Carey becomes first African American to referee Super Bowl
http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/2356/1/Carey-becomes-first-African-American-to-referee-Super-Bowl/Page1.html
Leland Stein
By Leland Stein
Published on 02/6/2008
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Following the history made in Super Bowl XLI, the NFL came right back and added to its legacy, as Mike Carey became the first African American to referee a game in Super Bowl history.
NFL OFFICIAL Mike Carey became the first African American to referee the Super Bowl when he served as the head official Sunday in Super Bowl XLII between New England and New York in Glendale, Ariz. - Photo courtesy of NFL/Getty Images
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Following the history made in Super Bowl XLI, the NFL came right back and added to its legacy, as Mike Carey became the first African American to referee a game in Super Bowl history.
On the heels of Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith becoming the first African Americans coaches to lead teams to the Super Bowl – Dungy’s Colts won – the NFL, in Super Bowl XLII, finally selected a Black man as its head official.
Referees are rarely the center of attention during media week, but Carey’s elevation to Super Bowl referee – a pioneering move – changed all that.
It seems kind of weird that we have seen a Black coach and Black quarterback lead their respective teams to NFL glory, but we had never seen a Black man entrusted with the prestigious assignment to oversee a Super Bowl.
“I think of the social revolution going on and the social position of the world,” Carey explained, “and you can see change happening right before your eyes.
“I’m proud of being the first, although there were others, like Al Jury and Johnny Green, that paved the way for me. I appreciate them and I’m humbled.
“I think people are learning to look through the transparencies of our outside. After last year (Dungy’s breakthrough), I want to believe that we are getting to the place where people will judge you by the content of your character.”
Added Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and architect of the Rooney Rule that requires at least one minority be included in the interview process before an NFL team can fill a coaching vacancy: “It (Rooney Rule) took a lot of people to buy into it for it to happen. We knew we needed to do something to change the pattern. I’m happy to see Mike get this opportunity and just maybe the spirit of the (Rooney) Rule is soaking in.”
Carey, in his 18th year as an NFL official, was notified by the NFL front office that he would be Super Bowl XLII referee following the conference championship games. He said he was more excited than surprised.
“When I got the call, I felt great,” Carey remarked. “It took a while for my feet to hit the ground.
“What really touched me was the camaraderie of the officials. I got so many e-mails and text messages of congratulations. The general theme was that they were all honored to see me at this point.”
Carey noted that he wasn’t really surprised because he felt that he has been a competent official.
“You always hope something like this will happen,” he explained. “Each year you have to feel like you were good enough to get the call.”
Well, the NFL finally agreed and Carey now finds himself in referee pioneering lore.
The officials at the Super Bowl are chosen on merit, with the highest-ranked at each position getting an assignment at the Super Bowl. Carey has been among the NFL’s top crew chiefs for a decade, but has never been the referee, or even a position official, at the Super Bowl.
“We selected Mike based on his record,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “He has been working hard at his craft and he has earned this select opportunity.”
Carey said he hopes his effort inspires other minorities to consider officiating. However, he said there is no easy route to reaching the pinnacle of officiating.
Beginning his officiating career in 1972 working Pop Warner football games in the San Diego, Calif. area, Carey became an official in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1985. The NFL then hired him in 1990 as a side judge and promoted him to referee in 1995.
He was only the second African American official to become a referee – Johnny Grier was the first in 1988.
“I never dreamed of being a referee,” said Carey, a former running back at Santa Clara University. “When my friend asked me if I wanted to try officiating, I said, ‘I don’t like those guys; why would I do that?’ ”
Now, 36 years later, Carey, whose brother, Don, is also an NFL official (back judge), is respected in the NFL for his thorough pre-game preparation, professional demeanor and fair play.
As for Super Bowl XLII, Carey said he wasn’t nervous.
“I was not afraid of making a mistake,” he said. “I’ve been trained to do this and I just called on my training and instinct. As we (officials) always say, ‘expect the unexpected!’ ”
Super Bowl XLII left us with some incredible and historic moments, and the game was won fair and square by the players. I hardly noticed Carey during the game, and to me, that means he did his job.
