KD and the race card.

by bluegold on Sep 25, 2007 1:56 PM PDT

Would KD dare bring the race card into the picture if he feels threatened of being fired? He had better not. Ain't gonna work. If there is any racism in the athletic department, it would have been there 5 years ago -- he never would have been hired in the first place. KD cannot argue that racism was not there when he was hired, but now is here when he's being fired. It's just too convenient an argument to use, and UCLA could easily refute it.

There is nothing racist when Bruin fans speak of his mediocre record over the past 4 years. Toledo was canned even though UCLA achieved a fabulous 20-game winning streak during his tenure.
Where is KD's accomplishment equivalent to Toledo's win streak? There is nothing in KD's record remotely similar to Toledo's.

And lastly, there is nothing racist about the 44-6 humiliation at the hands of Utah. Sportswriters call it the worst defeat in KD's career. There is no racism in that debacle, only sheer incompetence.

So, if the time comes when UCLA is ready to bid him farewell, KD -- instead of bringing up the race card -- should thank UCLA for the opportunity that no other college was willing (and wisely so) to offer. For once, KD should behave like a man.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I Said It Before

and I'll say it again - if KD uses the race card, we'll just have to use the race flag.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0BCOj-sWdzw

by BruinFan1 on Sep 25, 2007 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

Most definitely, except

I would attach a grenade to the flag.

by bluegold on Sep 25, 2007 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Ouch.

by BruinFan1 on Sep 25, 2007 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

a little premature

I think this post is a little on the premature side, KD is close to being canned but as of right his job is safe (whether we like it or not).

Personally, I think the issue of 'race' is the third rail. We shouldn't touch it at all unless KD brings it up himself in an explicit context such as 'UCLA is firing me because I'm black.'

Let's not touch this any more unless we're forced to.

Victory or until next year!

by ncrpz2 on Sep 25, 2007 2:39 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed

It's not much of an argument anyway. UCLA gave him a scholarship, let him play football, gave him a degree and now a job where he makes a million bucks. Umm...I wish someone was racist to me like that.

by tasser10 on Sep 25, 2007 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll believe the part about

CTS having a degree when I see some evidence of it. Right now, the evidence I have seen suggests the absence of a degree (or indeed any significant time inside an English classroom).

by Fox 71 on Sep 25, 2007 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I didn't say he earned it

but he was given one. Maybe he does better on the written part of the test...

by tasser10 on Sep 25, 2007 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions

KD's the one who's brought it up

when he said that, because of his race, he is not sure if he'll ever be given enough opportunity to succeed here.

His sentiment, not mine. And that kind of sentiment is tinged with racial overtones.

I only brought it up because he's brought it up.

by bluegold on Sep 25, 2007 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

With All Due Respect -- Why this post?

KD has not played "the race card". Simple as that.

No, I don't see the quote about how he feels some pressure because he is a Black coach trying to pave the way for other Black coaches as playing the race card.

Playing the race card is attributing his firing to race.

I am not a fan of KD the coach. I do think KD the man has shown integrity in not playing the race card.

I think speculating about what will happen IF he plays it is unfair. It creates an impression that he will play it.

There are plenty of things he's done wrong. Handling the "race issue" is not one of them.

Let's not play the card for him when it is likely he will never play it himself.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Sep 25, 2007 3:18 PM PDT reply actions

Technically 66, KD has used the race card

It has been reported that during his initial interview, Dorrell appealed to UCLA's status as an institition that has traditionally given African American's an opportunity to excel, e.g. Ralph Bunch, Jackie Robinson, Arthur Ashe, etc. As blue also pointed out, he has also suggested that he will never be given a fair opportunity because, well, you know the rest.

That said, I agree with the position that this should not be an issue until Dan Guererro, who happens to be of hispanic heritage, drops the hammer on Dorrell based on the merits, or lack thereof, of his tenure at UCLA.

by Ajax on Sep 25, 2007 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeap

66 I have to agree with Ajax in this case. I think Dorrell has certainly hinted at the race issue in a number of his public comments.

However, as you pointed out this will not officially become an issue unless KD specifically cites to this matter as a reason for him getting discharged at UCLA. I agree with that.

But since we have been tracking his comments from the get-go, I think it is fair to say he has hinted at issue multiple times during his mediocre years at UCLA.

by Nestor on Sep 25, 2007 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I See A Difference Between Considering Race ....

when hiring and considering race when firing.

I've posted this stuff several times before so I'll not do it again, in depth, here.

When ALL THINGS ARE EQUAL -- hiring for diversity is appropriate. Affirmative action creates an opportunity.

It does not guarantee a continued opportunity -- if the person hired is not doing the job.

When being interviewed, mentioning that UCLA has been on the forefront of creating opportunities is appropriate -- particularly if it is said in the tone of "I would be proud to be at UCLA, the school of Jackie Robinson, Rafer Johnson, CK Yang and Arthur Ashe."

It is never appropriate to justify continued employment for one who is not doing the job. If one is fired, and he says "I was fired because I was Black" or, "I would not have been fired if I were white" -- that's playing the race card.

