On Super Bowl week, let\u2019s start here\u2026 an aspect that\u2019s very non-Super Bowl-ish and has implications far beyond the gridiron. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a 58-page class action lawsuit in federal court against the NFL, 3 specific teams, and 29 unnamed others. He is accusing them of racial discrimination in the hiring and retention of black coaches and high level, team personnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s actually a fascinating read, as it reads not as a typical legal filing\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It begins with 2 quotes \u2014 first by New England head coach Bill Belichick (with his second word, I might add, being a word never felt appropriate to repeat on this blog) \u2014 and second by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., addressing the inability to legislate morality but the ability to instead affect behavior. The succeeding preliminary statement then acknowledges that the plaintiff is filing on the first day of Black History Month, desiring to honor the racial leaders who\u2019ve gone before us, such as King, Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, and more. Combined with additional, included portraits and portrayals, it thus reads a little more narrative in form, in my opinion. Please note: that doesn\u2019t make it inaccurate nor wrong; it simply reads differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case is challenging from a legal perspective, as class actions are always difficult to lawfully substantiate, and in regard to Flores\u2019s situation in particular, he accuses team owners\/leaders of sham interviews and other questionable and unscrupulous behavior, not necessarily related to ethnicity. Hence, from this far away, it\u2019s impossible to discern with certainty whether or not Flores was hired, fired, retained or treated differently due to the color of his skin. Let us, no less, additionally never forget that how far away we are shapes and potentially obstructs our perspective in these situations\u2026 in most situations, if we\u2019re honest. We don\u2019t know what we don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let us simply respond with what we do know, as the Intramuralist\u2019s desire is for all of us, who are created equal, to all be treated equal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An abbreviated list then of what we know for certain in regard to the NFL, diversity, race and hiring practices\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will be interesting to watch this specific case as the off-season begins (note: there\u2019s one really big game to be played first\u2026 \u201cWHO DEY,\u201d by the way). <\/em>Flores, to note, has asked the court for \u201cinjunctive relief necessary to cure the Defendants\u2019 discriminatory policies and practices,\u201d in addition to compensatory damages. He, also, as of this posting, remains a candidate for 2 of the currently open NFL head coaching positions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So how do we remedy this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do we ensure all people are treated equally?<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do we ensure we never elevate one ethnicity over another?<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are tough questions, friends. And I have no easy answers. I simply want to always acknowledge truth \u2014 even what\u2019s hard \u2014 and to ensure absolutely all are honored, valued, and that no man\/woman\/child is valued less nor more than another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Super Bowl week, let\u2019s start here\u2026 an aspect that\u2019s very non-Super Bowl-ish and has implications far beyond the gridiron. On Tuesday former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a 58-page class action lawsuit in federal court against the NFL, 3 specific teams, and 29 unnamed others. He is accusing them of racial discrimination … <\/p>\n