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Following the history made in Super Bowl XLI, the NFL came right back and added to its legacy, as Mike Carey became the first African American to referee a game in Super Bowl history.Veteran official oversees Super Bowl XLII
NFL OFFICIAL Mike Carey became the first African American to referee the Super Bowl when he served as the head official Sunday in Super Bowl XLII between New England and New York in Glendale, Ariz. - Photo courtesy of NFL/Getty Images
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Following the history made in Super Bowl XLI, the NFL came right back and added to its legacy, as Mike Carey became the first African American to referee a game in Super Bowl history.
On the heels of Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith becoming the first African Americans coaches to lead teams to the Super Bowl – Dungy’s Colts won – the NFL, in Super Bowl XLII, finally selected a Black man as its head official.
Referees are rarely the center of attention during media week, but Carey’s elevation to Super Bowl referee – a pioneering move – changed all that.
It seems kind of weird that we have seen a Black coach and Black quarterback lead their respective teams to NFL glory, but we had never seen a Black man entrusted with the prestigious assignment to oversee a Super Bowl.
“I think of the social revolution going on and the social position of the world,” Carey explained, “and you can see change happening right before your eyes.
“I’m proud of being the first, although there were others, like Al Jury and Johnny Green, that paved the way for me. I appreciate them and I’m humbled.
“I think people are learning to look through the transparencies of our outside. After last year (Dungy’s breakthrough), I want to believe that we are getting to the place where people will judge you by the content of your character.”
Added Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and architect of the Rooney Rule that requires at least one minority be included in the interview process before an NFL team can fill a coaching vacancy: “It (Rooney Rule) took a lot of people to buy into it for it to happen. We knew we needed to do something to change the pattern. I’m happy to see Mike get this opportunity and just maybe the spirit of the (Rooney) Rule is soaking in.”
Carey, in his 18th year as an NFL official, was notified by the NFL front office that he would be Super Bowl XLII referee following the conference championship games. He said he was more excited than surprised.
“When I got the call, I felt great,” Carey remarked. “It took a while for my feet to hit the ground.
“What really touched me was the camaraderie of the officials. I got so many e-mails and text messages of congratulations. The general theme was that they were all honored to see me at this point.”
Carey noted that he wasn’t really surprised because he felt that he has been a competent official.
“You always hope something like this will happen,” he explained. “Each year you have to feel like you were good enough to get the call.”
Well, the NFL finally agreed and Carey now finds himself in referee pioneering lore.
The officials at the Super Bowl are chosen on merit, with the highest-ranked at each position getting an assignment at the Super Bowl. Carey has been among the NFL’s top crew chiefs for a decade, but has never been the referee, or even a position official, at the Super Bowl.
“We selected Mike based on his record,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “He has been working hard at his craft and he has earned this select opportunity.”
Carey said he hopes his effort inspires other minorities to consider officiating. However, he said there is no easy route to reaching the pinnacle of officiating.
Beginning his officiating career in 1972 working Pop Warner football games in the San Diego, Calif. area, Carey became an official in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1985. The NFL then hired him in 1990 as a side judge and promoted him to referee in 1995.
He was only the second African American official to become a referee – Johnny Grier was the first in 1988.
“I never dreamed of being a referee,” said Carey, a former running back at Santa Clara University. “When my friend asked me if I wanted to try officiating, I said, ‘I don’t like those guys; why would I do that?’ ”
Now, 36 years later, Carey, whose brother, Don, is also an NFL official (back judge), is respected in the NFL for his thorough pre-game preparation, professional demeanor and fair play.
As for Super Bowl XLII, Carey said he wasn’t nervous.
“I was not afraid of making a mistake,” he said. “I’ve been trained to do this and I just called on my training and instinct. As we (officials) always say, ‘expect the unexpected!’ ”
Super Bowl XLII left us with some incredible and historic moments, and the game was won fair and square by the players. I hardly noticed Carey during the game, and to me, that means he did his job.