Blacks have had a huge presence in the NFL as players for decades, but before the Rooney Rule was enacted they were an incredibly under-represented in coaching staffs and front offices. After the Rooney Rule, the situation has improved. If you want to call it a complete coincidence that's fine, but to me it seems like the rule had it's intended effect. Yup, helping minorities break into the NFL's old boys club is exactly like slavery. Whatever. Don't worry, there are plenty of jobs for all those poor oppressed white coaches too.
See, the thing with the Rooney Rule is that it isn't actually discriminatory or exclusionary at all. No non-minority is losing a job or even an opportunity at a job because of it. It creates no mandate to hire a minority (which is what people generally hate about affirmative action programs), and if an owner has four non-minority interviews lined up, it's not like he has to cancel one and replace it with a minority interview. He just interviews four plus one. If, at that point, the minority is hired, it would be a strictly merit-based hire (because why would you hire the guy you were "forced" to interview unless you actually wanted to?) and I don't think anyone has a problem with the best man getting the job. The Rooney Rule comes at literally no cost. (Well, unless the owner wanted to pick up the tab for transportation for the extra interview and maybe a nice dinner, but that's beside the point.)
I have always been in favor of the rule in spirit, but the way it's used nowadays is kind of insulting to everyone if you ask me. If you've only got one friggin guy on your radar and you can get him, just get him. Don't insult everyone's intelligence, especially the guy who you're bringing in for no other reason than to fulfill the requirement.
