Americans have been playing the game of football since 1869.  For the past four decades, African Americans have dominated the National Football League – as players.  But this Sunday, February 4, 2007, the two competing teams – the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts – will be led by two African American coaches, Lovie Smith and Anthony “Tony� Dungy, for the first time in the history of the National Football League and our nation. My legislation, H. Res. 90, cosponsored by more than fifty of my colleagues, recognizes the singular achievement of these two intelligent and brave leaders and the National Football League for knowing the true value and importance of diversity as an organization.

We honor the achievements of these coaches that were earned through hard work, dedication, bravery and the sacrifice of their families to attain the perch of the Super Bowl.  We thank the individual team owners who were smart and brave enough to look at the intelligence, character, and talent of these two gentlemen and other individuals, not just the color of their skin. For the first time, African American children can look up and not only see African American players, but also African American coaches, thinking about strategy, implementing innovative offenses, and analyzing schemes while working the sidelines at what is arguably America’s biggest sporting event.

In wishing good luck and fortune to both teams and its coaches, there is, of course, no way that I know which team will win this Sunday, February 4, 2007.  The sure winners will be the millions of Americans and people throughout the world that will revel not only at the superb athletic skill of the players, but also marvel at the superior intelligence of the Super Bowl’s first African American coaches.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 2nd, 2007 at 2:36 pm and is filed under Lawmaker News, Politics .