This is a serious grownup subject. I'm not dashing this off like the usual blog and I'm not being a wise guy. I'm deadly serious and I hope you are too.
My Monday column expressed concern that the 49ers hired Mike Singletary as head coach immediately after the season ended. I did not write that I am against Singletary. I like him and think he will make a good coach, although I don't know that for sure. No one does. My column merely argued for caution, for a process of interviewing Singletary along with other candidates. You may disagree with that -- many readers have -- but I hope you don't think that makes me a bad person.
One reader thinks I'm a bad person. He left a message on my voice mail saying he always thought I was a racist and my Monday column "smacks of racism."
Really?
In the column I never mentioned Singletary's race. I frankly haven't thought about it. I merely talked about his lack of head-coaching experience and what I consider -- right or wrong -- the best course of action for the Niners.
The first mention of race, in fact, came from the caller who was happy to call me a racist when he didn't have to say it face to face. How does he know I'm a racist? How does he know anything about me?
I would have suggested caution to the 49ers on permanently hiring an interim coach no matter what that coach's race. I was discussing hiring practices, not race. I believe people who immediately play the race card, who feel free to condemn others as racists, are the true racists. This ugly stuff buzzes around their brains. They think about race when there's no need. They feel justified in changing a hiring discussion into a race discussion.
So, sure, I feel offended by the caller. But I also feel sorry for him. Real sorry.
Hey Lowell one time I was told "American Idol" was racist because a black singer was voted off the show. I thought the people that told me that were kidding. So I said "how can you call the show racist when a black man won last year?" This is around year three of the show btw. Well they still didn't care about that and felt the show's producers had “made” this singer lose. Fast forward to the end of the season and a black woman won! So I mentioned that and they actually got mad at me and still believed the show was "racist". That's about when I heard the twilight zone music playing....and that's when I realized some people really perceive the world a lot differently than me. There is no explaining some thinking....
I also laugh (almost daily) at how “passionate” some people get over your comments. Your “opinion” is going to always make someone happy and someone else “sad”. You get paid to be provocative. I don’t always agree with you but I don’t understand folks who feel we need to show so much respect to any sports team. They are getting paid to do a job and if you don’t do it you get “feedback”. Hence we just saw a few NFL coaches just get axed. There are people I respect in terms of how they play the game but most of us are adults and no player should be our “hero”. This blind loyalty thing always amazes me. I guess some people really identify with a team and really take it personal when you call people out. Let’s face it, these athletes are very rich and are doing just fine. They don’t need hard working, honest people defending them. So when a guy like TO gets called out, I love it. I mean I don’t get to cry if I don’t get enough slides to speak to during a business presentation and if I did, I wouldn’t have a job for very long. Where does he get off crying to the cameras? Does he expect us to take him seriously? Does Al Davis expect us to him seriously? The same people that will “see” that the auto companies are trying to pull a fast one continue to drink the Kool Aid when it comes to a sports team. I don’t see any difference.
I agree about caution with the hiring of Mike. Bill Cowher, Parcells, Ny Jets coach Mangina, Browns coach, and others I thought the Niners might interview but none is a sure thing. so I think they didn't want to lose Mike to another team after his 5-4 interim record. I think the Niners went with a sure bet for a good coach maybe not a great coach like the others but a good one. Time will tell. Racism come on.
Lowell! Unfortunately in this day and age in America people always want to use derogatory words towards others. Especially towards those they don't even know. It's a disgusting part of America right now. Anyone who has read your columns over the years KNOWS you are NOT A RACIST!!!
Racism is also used against those who differ in opinion from others. So the others have nothing better to say but to call one a derogatory name!
But one thing all 49er fans can read is that you were RIGHT ON about hiring Singletary too early!
YOU WERE RIGHT!!! You wrote the 49ers moved too fast!! Didn't take a little time to look and see if someone better would make a good Head Coach! And so many comments by 49er fans were written saying to hire Singletary RIGHT NOW!
Well, Mike Shanahan, a PROVEN WINNER, a guy with all the tools and pieces of the puzzle in his mind, including being one of the best if not the best QB Coach's IS AVAILABLE!!
Like I've commentrd over and over again!! The Yorks are the MOST INEPT OWNERS in the NFL!! And their ineptness filters right down through the WHOLE FARNCHISE!!
Lowell the person that left you that message is cowardly, irresponsible, and has no sense of social direction.
In other words, you always know when an idiot is around, i really don't think it was worth your time addressing the issue.
I have read your columns for years, I always don't agree with you, in fact, I have cursed you a few times. Not once did I ever think you were racist.
Regards,
A reader who is not white.