Griffin Speaks
I applaud the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Greg Calhoun and Alvin Holmes in
seeking an even playing field for African American Coaches, but let us
get real. These gentlemen more than most people know what the real deal
is. You have to be twice as good to go half as far in anything if you
are African American unless you are part of the Good Old Boy Network!
I wasn't surprised at the University of Alabama's latest hiring decision.
Let's face it Green Bay Packers assistant coach Sylvester Croom, who played
for Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant is in no way twice as good as Mike
Shula. How dare Croom expect to be hired over Shula. Where has he been?
Jackson is questioning the University of Alabama about their specific
hiring criteria for head football coaches. Has Jesse lost his cotton-picking
mind? This is Alabama! Bubba knows Bubba's sister and Bubba's sister knows
the guy on the hiring committee. They square dance together at the local
tavern.
The other night Bubba's sister ran into Mike Shula and told him about
the job at Alabama. He asked could she hook him up? She said let me call
my cousin Pearlie Mae; she is fishing buddies with the president of the
University. She calls the president and he say, "tell him to Come
on down!"
We must face reality. It is whom you know in Alabama, not what you know or how good you are. I hope that one-day merit will count for something, but believe me everything in Alabama is politics. Everything else is personal!
Greg Griffin is a freelance writer. You can read his previous articles by logging on to his web page at www.greggriffin.com
