because its new and people are excited by change, or cause they want to recognize them for this by making them feel good that they are the first ones, which is cool i think, but i wanted the saints to beat the bears.

Because each of these coaches feel it's a big deal. They feel proud to represent a culture that was onced oppressed, and are able to show another example of equality for the good of MANKIND. But I see where you are coming from. Look at their ages, they were around in the times of MLK Jr and have seen a lot in this aspect. So have many current fans. It's a sign of the times, per say.

my honest opinion is that it's residual racism. I think the media likes to make a big show of "how far we've come" to draw attention away from how far we haven't come, with respect to equality. that's probably deeper than you were after, but it's my honest reaction. I think the same thing happens with women. "Look! We have a woman Speaker AND a serious female contender for the White House! The USA is so liberated!" while women still make 70% of a man's salary in the same job. Patting ourselves on the back publicly for something we haven't achieved yet.

While I agree that 2 black coaches in the Superbowl shouldn't be a big deal, it is still true that there are many racial barriers that haven't been crossed yet, Here are two guys who have really paid their dues, and they are getting their shot at the prize - it's another barrier knocked down and another reason for kids to say "hey, if he can, I can".

It's a big deal because football has such a long history of racism. At first, black players were not allowed AT ALL, and so men would claim to be Indians (Native Americans) to be allowed to play. This was true in baseball, too. Finally, black players were accepted on teams, but not as quarterbacks. Coaches and owners thought white team members and white audiences wouldn't accept a black man in the quarterback's leadership role. It was only a few years ago (2003) that right-wing talk host Rush Limbaugh said that Donovan McNabb wasn't a good quarterback and that he had such a great reputation because he's black -- that was early in the season that ended with McNabb leading the team to the NFC championship game (which they lost). The season after Limbaugh's racial remarks, McNabb led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Superbowl for the first time in almost 25 years, pretty good proof that McNabb deserved the quarterback spot and that he certainly wasn't being favored by anyone in the press or on the team because of his color, just because of his talent. But because he is black, Limbaugh didn't think McNabb deserved his good reputation. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan_mcnabb#2002-2003 for more about this. The next step was to start hiring black men for lower positions on the all-white coaching staffs, like being special teams coach. The final step was to hire a black man as head coach. This is the forty-first Superbowl, and it is the FIRST time any black head coach has been there. The reason everyone's making such a huge fuss is that not only is the first time for ONE black coach, this year, it will be TWO black coaches. "We're all equal," as you say in your question, but we have not all been treated equally in the past, and there are still many ways in which people are not treated equally -- in sports or any other area of life -- right now. So it's a big deal when a milestone like this is reached, and people want to talk about it, and most people want to celebrate it. No matter which team wins Superbowl Sunday, we know in advance that the winning team will have a black head coach. And that's big news. :)

oops, this is an accident post, don't rate me down please.....?

how many hispanic coaches have been? or native american? or middle eastern? that's what bothers me. why the focus on ONE race and it's representation at the coaching position? i think it draws focus to an unnecessary part of the game.

It's a moment in history that signifies an era of greater oppurtunity for minorities and the progress of a nation towards an equality that for centuries was far from reality.