Nunnie on the Sideline
By “Nunnie” Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
While attending the NNPA (National Newspaper Publishers Association) convention last week in Fort Lauderdale, we were informed by Master of Ceremony Rev. Mark Thompsom that a statue of baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson had been mutilated, cut down to the ankles and hijacked. The cultural war fueled by the partisan political climate is palpable and real. Getting out the vote is paramount, the most effective way to defeat the anti-democratic MAGA insurrectionist agenda. No matter how you may feel about President Biden, he is our best bet in ensuring that America remains a democracy.
And then there were 7! Raheem Morris was named head football coach of the Atlanta Falcons, a somewhat surprising but welcome move made by owner Arthur Blank and his administration. There are seven if I, we or you include Mike McDaniel, Dolphins’ alleged biracial head coach, the others being the aforementioned Morris, Mayo, Pierce, Tomlin, Bowles, and Ryan’s, doubling the number from last year. The other minority coaches are Carolina Panthers hire Dave Canales, who is Mexican American and Robert Saleh of the New York Jets, who is Lebanese.
The Florida A&M Rattlers searched far and wide, interviewing over 45 candidates before realizing that the best candidate was already in house and the favorite choice of the returning players. The interim title was removed from long time assistant James Neal Colzie, who earlier in the week was named head football coach.
The ACC Network produced a documentary call “Twice as Nice” – The Legend of Charlie Ward, the national champion and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from Florida State University. I highly recommend it because he was the dual threat undersized and unappreciated predecessor to the Lamar Jacksons, Kyler Murrays and Patrick Mahomes of today’s NFL, who was denied the opportunity to play in the league. Check it out and let me know what you think.
