Ask Mark

The majority of e-mails from Bengals fans and Enquirer readers this week deals with the Sunday story about efforts - including an NFL ownership committee - to promote minority hiring of coaches and front office personnel. The story pointed out that the Bengals never have interviewed a minority candidate for one of their top three coaching positions - let alone hired one.

The response, though, was almost exclusively critical that the subject was even addressed in the Enquirer's Sports section.

Question, from Ken in Erlanger: Why don't we just turn everything over to the black population? You think the city is in trouble now, just wait.

Answer: The story pointed to statistical evidence that the few black NFL head coaches have been more successful than whites. Bengals fans always complain about all the losing, so why exclude African-Americans from the interview process?

Sports have been a progressive part of society for 60 years. Mike Brown's father, Paul Brown, helped to break the color barrier in professional football - in 1946 with the Cleveland Browns - when he signed African-American players. Sounds like it's still OK for a black man to entertain with his muscle but not to contribute with his mind.

Q, from Steve in Covedale: Not so much a question about the Bengals but a question for you: Why are you trying to make the Brown family seem racist? They are not that good at football operations, but they don't need the media trying to run them into the ground on bias(ed) and bogus information. ... You bring up numbers for how many blacks there are in the NFL but (that) a few get to work in the front office. Did you ask the question how many are qualified? Just because you can run the ball doesn't make you front-office material. ... If you are going to be a reporter, you should report the entire story and not make an owner look racist. A: Again, the intent was to report a story about the NFL, of which the Bengals are one of 32 member teams, and its efforts to improve minority hiring. The intent was absolutely not to imply the Brown family is racist.

The most successful NFL franchises - Raiders, Steelers, Redskins, Broncos, Ravens, etc. - draw from a diverse pool of candidates for positions of authority throughout their organizations.

Q, from George (no hometown listed): (The Browns) run a family business, and you think they should affirmatively act to give an African-American (the job now held by) Katie Blackburn or Pete or Paul H. Brown or Troy Blackburn? You're nuts. It's a business, and it is Mike Brown's decision whom to hire. He can trust those people, and he should not be pressured otherwise.

A: The source of the pressure you refer to is the NFL. This newspaper reported a major NFL trend story. The story did not tell Mike Brown whom to hire or not to hire. It reported fact.

Q, from Mike in Springboro: I enjoyed the (story) on the color barrier that exists throughout the NFL. But with respect to the Bengals, I cannot understand why the league or Johnnie Cochran would want to see a minority coach hired. Until Mike Brown steps aside, any and every head coach is doomed to fail. Why would (former Oakland coach) Art Shell or Marvin Lewis (Washington's defensive coordinator) accept a job with no real control or say in player scouting and development? If I were Lewis, I would tell the Bengals "thanks, but no thanks." He will have better opportunity elsewhere.

A: You're right. It is difficult to imagine any coach with career choices coming here. Bengals history shows that the organization selects from a very narrow field of coaching candidates. But the idea of Lewis coaching the Bengals is interesting from many angles.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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