NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
Terry Bradshaw is a Pittsburgh Steelers legend who has made a great career for himself beyond the game. A lot of times in sports when our icons make statements we don’t agree with we give them a pass. Racism still exists, but unlike in the 1950’s it is not quite as “in your face.” Now I am not calling Bradshaw a racist. I do not know the man personally, but I will say his statements about current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin should NOT get a pass.
Is it funny to anyone else that most times when a black person, more specifically a male, excels at something it has to be met with a side-eye? I’m sure I have most of you feeling uncomfortable by now, and we can’t have that so let’s look at his stats…
Mike Tomlin:
- 102-57 career record
- Super Bowl Champion
- 2 time AFC Champion
- 5 time AFC North Champion
- 7 playoff appearances
- 2008 Coach of The Year
Now a cheerleader, as Terry called Tomlin, doesn’t produce the way he has. Take a look at this season; even with the injuries and suspended players they still won the North. When Bradshaw says, “I don’t know what he does.” Let me help you – he WINS, and he LEADS his team with respect and professionalism. Now he is far from perfect: questionable calls for two and the sideline tripping on the kickoff play come to mind, but even with his faults his response to Terry’s comments show the class act he is…
Let this settle in your mind for a second, “I don’t think he’s a great coach at all. His name never pops in my mind when we think of great coaches in the NFL.”
Wait…What…Have you seen some of the people walking the sidelines? Tomlin has reached 100 wins faster than the two guys who coached ahead of him. A big part of coaching, for those who forgot, is, to a certain point, being your team’s biggest cheerleader, to motivate the team. Bill Parcells once said, “You are as good as your record.”. If that’s true, then Terry needs to check himself.
Is it too much to ask for people to take other people’s accomplishments for what they are? The amount of posts we see on social media promoting grind, hustle, and hard work are in the millions. Funny how when a person of color does all those things it’s often met with people trying to find “the catch”.
Maybe 2017 is the year we as a society get it together and do more praising and supporting and less hating. A man can hope, right? Keep cheering, Mike. Maybe another Super Bowl trip is in the cards.
