C/O Yoohyun Park
Enforcing diversity is a step to promote equity, but a true belief in its importance goes a much longer way
Rules and laws are meant to be imposing in order to keep society safe and avoid significant conflicts. However, they are often used as potential solutions to prevalent societal issues.
One instance is the use of the Rooney Rule in the National Football League, meant to avoid discrimination in hiring coaches and other senior vacancies in the organization. This rule is reflective of many efforts to increase inclusivity for people of colour, but ineffective in creating an internalized motivation for change.
This rule should serve as a reminder that unless we truly believe and desire for the advancements we are making, any external forces will be futile.
The Rooney rule was created in response to the struggles faced by minority coaches and professionals in landing senior rules within the NFL. Essentially, teams are now required to interview ethnic-minority candidates for head coaching and general manager jobs and interview women for any business front-office position that opens in the league.
Although the number of minority coaches increased by 6% in the first year of conception, it is very volatile. For example, in 2018, there were 8 head coaches of colour. But, in 2019, there were only 4.
What are the actual implications of this rule? Yes, minorities are more involved in the interviewing process. But teams are not required to take this rule any further.
In other words, teams could just add someone of colour to their interview roster with no intention of hiring them. A rule does nothing to make change if the people following them are not committed to ensuring it leads to what it is meant to — in this case, increasing the number of minority professionals within the organization.
This is a sports-related example of how people are the real drivers behind change in the NBA. Those of colour represent barely 3% of the NFL’s head coaches but make up approximately 43% of those in the NBA.
This was achieved through being “aggressive” about creating an inclusive culture and focusing on relationships with the people involved. By working with those within the organization and creating an environment where diversity and inclusion principles were internalised, significant change was able to be made.
Such rules have implications in other areas as well. Consider the job hiring process, wherein there are laws organizations must follow to avoid discriminatory practices.
Yet, again, these only go so far and are highly subjective. Consider a manager deciding whether to hire a man or woman of the same qualifications. Although illegal and unethical, the manager could easily say that the woman was less of a ‘fit’ for the organization to cover up sexist prejudices.
If one does not truly believe in the purpose and desired outcome of a rule or guideline, is it not actually effective.
As in the case of the NBA, these shortfalls can be reconciled by focusing on people, alongside intangibles like culture and overall environment. For example, if a firm really believes in a diverse team where everyone is treated equitably and fairly, then just hiring practices will be natural as opposed to simply forced by law.
Having people with these internalized values is important, but it must be further fostered by organizations’ cultures, missions and values. If the people do not align with the firm or vice versa, then there will just be further conflict hindering them from achieving any goal, let alone overall equity.
Of course, internal motivation is not enough. It must be matched by tangible action as opposed to symbolic gestures.
Firms are increasingly supporting workers of colour by leaving partners who have shown racist behaviour, contributing to Black Lives Matter movements and clearly communicating with their minority workers.
Overall, rules act as limitations, constraints and restrictions on society. So how can we expect them to free society of racist and other discriminatory burdens? We should be focusing on the foundation of society — its people — and the environment in which we live to catalyze true change and foster an equitable, inclusive world.
C/O Wikimedia, Keith Allison
cw: death
Kobe Bryant’s impact on Marauders basketball athletes is still strong two years after his passing
Jan. 26, 2020, it seemed like a normal day. Until it wasn’t.
At 9:47 a.m. in Calabasas, California, the police department received an emergency call about a helicopter crash into the mountainside. It was shortly after 10:00 a.m. that phones would start buzzing around the globe.
The world would soon learn that the helicopter belonged to National Basketball Association legend Kobe Bryant. On the helicopter were nine people, including Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and youth basketball sensation Gianna Bryant, famed college baseball coach John Altobelli and six others, all of whom would pass away on impact from the crash.
Fans worldwide mourned the lost NBA legend. Hours turned into days. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.
