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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 11, 2006
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Why isn't there any articles on the lack of caucasians in the NFL or NBA? What about lack of Latino's? Or Asians? When are we EVER going to stop being subservant to the black community? Seriously.....there are more black millionares in the United States than ALL OF THE OTHER NATIONS IN THE WORLD....COMBINED! Yet some still want to take take take....give me a break.
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Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Jan 24, 2007
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There was a show on this topic a few years back on ESPN. One point that was stated during that show I thought hit the REAL issue right on the head. ANY kid can go and get into a pick up game of basketball, you don't even have to own your own ball. Baseball is a sport that you need someone at home to teach you to throw, play catch with you, buy you a glove and a bat, drive you to practices and games. Over 40 percent of Black children live with a single mother, compared with one-fifth of Hispanic children and about 12 percent of White children. No dad at home = a more difficult time getting involved (and staying involved) in organized sports like baseball.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 31, 2008
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i agree with nelluc but i also think that black people are more focused on football and basketball. aside from the fact that they destroyed basketball with this new age street hoops nonsense, most are actually good at it(supposedly) and baseball actually takes time to learn how to play and have a mentor, which they usually dont have because most have single mother parents
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 28, 2006
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003, I was just joking. I thought it was a perfect time to throw a statement in that was totally from right field. Also yes, it is referred to as the GREAT STATEOF GEORGIA!!! lol.
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Reputation:65
Level:Pro
Since:Feb 13, 2008
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2 words WHO CARES
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Reputation:89
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 24, 2006
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Lelandjr writes:
"But that has never been the case, and by golly the author should be allowed to state a simple observation (which after so many years of observing soon becomes fact): that the league has been failing in its outreach to Blacks for the past two decades, regardless of how it has performed in other diverse/ethnic groups."
I respond:
Back in the early 1900's through the middle of the century, blacks LOVED the game and went so far as to create an entire system of leagues, culminating in the great Negro Leagues. At the same time, they were shunned by the majority of society, a society that did not care about their well-being. They played, for no other reason, that for love of the game (and maybe the off-chance that baseball integrated and they got to play for a meager salary). This flies in the face of your statement that "the league has been failing in its outreach to Blacks for the past two decades, regardless of how it has performed in other diverse/ethnic groups." Why, now, force them to start playing if they don't want to? it is clear that blacks are CHOOSING other sports. Go ask them? ESPN did an entire piece on this subject and the results shoed an overwhelming response of indifference towards baseball on the part of black athletes.
It is not up to everyone else to ensure that they start playing. Let them choose what they want to do. Back in the day, when blacks were actually playing baseball for the sake of playing baseball, there was no white "outreach" program. Why should there be now?
If blacks want to play, more power to them. But it's up to me to tell that WHAT to play.
Just my $0.02...
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 24, 2006
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It has been interesting reading everyone's posts and opinions - thanks everyone for posting.
I do have to say lelandjr that you do come off as somewhat condescending as if you know a lot more about the importance of this issue than anyone else posting here. I do also wonder why diversity in baseball is so crucial? You went as far as to suggest in your first post that we need to make sure there is adequate representation of LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals, correct?) I mean, does it really matter that we make sure we have a certain percentage of each sexual preference? What about making sure we have an adequate representation of short people or heavy people in baseball? Or how about of each natural hair color? I mean, should skin color be more important than hair color?
I agree very strongly with Martin Luther King's dream of the day when each person "would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." In this case, it would be that each man should be judged by his baseball talent. The proportions of each racial background and hair color should not matter.
If we are to concern ourselves over diversity in America by race, it should be among the proportion of dark colored skin people that become well educated, with the goal of increasing the proportion graduating from high school and college. Because America's history of slavery and racism against blacks it will take continued effort by all races to try to overcome the cultural bias in the black community that leads to many single mother's raising children with lack of older role models to encourage young black men to stay away from gangs, drugs, and troubles and finish their education. And even that is not just a race issue, as inner city white youths tend to face the same pressures.
I think it is a well made point that several have stated that this issue is almost never brought up regarding basketball. I believe that basketball has plenty enough diversity whether 50% of the players have dark colored skin or 100% do. It does not matter if there is not enough representation of players from latino, caucasian, or oriental descent. Let the best players play.
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Reputation:24
Level:Amateur
Since:Dec 4, 2007
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Personally, I don't care how high or low the race numbers are in baseball. If race is such a concern, then why doesn't the NFL institute a policy to make sure there are white cornerbacks and/or more white running backs? After all, 80 percent of the population is white and only about 30 percent of the NFL is white.
Whatever happened to the mantra: Put the best possible team on the field. Period.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 17, 2007
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ETMortgage,
At the risk of being labeled as condescending (while those claiming such still see it fit to tell me how to talk and think), your two cents offer good tidbits and speak volumes. When you get a chance, it would be nice if you could summarize to the group as to what led to the demise of the Negro League. That, I believe would shed more light on my comment that you quoted above.
If Blacks do not love the game anymore (as you assert) then I guess the problem is solved (at least half way that is), so all we need to to do not is get them to fall in love all over again.
On the subject of outreach, you are flat out wrong. MLB reaching out to people of diverse backgrounds is not a "white 'outreach' program." It is simply a business judgment that has at times backfired and at times reaped major benefits (through added frustrations, increased fan base and revenues). Again, a little bit of information can speak volumes... the Negro League was the only league available to Blacks for play during the first half of the 20th century and sure enough, when MLB started its outreach by bringing in Black players the Negro League's role soon diminished. Now that there is no Negro League, there's still should be other opportunities for training and raising young Black athletes for the sport (which I'm sure you won't disagree that there are, and some might disagree as to whether there's enough). As many others have stated above, there are a number of quality Black athletes in the league today. Obviously they still 'love' the sport. And I'm sure you'd agree that they still 'want' to play the sport.
My saying that the MLB has failed in its outreach to bringing more young Black athletes to the sport is as much a mandate for Black athletes to play baseball as it would be that by you watching an infomercial on the latest house cleaning tool you would then be mandated to buy that product.
For those of you who think that I am condescending, I'll take it. I'm old enough to handle criticism. But if you wanna know what I think, which I guess is what got me into this conversation in the first place, as long as you're reading I'm gonna write.
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