The finalists for NFL commissioner were announced today, 5 in all, and they are all qualified on some level.  To me, though, there is one that stands out from the rest of the crowd and would do a lot of good for a sport that continues to innovate and grow.  And oh yeah, it turns out, he's black.

Scary to some is the idea of a black commissioner, something that hasn't happened in any of the major American sports.  He is aging and balding like many of the NFL owners and personnel (with the exception of Jerry Jones, who uses money to try to defy age).  His qualifications are unparalleled and is a Harvard graduate.

Meet Frederick R. Nance

The Harvard grad (1975) and lawyer from Cleveland (J.D. from Univ. of Michigan) has worked for nearly 30 years to improve the community around him.  Nance worked deals that expanded the Cleveland airport and another where he was counsel to the Cleveland Municipal school district to allocate $1 billion in funds.  So how does this all tie into sports, particularly football?

Funny I should ask (because you didn't).  Frederick Nance helped bring the Browns back to Cleveland in 1999; working on the funding for the stadium as well as its construction (acting as counsel).  He was a principal reason that the Browns were able to debut on time with a flawless stadium.  The Cleveland Cavaliers looked to him to sew up negotiations in regards to the Gund Arena and its sponsor, the Gateway Corporation.

This is all well and good, but can Nance handle the players within the NFL, especially those Primadonnas like T.O.?  I don't know; let's ask LeBron James, who has Nance as his general counsel.  He is also experienced with handling people in authoritative positions, working as a counsel for Cleveland Mayor Michael White for over a decade.

Want more qualifications? That's cool, gauntlet received.

Nance's expertise has been in high stakes negotiations that pertain in particular to community interests.  That may come in handy if/when a team is awarded to Los Angeles.  New Orleans may need someone with that experience also, not only to keep the team where it's at, but to make sure the community around the team is not forgotten about by the NFL.  

Dispute resolution is another area that Nance is known for.  I wonder if dealing with 32 owners with more money than NASA's annual budget (not a fact) would sometimes force the commissioner to act as a mediator?  The issue of small v. large markets in sports has grown increasingly prevalent, making a commissioner with a compromising demeanor to be a priority.

All this begs a simple question; will Frederick Nance get the job?

He deserves it, has the experience, and is capable of continuing the NFL's current prosperity; so in a word, no.  I just don't see these old-school owners giving a free thinking African-American a chance at running one of the most profitable ventures in America.  It is a shame, however, to see someone so qualified and able to make a difference, in the NFL and outside of it, to possibly be passed up because they suffer from chronic pallid epidermis (being white). 

It's time to get up and vote (we can't actually, but I need a call to action, so says my 5th grade teacher)!!!  Bringing in someone like Nance would give the NFL someone who would provide a new dimension, a community-oriented mind in a business-driven position.

All info derived from ABA.com