That hasn't happened and we don't know that it will. Speculating that it will is not fair to KD. If he's fired, he may "man up", thank us for the opportunity and wish us well.

sjh

PS. I do not believe that KD was an "affirmative action" hire. I don't think race was the key to the selection. I don't think one could say the pool was populated with "equal candidates". Robinson, Riley, Price and Dorrell all stood in the shallow end. Apparently, KD wore a better suit. That's the deal. Stupid way to hire a coach -- but that appears to be what happened. It probably also helped that he had he very strong support of alums from our football program. I wonder if Ken Norton, the man KD refused to give an opportunity, was among them.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Sep 25, 2007 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

When KD says that

because of his race, he is not sure if he'll ever be given enough opportunity to succeed here, it sure sounds like he's already laying down a foundation for when his job is on the line.

Like you, I hope I'm wrong and he never goes there.

by bluegold on Sep 25, 2007 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Can You Aim Me Toward This Comment

I seem to have missed it.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Sep 25, 2007 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I have seen it in print

Others have as well, maybe in the Daily News. Maybe others remember better than I as to where. I remember shaking my head and saying to myself -- it's going to get ugly if and when termination comes.

by bluegold on Sep 25, 2007 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions

two examples

I am not near my laptop so can't look it up. I remember two specific articles. First, he hinted at it last week in the Simers article. Also, in an article written by Matt Hayes before last season. I blogged both of them.

Also there was the DN article providing context on how he was hired. This issue has been hinted at multiple times.

We should not be afraid to talk about it as long as we discuss it based on his record to date and reported information.

by Nestor on Sep 25, 2007 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey Nestor

I'm pretty sure he said it during his "In my own words" (or whatever) interview. Also, in that interview he said that he acts just like OTHER great coaches would act. Two things: 1) I didn't put it in quotes just now because I can't find a transcript, but he implied that he is also a great coach, and 2) I'm surprised that I haven't seen it mentioned on this site.

by bornagainbruin on Sep 26, 2007 7:22 AM PDT up reply actions

There is such a scarcity of great coaches

So, I am sure people are breaking down KD's door to hire him, and he will not be long at UCLA.

A great coach who answers the bell. How fortunate for us that we have him.

by bluegold on Sep 26, 2007 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh, SJH, I hope you're right

You note "Playing the race card is attibuting his firing to race." (And I agree, by the way.)

So the only way he can play the race card is to complain about being fired.

Then PLEASE, PLEASE, PUH-LEEEEZE let him play the race card, because that means he's been fired.

And I volunteer. As long as he gets terminated, he can call me a racist or a sadist, or Luddite or an imperialist lackey running dog stooge. I don't care. I just want him out.

by Fox 71 on Sep 25, 2007 3:37 PM PDT reply actions

He Will Be Fired

Just not until the season is over.

Utah should be the end of his career. There is no way to justify that loss or the way the team played and was coached.

In addition, there are some intangibles that should lead to firing him.

KD hung DG out on the Eric Scott affair. Bad. Bad. Bad. Should have been fired then -- not because Scott had convictons, but because KD equivocated and it's not clear he told DG the truth.

I can't believe DG appreciates KD's self-promotion and throwing players under the bus. This has become a very ugly feature of this year's KD tenure.

Leaving the starters in to the point of exhaustion and injury in the Utah game cannot be tolerated by an AD who is responsible for both the program and the players.

The program may not have "character" issues, but the coach is developing some. DG is probably biting his tongue and sitting on his hands -- waiting until th end of the season.

Although Fox and I would fire him now, actually we'd have fired him years ago and certainly after the Nut bowl, it is clear that DG's plan is to wait until the end of the season.

I will bet you he has a list of people he is calling or will call about the job.

So, Fox, I think KD will have an opportunity to play the race card, this year. But, I'll bet he doesn't.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Sep 25, 2007 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

I hope you're 100% right

I can take anything for the balance of the season. Great wins, lousy losses - I don't care. As long as CTS is going to be fired, we at least have hope. But we have to wait so long, and listen to all the crapola.

by Fox 71 on Sep 25, 2007 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Settle Down Boys and Girls

While race may have been an issue with the hiring decision, the great thing about sports, is firing decisions are almost always based on performance, actaully, lack there of. As has been detailed, ad nauseam, here and in the MSM, the Bruins are not performing like an elite team. If the goal is an elite team, then firing the coach is based on performance. Race is not, and will not, be an issue.

Though I do agree with the sediment, that the only way the race card can be played is if Sleeping Beauty is fired. Ergo: Race card = End of Coaching Error = New Coach

by Bruin77 on Sep 25, 2007 5:43 PM PDT reply actions

Just give peace a chance.

That's all I'm saying.

by True Blue and Gold on Sep 25, 2007 7:11 PM PDT reply actions

True, I don't think "Flower Power"

is the answer.

You had to have been there for Angela Davis, et al. (I was a mere child at the time, and wasn't even sure if I was on the right campus most of the time.)

This was before "give peace a chance." It was the time of "In a revolution there are no innocent bystanders. You're either a part of the problem or a part of the solution."

"Burn, baby, burn" wasn't a line from "Disco Inferno."

We've given peace a chance. We've held hands and sung "Kum By Ya" as CTS slept and the revolving door of coaches, like the Great Mandella, just kept spinning. It's now time to occupy Morgan Center, burn our symbolic draft cards (our season tickets), and chant "D - G - HO - HO, CTS HAS GOTTA GO!"

All of us geezers will remember those times when we were young and fearless. We still are, of course, but unfortunately most of our wives have made it clear that we're no longer allowed to participate in sit-ins.

by Fox 71 on Sep 25, 2007 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions