NAACP Takes Offense at Bulls Coaching Hire

While the NBA is currently doing everything it can to combat the latest allegations by former referee Tim Donaghy that the league ordered officials to alter the outcome of a playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, it's not the only controversy taking place in the sport right now.

Yesterday one of the NBA's biggest franchises, the Chicago Bulls, announced the hiring of their new head coach Vinny Del Negro. While the press conference the team held at the Berto Center in Deerfield went smoothly to those watching at home, viewers weren't aware of the protest going on outside the Berto Center's walls.

The protest was led by Reverend Jesse Jackson and members of the NAACP, as the crowd gathered to let the Bulls know they did not support the hiring of Del Negro, nor do they appreciate the message it's sending.

"It's sad really, that in this day and age we are still forced to deal with ignorance such as this," said Jackson. "When I hear the word 'negro' it immediately brings back memories of times that were not the proudest in our countries' history. I think of the dark days in America's past.

"The fact that the Chicago Bulls, the same organization responsible for bringing us African-American heroes such as Michael Jordan, would hire a man with such an ignorant last name baffles me. The audacity of such a move, the sheer atrociousness. The supercalifragilisticexpialodociousness, it's too much to handle and we demand a change."

John Paxson is the general manager of the Chicago Bulls, and thus was responsible for the hire, and says that there is no racial intent in signing Del Negro to be his next head coach.

"While I respect and sympathize with the feelings of Mr. Jackson and the NAACP, I'm not quite sure I understand what all the fuss is about. Okay, so his last name has the word 'negro' in it, it's totally different. It's not the 'negro' that was used to describe African-Americans for so long in this country, in fact, it doesn't even sound the same. It's the Spanish 'negro', which means black."

Still, that reasoning doesn't fly with the protestors. Marcus Allen, a 22-year old African American Bulls fan from nearby suburban Bellwood was one of many who weren't buying it.

"That's a bunch of bull, man," said Allen. "The dude is white. How he gonna have the name Negro? Don't give me that spanish crap, neither, because Del Negro is spanish for 'of the black.' Look at this dude, what the hell about him is 'of the black'?

"You don't see any black coaches in this league named Johnny Crackers do you? It's bull, man."

While Del Negro preferred to spend most of his time answering questions about basketball, he couldn't escape all the inquiries into his last name.

"I don't know about you, but when I was born, the doctor didn't slap me on my ass and then ask me what I wanted to be called. That was my parents name, and they passed it on to me. But whatever, I'm just happy to be here. I'll change my name to Vinny Del African-American if it will make people happy. I just want to win."

Bulls Expected to Name a Coach Today

Of course, all that headline means is that they'll announce they're going to hire a coach today, but won't sign anyone to a contract. Then Jerry Reinsdorf will mull it over for three weeks, trying to decide if he wants to risk the friendship he has developed with the candidates the last few days, get distracted by the White Sox win streak. Then, after the new coach gets tired of waiting, the Bulls will just draft Derrick Rose and make him the first player/coach #1 pick in league history.

Go Bulls!

But, yeah, here's the deal on the two new candidates.

On April 17, the day he fired Jim Boylan, general manager John Paxson said he preferred but wouldn't mandate previous coaching experience for his hire as the next Bulls coach.

Weighing that very issue will come into play as, barring a surprise, Paxson will offer the job to former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey or Suns assistant general manager Vinny Del Negro.

Those two, plus a longer shot in Kings assistant coach Chuck Person, expected to know Paxson's decision late Sunday or sometime Monday.

Casey has some head coaching experience in Minnesota, where he was fired pretty prematurely, while Del Negro and Person have never been head coaches before.

To be honest with you, though, I'm not sure I even care anymore.