Minorities good enough to play, but not good enough to lead?
Markell Watson
Issue date: 3/16/05 Section: Sports
With the recent purchase of the Minnesota Vikings by Reggie Fowler, I feel it's high time to discuss the role of minorities in the sports world. It seems as if the message to minorities is that we are good enough to play, but not to lead. Fowler's acquisition of the Vikings makes him the first and only minority owner in the NFL. There is one minority principle owner in each of the other major sports leagues.
Fowler, again, is the only minority owner in the NFL. There are also three minority general managers in the league, and six minority head coaches. Considering there are 32 NFL teams, these numbers become appalling.
Minorities make up only three percent of the NFL's ownership, 9 percent of its GM's, and 19 percent of its head coaches. Throw in the fact that 70 percent of the players are minorities, and these numbers seem pretty lousy.
The problem is not that much better in the other professional leagues. In major league baseball, 7 of the 30 teams are managed by minorities, a 23 percent clip. There is one minority GM, Omar Minaya of the New York Mets, and one minority owner, Arte Moreno of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They both represent three percent of these categories: 42 percent of the athletes in the MLB are minorities.
The NBA has 10 minority head coaches of its 30 teams: a 33 percent rate. This seems to be a good thing. However, when told that 80 percent of the players in the NBA are minorities, this number seems wretched. Throw in the fact that there are only five minority GM's and one minority owner (not counting percentage owners such as Jay-Z and Nelly, the only minority owner in the NBA is Charlotte's Bob Johnson), and this seems downright absurd.
The NHL is actually the only league in which minority leadership reflects its participation. The NHL is made up of two-percent minority players. The New York Islanders are owned by Charles Wang, who makes up three percent of the NHL's ownership.
Numbers in NCAA sports are similarly horrible. In Division I-A football, of the 117 teams there are only four minority coaches. Four. Of 117 possible spots. Those four make up three percent of coaches in Division I-A football. Minorities comprise 53 percent of the student athletes in Division I-A football.
Fowler, again, is the only minority owner in the NFL. There are also three minority general managers in the league, and six minority head coaches. Considering there are 32 NFL teams, these numbers become appalling.
Minorities make up only three percent of the NFL's ownership, 9 percent of its GM's, and 19 percent of its head coaches. Throw in the fact that 70 percent of the players are minorities, and these numbers seem pretty lousy.
The problem is not that much better in the other professional leagues. In major league baseball, 7 of the 30 teams are managed by minorities, a 23 percent clip. There is one minority GM, Omar Minaya of the New York Mets, and one minority owner, Arte Moreno of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They both represent three percent of these categories: 42 percent of the athletes in the MLB are minorities.
The NBA has 10 minority head coaches of its 30 teams: a 33 percent rate. This seems to be a good thing. However, when told that 80 percent of the players in the NBA are minorities, this number seems wretched. Throw in the fact that there are only five minority GM's and one minority owner (not counting percentage owners such as Jay-Z and Nelly, the only minority owner in the NBA is Charlotte's Bob Johnson), and this seems downright absurd.
The NHL is actually the only league in which minority leadership reflects its participation. The NHL is made up of two-percent minority players. The New York Islanders are owned by Charles Wang, who makes up three percent of the NHL's ownership.
Numbers in NCAA sports are similarly horrible. In Division I-A football, of the 117 teams there are only four minority coaches. Four. Of 117 possible spots. Those four make up three percent of coaches in Division I-A football. Minorities comprise 53 percent of the student athletes in Division I-A football.