Bryant, an NBA hall of famer, was an 18-time all-star, 15-time all-NBA recipient, five-time NBA champion and was the 2007-2008 NBA MVP. He even went on to hold the position of third all-time in points scored, although he now holds the position of fourth. Despite all of his success on the court, it was his mentality that drew the respect of millions — the Mamba Mentality.
Bryant’s unmatched work ethic was well documented and countless athletes looked up to him for that very reason, including several McMaster athletes. As the two-year anniversary of his death passes, many students, including Mia Spadafora of the women’s basketball team, still look back on the day.
“I’ll never forget going to morning practice [on] Monday morning . . . No one wanted to talk about it, no one wanted to believe that it was true. It was one of those things that if you don’t say it [then] it isn’t true and if we don’t talk about it [then] it didn’t happen,” said Spadafora.
"No one wanted to talk about it, no one wanted to believe that it was true. It was one of those things that if you don’t say it [then] it isn’t true and if we don’t talk about it [then] it didn’t happen."
Mia Spadafora, Women's Basketball Team
It wasn’t an easy time for any basketball fan. His passing wasn’t something that wouldn't pass over quickly as he was such an idol and role model for many.
“It was heartbreaking because it felt like one of those things that never ended. This horrible day happened and you’re taking it with you. You’re trying to embody and encompass Kobe Bryant every time you’re stepping on the court,” explained Spadafora.
Point guard Arianne Soriano also felt that this news was a big shock for the team. It’s something she is still unable to let go of years later.
“You can tell even though it was just through messages that everyone was pretty upset by the news. It definitely was a game changer and it opened our eyes as a team. I still carry that news with me especially with the anniversary [having recently passed],” said Soriano.
The impact that Bryant had on the individuals and on their team were significant. He touched the lives of many people and inspired both women to continue pushing the limits.
“Maybe I’m not the best player on the team, but the work ethic is there. I’m a team player and that leadership style is there. That’s something he’s taught me . . . When I looked at Kobe Bryant I saw his leadership and his commitment to people on and off the court. As I noticed his attachment to women’s basketball, that was the extra inspiration I needed,” explained Spadafora.
Several members of the team were able to embrace the legacy that Kobe left behind, using it as a method of motive rather than simply mourning his loss.
“The death of Kobe was really inspirational because it reminded us of the kind of player Kobe was. He’s the one that influenced Mamba Mentality. He’d have a three hour practice, for example, and would stay afterwards putting up extra shots, so that was the type of mentality that made us go harder that year . . . He made me want to put more work in,” Said Soriano
Bryant was an especially large figure for women in basketball. With five daughters of his own, he would quickly become an ambassador for women’s basketball, spurring interest through his own daughter, Gianna Bryant. This was just another reason why he meant such a great deal to the members of McMaster’s women’s basketball team.
“He was a huge ambassador for women’s sports, especially women’s basketball. With his daughter Gianna, he put in so much work after his career just to put more attention towards women’s basketball,” explained Soriano.
“He was a huge ambassador for women’s sports, especially women’s basketball. With his daughter Gianna, he put in so much work after his career just to put more attention towards women’s basketball."
Arianne Soriano, Women's Basketball Team
Spadafora not only felt a significant impact from Kobe on women’s basketball, but also from Gianna Bryant, despite just being 13 years old at the time of her passing.
“It breaks my heart to think about Gigi, his daughter, and how he was paving the way to put women at that standard that we never thought we’d be at in sport. I always think about where she would be now,” said Spadafora.
Despite being two years removed, it’s still a difficult pill for many to swallow. Bryant was always viewed as much more than just an athlete and to have such a tragic ending is why so many people have such a hard time moving on from his passing.
“It feels like a lot longer. It’s still hard to believe he’s gone . . . It really makes you realize how [you have to] play every game like it’s [going to] be your last because you never know. Playing basketball really is a privilege,” said Soriano.
“It feels like a lot longer. It’s still hard to believe he’s gone . . . It really makes you realize how [you have to] play every game like it’s [going to] be your last because you never know. Playing basketball really is a privilege.”
