Several self-described blacks called in and kept explaining why it was important, and that if Hillary Clinton, (or Condi Rice) were to be elected president, everyone would acknowledge the accomplishments of the first woman to reach the highest office in the land.
I write this as I reflect on my 13 years in professional football. This is the 50th anniversary of my being drafted in the 17th round by the Detroit Lions in 1957, moving on to the Steelers and Giants, before becoming the Chargers' first quarterback in 1960. I ended my career in Buffalo with the Bills in 1970 when I ran for Congress. So I've lived, played, worked and enjoyed pro football through four NFL commissioners: Bert Bell, Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue and now Roger Goodell. I have seen the NFL go from 12 teams to 32 teams and from 34 men on a squad in the 1950s to 45 today with progress in just about every category of the game including the number of black assistant coaches.
When I started 50 years ago there were no black coaches, no black quarterbacks and no black general managers. Some said they weren't ready, but believe me, they absolutely were ready, but thanks to Commissioners Rozelle, Tagliabue and Goodell, owners like Dan Rooney, Al Davis, Jim Irsay and many others, black coaches are now interviewed, jobs are opened, opportunities are expanded and this Sunday two outstanding NFL coaches who happen to be black will be on the sidelines in front of millions or so people of viewers who will watch in person or on TV around.
Big deal? Absolutely, unquestionably a "big deal." Now six NFL coaches are black, some of the best quarterbacks in football are black and the Giants, Jaguars and Ravens have outstanding black general managers. This would make the great Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard proud, as the first NFL black coach in the 1920s. Yes, much progress has been made particularly since 1949 when George Taliaferro, the all-American tailback from Indiana University, was the first black drafted by the NFL. Taliaferro was the Jackie Robinson of pro-football.
It's absolutely stunning that Coach Smith and Coach Dungy will square off Sunday, and while most will cheer for "da Bears" or "da Colts," millions of men, women and children will be equally proud that two men of color will help determine the outcome.
Hopefully soon, it won't be such a big deal. But for now and for those of us who know the history of the obstacles overcome, it's a really big deal.