With that said, I think it is horribly unfair to say that “every time African Americans fail to get what they want, they scream racism.” Are there instances in which the “race card” is erroneously played? Certainly. I happen to think that in this case, Charles Barkley was more right than he is wrong. I don’t always agree with Sir Charles, and he does run his mouth a lot, but you have to at least respect his willingness to be outspoken and take a stand when he feels strongly about things. I do not think it is an athlete’s responsibility, per se, to speak out on social issues. But their words can carry great weight and shine line on difficult issues, and Charles Barkley is a great defender of African American rights and issues.

And besides, I believe that when a group of people has a history like African-Americans have in this country, that they can be forgiven if they play the race card in places where it may not be appropriate. The goal is to reach a point where this racial lines are not drawn, but when only 4 out of 119 coaches in the NCAA are African-American, we obviously are not there yet in college football. And this is especially true in the South, where a lot of deep-seeded racism still exists.

So while I do agree with Charles Barkley in this case, even if I didn’t, I think you have to respect his opinion and understand the overall backdrop of his perspective before making general claims it “seems to be the way blacks in this country operate.”

“Every time African Americans fail to get what they want, they scream racism.”

So do you count Clarence Thomas in that group? You know, the conservative hero who claimed that he was a victim of a racist high tech lynching during his confirmation hearings? Or is Clarence Thomas exempt from being a racial whiner?

“I think it is a shame to scream racism every time you do not get what you want, but that seems to be the way blacks in this country operate”

And how many blacks do you know personally? Do you have any black friends? Any black neighbors? Any blacks in your social circle? Have you ever dated a black person? Do any black people attend your church? Then again, with your level of discourse, you probably don’t go to church, because you sound just like famous atheists such as Charles Darwin (who wrote “The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life”) and his most famous follower, Adolph Hitler.

Oh yes, and I listen to conservative talk radio. Conservative whites are the biggest bunch of whiners I have ever encountered. They all claim to have lost jobs and college spots to affirmative action. They always claim about how multiculturalism is ruining their culture and country. They always claim about being afraid, feeling under attack. And the worst part is that not a single one of them are doing anything to change it. Why? Because of instead of being out there working to make their communities and this nation better, they are sitting around listening to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity all day, and posting comments on Michelle Malkin’s blog all night. The ones who claim to be members of the religious right are the best (or the worst). They spout political junk that they hear on the radio all day and night with no clue that none of that stuff is in the Bible. Show me anywhere in the New Testament where Jesus Christ talked about “personal responsibility” or “pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.”

White conservatives accusing black people of whining. If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black. Take a look at yourself in the mirror, take the log out of your own eye, and quit throwing stones from your glass house.

I think it is a shame to scream racism every time you do not get what you want, but that seems to be the way blacks in this country operate

Besides playing basketball (and losing to Michael Jordan in his one chance in the finals) what has Charles done besides run his mouth.

If Charles wants to hire the football coach, maybe he should give up his cushy job and apply for the athletic director’s position

As for C.B.’s “race” comments, the only race issues with the hiring are the people who keep talking about the race factor. I highly doubt race had anything to do with it, some ppl just can’t let go of racial prejudices.

Auburn is by no means the only school at fault — just the last to pass up a golden opportunity to help reverse the horrid hiring practices of college football programs across the country. I suppose it is unfortunate that Auburn is being raked through the coals as one example of a very vast problem, but what is far more unfortunate is the problem is bad enough to create such a stir in the first place.

Nail…meet head.

I can’t believe Gill didn’t get this gig. Brady Hoke also should have gotten this job before Chizik.

These hiring practices by college football teams blow my mind.

Did those other schools you mentioned hire a guy who was 5-19, coming off a ten game losing streak and coaching at a traditional major conference doormat? Just curious.

And then there is Tennessee and their hire of Lane Kiffin. What is the difference between Tennessee’s hire and Auburn’s hire? Kiffin is another legacy getting all his opportunities in life due to his last name. Tennessee didn’t even interview Gill. So we are going to trash the school that gave him an interview as racist while ignoring the school that didn’t give him a shot but fell all over itself to hire the guy that COULDN’T win a title with all that talent at USC and then failed with the Raiders?

Sorry, but singling Auburn out is way too convenient. I think that some of these liberal Yankee schools should be the one to have their feet held to the fire on this black coach issue. They aren’t doing any better of a job than the southern schools are, and the Syracuse hire proved it. Look at the Big East. When was the last time they had a black coach? The SEC had one until last year, and will have another in a couple of years at Kentucky when Rich Brooks retires. And when was the last black coach at a Big 10 school?

Bottom line: quit picking on Auburn, which has actually been one of the more progressive schools in the SEC, especially with comparison to Alabama. They didn’t create this problem by themselves, so it shouldn’t have been completely on them to solve it.

And by the way, if you want to blame anyone for the lack of Turner Gill’s career advancement, blame the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Not only did they repeatedly fail to hire Gill as head coach, but they wouldn’t even make him offensive coordinator. Bob Stoops offered to make Gill coordinator, but he turned it down out of loyalty. Had Gill taken Stoops’ offer, he would have been a head coach in the Big 12 a long time ago! But instead of making him head coach or even coordinator, they actually demoted him from QB coach to WR coach. That was why he FINALLY left Nebraska for the NFL.

So quit picking on Auburn and go hold Nebraska responsible. And also hold all the other Big 12 schools (that is, except Oklahoma, who has actually hired a black coach in its past!) who never hired Gill as a head coach or coordinator either.