Dodgers Allowed to Skip the 'Interview a Token Minority' Process

When managerial jobs open up, Major League Baseball usually requires that team interview at least one minority for the position. In the case of the Dodgers, though, they're getting a pass in their quest to hire Joe Torre. From the Los Angeles Times (via SbB)

The Dodgers were allowed to skip the interviews of minorities because of their hiring record. Selig issued a memorandum in 1990 directing teams to notify his office of minority candidates they planned to interview for vacancies in decision-making positions.

Assistant general managers Kim Ng and De Jon Watson are minorities -- Ng is an Asian-American woman and Watson is African American -- and president Jamie McCourt is the highest-ranking female executive in baseball.

(Update: As pointed out in the comments, the LA Times is incorrect: Faye Vincent was actually the commish of baseball in 1990.)

While it's true that the Dodgers have one of the most diverse front offices in the game, that's not why they should be given a free pass on this. No, the reason should be because pretending to show interest to another candidate -- no matter what race, gender or creed -- would be an absolute farce. The Dodgers fired Grady Little for one reason and one reason only: to hire Joe Torre. Pausing for a moment so the front office can go through the charade of feigning interest in another guy with a darker complexion would make a mockery of the rule, which is to create opportunities. There is no opportunity, the Dodgers want Torre and that's it.