WNBA Action? Affirmative

Affirmative action is one of those tricky concepts that doesn't trade in absolutes, but rather demands nuance.

(Now, one man's nuance is another man's flip-flop. I'm pretty sure there's a former presidential candidate who could speak for a few hours about that. A few ... very ... mono ... tone ... hours.)

I've always viewed affirmative action as a guarantee of opportunity and consideration, rather than of selection or employment. I think, when properly applied, it helps level the playing field for all professional or academic candidates; in theory, lessening the chance that racism or sexism would be the prevailing factor in a final decision between two or three people.

Others view affirmative action as a government-mandated quota system, and in some unfortunate cases that's exactly what it is. Take the NFL's "Rooney Rule," the 2002 minority-coaching bylaw that has ushered in an era of tokenism in the coaching interview process. Like in 2003, when Detroit Lions team president Matt Millen wanted to hire San Francisco 49ers coach Steve Mariucci to fill his head coaching vacancy. Everyone in the NFL knew this was the case, and five minority-coaching candidates actually turned down the chance to interview with the Lions because it was Mariucci's job.

Nevertheless, Detroit was slapped with a $200,000 fine — the first under the Rooney Rule — for not formally interviewing a minority coach for the opening. And the same thing would have happened to Miami in 2004 if it didn't bring in Art Shell for coffee and donuts before hiring Nick Saban.

To me, the Rooney Rule always missed the root of the problem, if a lack of black head coaches could be perceived as such. Like the fact that the NCAA has a minority-coaching dearth that makes the NFL's coaching ranks look like a Nelly video by comparison. Or the fact that as the NFL's "old guard" leaves the front office, they'll naturally take their glass ceiling with them.

I don't believe the Rooney Rule was necessary in the NFL; I've always felt it had more to do with appeasing Jesse Jackson and Johnny Cochran than affecting change.

But the WNBA could sure use it.

Of the league's 14 teams (13 plus Chicago, the newest franchise), the WNBA's coaching ranks can be separated into four distinct categories:

Old White Guys: Mike Thibault (Connecticut), Bill Laimbeer (Detroit), Van Chancellor (Houston), Brian Winters (Indiana), Dan Hughes (San Antonio), John Whisenant (Sacramento), Richie Adubato (Washington), Dave Cowens (Chicago).

Old Non-White Guys: Henry Bibby (L.A.)

Old White Women: Anne Donovan (Seattle), Pat Coyle (New York)

Young White Women: Carrie Graf (Phoenix), Suzie McConnell Serio (Minnesota)

Black Women: Trudi Lacey (Charlotte)

So in a 14-team professional women's basketball league, five teams have female coaches and only one of those coaches is an African-American.

You'd think this would be a significant point of concern in a league that's, you know, populated by African-American women. That was, after all, one of the main catalysts behind the Rooney Rule: that the coaching ranks should look more like the player rosters.

Not to worry, my fellow WNBA fans (man, I never knew I could get my tongue so deep into my cheek before). The Association is making strides to correct this injustice — only not on the sidelines.

This week, Sheila Johnson — who co-founded Black Entertainment Television in 1980, and spent 17 years as its executive vice president — was named the President, Managing Partner, and Governor of the Washington Mystics, and a part-owner of the Washington Capitals and Wizards. On the Mystics' official website came this unintentionally hilarious note:

"Johnson is believed to be the first African-American woman to be an owner/partner in three professional sports franchises."

Are you telling me that the Elias Sports Bureau can tell me how many home runs have been hit by left-handed catchers at Wrigley Field on Tuesday afternoons since 1948, but it can't figure out how many sisters have co-owned three teams at the same time?!

Johnson is as qualified as anyone to join the Millionaires Social Club that is professional sports ownership. But it's absolutely laughable that her taking over the Mystics is seen as some sort of historical benchmark for minorities in sports — like she's Jacqueline Robinson or something.

"We think it's past time for an African-American woman to own a WNBA team," said Wizards owner Abe Pollin, who should really ask HBO if it's ever going to bring back his show "Tales From the Crypt," because it was terrific.

"To have an African-American woman to drive it forward is exactly what this league needed," said Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who obviously has nothing else better to do.

And then there was Johnson herself, who imagined buying the Mystics would send ripples throughout the sports world. "I hope that this is a signal that a woman, and an African-American woman, is part of this whole scene of sports."

Give me a break. Coaches and players can cry racism and sexism, because their jobs are in the hands of people who might dick them over because of their race or their sex. But owners? Are you telling me that if a black woman knocked on Gary Bettman's door and offered $100 million for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, he'd turn her down because she'd stick out at the Board of Governors' meetings? Are you telling me that if Oprah wanted to buy the Chicago Bears, the NFL is telling her to go read a book instead?

Money talks, and these leagues are willing to listen to anyone that has it.

Was there ever an outcry that the WNBA's ownership simply wasn't diverse enough? I don't recall that crisis ever rising to the level of, say, having one African-American head coach in a 14-team women's basketball league.

But then again, that doesn't appear to be a crisis either.

What really irks me about this Sheila Johnson bit is the implied racism and sexism in her exultation. Why, exactly, is it "past time for an African-American woman to own a WNBA team," Mr. Pollin? Because women should dominate the ownership ranks of a women's league? Or because since the majority of the players are African-American, the ownership should reflect that, too?

Where are the people fighting to get more Latino women involved in owning WNBA teams? Or Chinese women? Or Chinese men? As far as I can tell, these groups are missing from the table just as much as African-American women were.

If the WNBA really wanted to make a statement, really wanted to make waves, really wanted to set a precedent that would have the sports world reeling, here's what it needs to do:

Allow a lesbian to own one of the franchises.

And not just any lesbian. A real famous one. Melissa Etheridge, or Ellen Degeneres, or Anne Heche (although I guess she's just be a part owner).

A significant chunk of the WNBA's core audience is gay and female. Some of the players may also be (gasp!) homosexuals. It's a natural move for the league, and I look forward to the day Abe Pollin stands up and says: "It's past time for lesbian to own a WNBA team."

But I guess we have to wait for GLBET to hit cable, first...

Greg Wyshynski is also a weekly columnist for SportsFan Magazine. His columns appear every Saturday on Sports Central. You can e-mail Greg at [email protected].