Arianne Soriano, Women's Basketball Team
Bryant might not be with us any longer, but the mentality that he lived for and passed on to so many will live on forever. Go chase that lifelong goal. Go put in the work and do what it takes. Never stop. Be like Kobe. Be legendary.
Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.
There is a tendency in basketball to think big. It used to be true that the bigger the player was, the greater the advantage. Think of Shaquille O’Neal. He was one of, if not the, most dominant player in National Basketball Association history. Quite frankly, the reason why he was so dominant was because he was bigger and stronger than everyone else. Makes sense, right?
While it might be true that height is an asset in a game with a ten-foot net, there are ways to challenge this. With the increasing move from the paint to the arc, teams are looking for other opportunities to make buckets.
The value of height in basketball was challenged following the recent NBA trade deadline, after which the Houston Rockets became the smallest team in the league, with no players over six foot seven. This is very different from the rest of the league. Only the tallest player on the Rockets meets the league-wide average height of six foot seven.
Remarkably, a total of 11 per cent of the league is over seven feet tall, so you’d think the six foot seven center on the Rockets would have a tough time guarding opponents.What the Houston Rockets are doing is referred to as small ball, and to any Ontario University Athletics fan, this is very familiar.
OUA teams have been playing small ball for quite some time. Out of the teams who choose to disclose the height of their players, only 25 players in all of the OUA are over six foot seven. The average height between all 25 players over six foot seven comes in at six foot eight and a half. In addition, the OUA has only two players who are seven feet or taller. To give context, there is a minimum of 15 players per team and a total of 20 teams in the league, with the largest rosters reaching just under 20 players.
Clearly, the OUA is a much smaller league than the NBA, which recruits top-notch talent from around the world. However, the OUA is still significantly smaller when compared to other collegiate level athletics associations. The National Collegiate Athletics Association, for example, regularly hosts talent above seven feet on many of their division one programs,.
The OUA’s shorter roster leads to faster-paced games that are focused on shooting or quick cuts to the hole rather than focused on slow, grinding out offence with bigs backing down the defence. The big man is more or less non-existent for the OUA. In fact, there are even teams without any players over six foot five, like the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. Having shorter players means that scoring can't come from big men with their backs to the basket. Instead, these teams must rely on skilled shooting.
The smaller teams and faster pace does make for exciting basketball, and certainly higher scoring games due to more three-point shots, but is this good for basketball? With the NBA getting perpetually smaller and the OUA looking the same, we have to ask ourselves, is this the future of basketball?
It very well could be, especially if the OUA embraces the strategies of teams like the Houston Rockets.
Positionally, the OUA plays to traditional roles of basketball. While there are exceptions, the majority of centers in the OUA play like centers of the past like Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaquille O’Neal, and leave the shooting to the guards. These are the fundamentals of basketball, but rules are meant to be broken and the innovative are rewarded.
Let’s look at our Marauders to see how they shoot from three. They do not prioritize three-pointers, with top scorers Jordan Henry and Kwasi Adu-Poku taking less than a third of their attempts from beyond the arc. But should they continue this way? Working on the three-pointer is a tough task, but well worth the time.
Pounding the paint is tried and true, but with the emergence of smaller teams and the continuing reign of the three-pointer in professional leagues, the OUA has room to adapt. They could benefit from taking advantage of the smaller skilled players they inevitably have and go all-in on small ball.
In order to be more successful, coaches could stand to benefit from taking notes from the pros and start experimenting more from the three-point line. This could help to crack the scoring code that many famous players like Steph Curry and James Harden use, and ultimately lead to long-term success.
Any team in sports history that was ahead of the curve has been considered a wild card, whether it was “Dr. J” dunking or the Golden State Warriors changing basketball by making their team all about the three ball. As they say in Vegas, you have to bet a lot to win a lot. In this case, the OUA should play small to win big.
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