Bowl Boosters Vow Benefits to Blacks : Tourism: San Diego task force promises that businesses owned by blacks and women will be a ‘major part’ of package to persuade NFL to hold 1993 game here.

After protests over San Diego’s bid to host the 1993 Super Bowl, city officials said Thursday they are willing to guarantee black and feminist organizations a share of the $250 million the event is thought to be worth to the local economy.

“We intend to put together a package that offers opportunities for minorities and women, whether it be in terms of vendor or construction contracts or anything involved in putting the game together,” Assistant City Manager Jack McGrory said. “We intend to make that part of our guarantee.”

City Councilman Wes Pratt said the game represents an opportunity for minority-owned businesses to “maximize their assets” and share in the proceeds that make the game a boon to any city “lucky enough to get it.”

Bob Payne, chairman of the San Diego Super Bowl Task Force, said Thursday that minority-owned businesses could count on being a major part of the city’s bid.

“I share the comments made by Pratt and McGrory,” Payne said, “and I can substantiate them--the minority community is going to benefit substantially by the 1993 Super Bowl. Period. We’re going to work diligently to see that that’s accomplished. And I find it incredible that anyone would oppose that.”

The National Football League commissioner recently announced that he no longer wished to have the game played in Phoenix, after Arizona voters rejected a state holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Both the city of San Diego and the state of California observe such a holiday.

Last month, the NFL announced that only Pasadena and San Diego were being considered as alternate hosts for Super Bowl XXVII and that the final choice would be made at a meeting of league owners in Kona, Hawaii, March 17-22.

Some local organizations protested San Diego’s involvement in the bidding, saying it was hypocritical for the city to benefit from such a coveted event in light of its own history in failing to honor the slain civil rights leader.

In 1987, voters changed the name of Martin Luther King Boulevard back to Market Street after local merchants succeeded in putting the issue on a referendum.

In 1989, the San Diego Unified Port District rejected a proposal by the San Diego City Council to name the city’s new convention center after Dr. King.

On Thursday afternoon, 14 protesters from the African-American Organizing Project staged a demonstration against the city’s Super Bowl bid at the corner of Market Street and Kettner Boulevard. Protesters outnumbered newspaper, radio and television reporters by three.

“Absolutely, the game should go to Pasadena,” said Greg Akili, who said his organization lists more than 300 members. “What Pasadena hasn’t done is show disrespect. There’s nothing San Diego can do to make up for the pain and disrespect they’ve caused us.”

Akili, 42, said that most of the African-American Organizing Project had not shown up at the protest because “they had to work.” He said that “no gesture or concession would make a difference at this point,” even if it meant jobs or housing for the poor.

“Nothing,” Akili said angrily. “No petty tributes or money can make up for the disgraceful attitudes and actions taken against the contributions and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

Payne said he was baffled by local efforts to thwart the city’s bid and that he had been assured by “many of our black leaders” that they support his efforts.

Asked about the city’s “guarantee” to minority interests, Payne said: “It’s more what the National Football League says than what we say. We met with Commissioner (Paul) Tagliabue on the Monday after the (most recent) Super Bowl, and he made it very clear that minority interests would prosper from the 1993 event, regardless of where it’s played.”

Harold Brown, president of the Black Economic Development Task Force of San Diego County, said Thursday that Akili’s position is “ridiculous” and that local African-Americans should “embrace” the “wide range of opportunities” posed by Super Bowl XXVII.

“I’ve been a leader in the civil rights movement, and I’ve been through the wars, so I’m not easily fooled,” Brown said. “I can’t oppose the Super Bowl, which I see providing so much in terms of economic and educational opportunity.”

Brown said he was angered after Super Bowl XXII, which was played in San Diego in 1988, and contacted Bob Payne, head of the Super Bowl Task Force, to complain “bitterly” about the lack of minority involvement.

Brown said he had been assured, and now believes, that Super Bowl XXVII “would bring tons of capital into the African-American community, so that businesses can be developed and jobs created. I understand the NFL is very much in agreement with this, because of the Phoenix issue, so I can hardly oppose the game coming here.”

The comments of Brown and local officials seemed to make no difference to Akili, who held up a Ku Klux Klan-style hood at Thursday’s rally and said it would be given to Payne--for trying to profit from Arizona’s racism.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said from New York that league officials were aware “of that situation down there,” meaning the King-related controversy in San Diego.

“We’re now in the process of gathering information from both Pasadena and San Diego concerning the Super Bowl,” Aiello said. “I wouldn’t want to speculate on how the information will influence the owners or the ones who will make the decision.”

Aiello said that, at this point, the game has not been moved from Phoenix, and league owners could decide to override Tagliabue’s decision, a possibility that isn’t considered likely.

David Simon, president of the Los Angeles Sports Council, which is trying to lure the game to Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, said he isn’t sure San Diego’s blemish concerning the King issue would pose a political advantage for his side.

“But I think Los Angeles and Pasadena can certainly hold their heads high when it comes to Martin Luther King’s birthday, and no one has ever suggested otherwise,” Simon said. “I hope we win, and I think we will, because we have the best bid.”

Simon said Pasadena finished second, ahead of San Diego’s third, in bidding for the game that went to Phoenix. He said Pasadena’s other assets include a much bigger stadium--the Rose Bowl seats 101,000 for a Super Bowl, contrasted with 73,300 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium--and San Diego has served as host (in 1988) more recently than Pasadena (1987).

Asked if Pasadena officials were prepared to offer financial incentives to minorities similar to San Diego’s proposal, Simon said, “It hasn’t come up one way or the other.”

San Diego Councilman Pratt, who is black, said: “I want to see the Super Bowl played here. I see the (Super Bowl) task force as being representative of the total community. I see minority-owned businesses benefiting vastly from the game being held here.

“If the NFL holds California and San Diego to the same standard as Phoenix, well, at least we celebrate the holiday on a state and local level. The fact that we don’t have a suitable local tribute to Dr. King is something the city has to grapple with.

“But, if we lose out, maybe we have to consider the NFL. The league has one African-American coach at a time when 60% of its players are black. If they judge us on racial grounds, maybe it isn’t fair.

“It’s OK to throw stones, I guess, but if you live in a glass house, you ought to be careful.”