While St. Louis would most likely have lost its franchise to Los Angeles, there is an interesting “what if?” that could have changed the Rams’ on-field fortunes.
After closing 8-8 in his lone season as the Oakland Raiders head coach in 2011, Hue Jackson was fired by newly hired GM Reggie McKenzie. In a NFL that lacks diversity in the head coaching and GM positions, McKenzie, who is black, fired Jackson, who is black.
Jackson, an offensive guru, was hired by head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals – but as a defensive backs coach. It was the only job available with the Bengals and while Jackson said he was “disappointed” that he basically had to start his career over, the story has a happy ending.
Lewis named him as Bengals offensive coordinator two seasons later.
Which brings us back to St. Louis.
“If it wasn’t for Cincinnati, I don’t know if I would’ve had a job. Nobody would talk to me. The only person that would talk to me was Jeff Fisher, but I knew Fisher was already going to hire Brian Schottenheimer [as offensive coordinator],” Jackson told ESPN.com.
What if Jackson had been hired? What if he had built a superior offense for the Rams like he did in Cincinnati?
One thing is for sure: He certainly could not have done worse than Schottenheimer.
Even Fisher acknowledges that he might have made a bad call in 2012, saying of Jackson, “Look at him now.”
The Cleveland Browns hired Jackson to be head coach during the offseason, and he made several hires that probably raised some eyebrows. Black coaches were hired to key positions.
He hired former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton to be his associate head coach for offense and quarterbacks coach. Hamilton is the only African-American quarterbacks coach in the league this season. Former Tennessee defensive coordinator Ray Horton was hired to the same position for the Browns. Former Minnesota Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson is Jackson’s run-game coordinator and running backs coach.
“There was a time when I was sitting there putting stuff together and going, ‘I hope people don’t see this the wrong way,’” Jackson said.
“The beautiful part of it is the people within our organization didn’t blink. It was never questioned, ‘Hue, you’re acquiring too many minorities.’ I do think it’s one of my responsibilities to give back, but as I told many minority coaches, ‘I’m going to give back if you’re good at what you do. I just can’t hand you a job. You have to be one of the best at what you do.’ This is the National Football League, and those three guys, to me, are the best at what they do.”
Here’s wishing success to Jackson in Cleveland.
Steve Kerr talks gun control
While his team blew a 3-1 lead in games and lost the NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has not been off sulking.
In a podcast for the San Jose Mercury News, Kerr said its time for reasonable new gun control laws.
“I kind of think that our forefathers would not have OK’d automatic weapons to be sold to everybody,” Kerr said. “I mean, it’s easier to get a gun than it is a driver’s license, and it’s insane.”
His remarks come as Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed an overreaching gun rights bill that GOP legislators pushed through during the 2016 session. It would be nice if some of the leading athletes and coaches in St. Louis would speak out in support of the veto.
I won’t hold my breath.
USA hoops red, white and black
Barring an injury and a change in roster, the USA men’s basketball team at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will feature only black players.
Hoping to bring home a gold medal will be Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), Kevin Durant, (free agent-Oklahoma City) Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes (Golden State); Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan (Toronto); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland); Paul George (Indiana); Jimmy Butler (Chicago); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento) and DeAndre Jordan (L.A. Clippers.)
LeBron James, Steph Curry and several other star players opted out because of injuries or fatigue. While no one seems to say it aloud, a trip to troubled Rio with its Zika virus, tainted water and political turmoil probably didn’t appeal to most NBA players.
The USA is still heavily favored to win gold, though.
“I’m anxious to get on the court, and along with my great coaching staff, get to work,” said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
“Looking at this team, our overall balance is what strikes me. We have lightning-quick guards who can score as well as distribute the basketball. We have great shooters and explosive scorers, we’re big and athletic, and I think we’ll really be able to defend.”
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.
