[BostonGuy]

Before we all go off on amusing theoreticals, can we establish the reality that they're discussing hiring of management, not players? Not that I'm in favor of such things (quotas) at all, but rhetoric about different rules for players is irrelevant. As is the win-loss record of black managers. What is relevant is that in the sports world, qualified blacks seem to have trouble even getting interviews for open positions. Why is that?

[Chicago Guy 2]

Thanks for the comments. I don't favor quotas or anything like that but it is a reasonable question to look to see if there is discrimination.

[Sabertooth]

In the last 20 years, my team, the Giants, has had two black managers, numerous black coaches, a Korean coach, and even a gerbil coach (Don Zimmer).

I think Dusty Baker is second after Bobby Cox in NL magerial seniority now.

[Dr. Frank fan]

What is relevant is that in the sports world, qualified blacks seem to have trouble even getting interviews for open positions.

They do? Is this even true, or just an assertion?

To establish this point you would have to (a) define "qualified" (did Lloyd McClendon really count as "qualified" when he was hired as Pittsburgh's manager?); (b) define which positions you are considering "open positions" (does a position on the janitorial staff of the stadium count?); then (c) compile the following statistic: what percentage of People Who Get Interviews For These Open Positions are black vs. what percentage of Qualified People are black.

Then there is probably a correction term of some sort to take into account that, sometimes, a non-qualified black will get an interview (or even get hired, as was perhaps the case with McClendon!) I would think this would have to skew the statistic in the "not racist" direction...

Of course, until you have done this research and defined your terms, you cannot possibly make grandiose sweeping statements like you just did, at least not with any basis in truth.

[NYCVirago]

What is relevant is that in the sports world, qualified blacks seem to have trouble even getting interviews for open positions. Why is that?

Willie Randolph has been a coach with the Yankees for all of this recent dynasty run, (and a player during their 70s' dynasty.) He was a very good player, a co-captain of the Yankees, and by all accounts has been an excellent coach. Why one of these struggling teams doesn't pick up somebody like him up, who wants to manage, and knows a lot about winning, instead of recycling the same unsuccessful managers over and over is beyond me.