Diversity and inclusion

"Is there institutional racism within the newspaper sports industry? Of course. Buffoonish writers or totally assimilated writers are embraced. Newspaper management is at complete ease dealing with a black blue-chip ... and white liberal managers love to bend down, appear hip and open-minded and work with unskilled, untrained, wild radicals.

"Out of fear and insecurity, the system sometimes short-circuits and backfires when it’s forced to work with a minority journalist who doesn’t express the proper amount of gratitude, expresses too much self-confidence, too much passion for the business, too much competence and openly expresses his or her opinion on how things should be done.

"Things can get real ugly, quick, and the minority employee can find himself labeled a malcontent and standing in the unemployment line six months later or stuck in a dead-end job. (To be fair, the same thing happens to white guys. The process is just slower, and it’s far easier for them to land their next job and reinvent themselves as ‘team players.’)

"A significant number of talented minority sportswriters have been run out of the business at an early age simply for expressing themselves and their perspective. The industry that promotes free speech sometimes fights it ferociously behind the scenes.

"The solution to diversity in the sports world is twofold: 1. Minorities need to single-mindedly prepare for the opportunities that are available, because the opportunities are available; 2. The power structure and decision-makers need to accept that true diversity is difficult, and they need to do a better job of cultivating, retaining and supporting the talented and passionate minority journalists they employ.

"Don’t expect an overnight success story. Black people have refused to confront and combat the destructive elements of the hip-hop culture, which has undermined our youth’s willingness to prepare for the freedom we enjoy today.

"And the white power structure has two obstacles: (1) It has grown comfortable with having high-profile, token minority employees; and (2) It is reluctant to deal with the inevitable and healthy conflict created by diverse people expressing opinions passionately."

Fiscal responsibility

Ed Goble, associate athletic director for business

University of Texas at Austin

Jamie Pollard, athletics director

Iowa State University

Football rules

Hal Mumme, head football coach

New Mexico State University

NIT bracket reduction

Dave Odom, head men’s basketball coach

University of South Carolina, Columbia