has made such a big ordeal out of this milestone: afterall they are just NFL coaches doing their job.
They wonder why the coaches achievements should be any more glorified because they are minorities.
The real importance of Dungy and Smith's achievements goes beyond honoring two men who have reached the pinnacle of their profession.
The real importance of these coach's achievements is the example they have set to the minority community.
Here are two black men who have reached the zenith of professional sports, not by being athletic or by being good rappers, but by being intelligent, dedicated leaders of men.
The National Football League is an entertainment business. They make money the same way Hollywood does: They sell tickets to their events and try to get people motivated about paying them money in exchange for a few hours of entertainment.
Unfortunately, the entertainment industry offers few role models, especially for African-American children and teenagers.
That's where Dungy and Smith come in.
Both men are articulate, hard-working, humble and intelligent.
After 40 years of Super Bowls in our country, finally, black adolescents can look to these two men and say, "Hey, he did that, and so can I."
The importance of that cannot be overemphasized.The game
Both the Colts and the Bears belong in Super Bowl XLI.
The Colts' defense has played like a Super-Bowl caliber defense for the last three games and the Bears showed last week why they finished the season as the top seed in the NFC.
Look for the game to be close, unlike in the last several years. But Peyton Manning and Rex Grossman are the difference-makers in this game. Grossman will have to have a mistake-free game against the Colts for the Bears to win this one. The quarterback who protects the ball better should be hoisting the trophy when all is said and done.
My money is on the Colts.Overall, I'm looking forward to an entertaining game from Super Bowl XLI, minus the Prince halftime show that is.
More than making waves in the world of sports, media outlets everywhere are shedding light on the social impact of having African-American head coaches in the Super Bowl.
Many people are wondering why the media has made such a big ordeal out of this milestone: afterall they are just NFL coaches doing their job.
They wonder why the coaches achievements should be any more glorified because they are minorities.
The real importance of Dungy and Smith's achievements goes beyond honoring two men who have reached the pinnacle of their profession.
The real importance of these coach's achievements is the example they have set to the minority community.
Here are two black men who have reached the zenith of professional sports, not by being athletic or by being good rappers, but by being intelligent, dedicated leaders of men.
The National Football League is an entertainment business. They make money the same way Hollywood does: They sell tickets to their events and try to get people motivated about paying them money in exchange for a few hours of entertainment.
Unfortunately, the entertainment industry offers few role models, especially for African-American children and teenagers.
That's where Dungy and Smith come in.
Both men are articulate, hard-working, humble and intelligent.
After 40 years of Super Bowls in our country, finally, black adolescents can look to these two men and say, "Hey, he did that, and so can I."
The importance of that cannot be overemphasized.The game
Both the Colts and the Bears belong in Super Bowl XLI.
The Colts' defense has played like a Super-Bowl caliber defense for the last three games and the Bears showed last week why they finished the season as the top seed in the NFC.
Look for the game to be close, unlike in the last several years. But Peyton Manning and Rex Grossman are the difference-makers in this game. Grossman will have to have a mistake-free game against the Colts for the Bears to win this one. The quarterback who protects the ball better should be hoisting the trophy when all is said and done.
My money is on the Colts.Overall, I'm looking forward to an entertaining game from Super Bowl XLI, minus the Prince halftime show that is.
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