Panting For Condi

To the best of my knowledge, I've never contributed a post to the site about the NFL. And despite a youthful crush on Joe Montana, it wasn't likely to happen soon. To get the goods on football, I rely on Abboud's many Epistles.

But today an NFL story stopped me in my tracks: Condoleezza Rice's long campaign to be named NFL Commmissioner may finally be bearing fruit.

It began with a few well-placed interviews: this 2002 performance revealed her fondness for running backs, the Browns and Gameday, and her desire for the job.

"I think it would be a very interesting job," she said, "because I actually think football, with all due respect to baseball, is a kind of national pastime that brings people together across social lines, across racial lines. I really consider myself a student of the game."

In March 2005, amid Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon, Jon Karl of ABC closed an interview by asking Rice whether she would run for the Presidency. Her response: "Jonathan, I'm going to try to be a good Secretary of State, and then, as I've said many, many times, there's always NFL Commissioner."

In February of this year, the AP reported that Rice joined Paul Tagliabue in the Commissioner's box at Ford Field. Three years of subtle hints were starting to pay off.

One month later, Tagliabue announced that he would retire in July, after 20 years on the job.

Rice has a pretty good day job. When asked by Sean Hannity on April 13 if she'd jump at the chance, she demurred: "That's clearly going to have to wait a while."

Tagliabue promptly told the media that he would stay on until the process found the right candidate.

By the end of April, a sub-committee of the owners picked executive recruiter Korn/Ferry International to run the search, likely signalling a lengthy process.

The latest development: Cindy Adams at the NY Post says its all true. "What I know is the league is panting for Condoleezza, the headhunters have passed word around that 'we're all willing to wait until she's ready.'"

The Commissioner waits. The League waits. We all wait. Having gone through all that effort to get us to believe, here's hoping the Great Pumpkin finally shows up.