Trot Nixon is not black. Why aren't people complaining about the scarcity of white players on the Rockets? When we got rid of Collier, there wasn't exactly an uproar. It's a clear double standard in which blacks are trying once again to accuse people of being racist. Sickening. The Astros have no desire other than to field the best team possible, and Brian Hunter was not helping the cause. It was time for a move.
And that's why the MLB will continue to be the "3rd League." The fact is, they don't really market themselves to anyone, as if it were still the '50s & they were still "The League." The sad thing is, people still love baseball & support a league that doesn't appreciate that love. The lack of African-Americans on the Astros is more surprising than insulting. As an African-American, I have no problems with the Astros roster.
Why should MLB bend over backwards to ensure that blacks from inner cities are playing baseball? Let them decide themselves. They don't need "baseball welfare". They are not deserving of any special entitlements that others don't receive. Basically what has happened is that the blacks who used to play the outfield and occupy the power and speed roles in MLB are now being pushed out by latinos who can do the same things. The latinos don't require the large signing bonuses that the American blacks would receive since they'd have to be drafted. Many would argue that they are hungrier for the game, as well, due to the extreme poverty they've been raised in (poverty that makes inner city American blacks look rich). I have no problems with latinos replacing blacks in MLB. Latinos need role models, also, and they are now the largest minority in the country, and baseball is their second favorite sport behind soccer (and the top sport for Puerto Ricans and Dominicans).
If the Astros want a defensive replacement for Biggio in late innings, they can slide over Hidalgo, who I am willing to bet is a much better cf. When Lane gets healthy he can be brought up to play right field when this happens. Until then Blum or Merced will do.
That and the fact that baseball is boring as sh*t and has an out of control salary structure. Everyone in the new generation wants to be the next Jordan or the next Barry Sanders. Not the next Bonds or Willie Mays.
Basically you have no idea what you are talking about. Black kids in America just don't play as much. Its not that complicated. I know that this is one case, but on Outside the Lines a couple of Sundays ago, there was an interview at Eric Davis's old High School. When Davis played, the team was almost entirely black, now there is only one black kid on that High School's team 25 years later. All that being said, to me its no big deal, if MLB feels that they are losing out on the Black market, they will refocus their marketing attention. As Live alluded to in an earlier post, MLB is the third sport, because of their marketing. If they get tired of being in that position, they will change their marketing. If not, then that's Okay, Its really no big deal.
Exactly. I don't care what the players look like, as long as they win. Why aren't there many great white running backs? Should we have affirmative action in pro sports? Careful what you ask for, Liberals.
And on top of that, who was really complaining about the lack of Blacks in MLB? If nothing else, it was just an interesting observation with possible explanations. No one was demanding that more Blacks be in the big leagues. And they say liberals overreact to race issues.
What the? Hell no. Im quite satisfied as a Senior Member. Although, it was kinda fun being a junior member with 2500 posts.
It's not like there is a large number of black players in college or in the minors, thus it's hard for MLB to be full of black players. Maybe MLB should look into adding more New Zealanders.
There's no history in the NBA of all black ownership excluding white players because they're white. **Temper edited for Karma.**
I didn't say MLB needed "baseball welfare". I responded to why there's a decreasing number of black MLB players. MLB doesn't do anything to attract them unlike the other sports. If MLB continues to ignore the talent base in the black community then their game will fall behind leagues that don't ignore that talent, kind of like what we're seeing now. As usual your hatred and ignorance spews through to try to perpetuate welfare and entitlement stereotypes. I don't know why I waste my time with you two, you both must share a brain.
How many apologies and retired number 42's does it take until people stop whining about these ancient injustices? Do you truly believe owners are purposefully excluding blacks from the game of baseball? Are you here to accuse all owners of being racist? This is highly insulting. Is Drayton McClane racist? ...or does Brian Hunter just suck... hmmm.... not a difficult question to answer.
You and your boyfriend are the only two people writing about it. Again, no one has claimed baseball is racist. You two are the only guys preoccupied with the subject.
It doesn't matter what MLB does to attract black players. Fact is baseball sucks. Compare running out of the tunnel before 80,000 fans in DKR Memorial Stadium or Kyle Field to playing in front of a 300 fans in Midland, TX AA team. It doesn't compare. Also, compare playing in Miller Park in front of 15,000 fans on a Tuesday night, to facing the likes of Yao Ming, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitski on a 3-game road trip. Baseball sucks, and doesn't compare to basketball or football. People are just now starting to realize that, and as a result, baseball is losing momentum rapidly. Also, typically, white players have a difficult type at the RB, WR, or DB positions in football. Unless you're Ed McCaffrey, Jason Sehorn, or Travis Jervey, whites have not been able to succeed at those positions recently. And now, with the evolution of the dual threat quarterbacks in McNabb, Vick, Aaron Brooks, Vincent Young, and Reggie McNeal, blacks are taking over at QB too. Given the choice, I'd play QB for the Texans over CF for the Astros any day of the week.
First of all, you whiny b****ly asked why no one was complaining about the lack of white players in the NBA. I gave you the answer. Secondly, voicing concerns about the historical and potentially present exclusion of people based on their race is not whining, it's a legitimate discussion which needs to be had in this country because of people like you and those who think like you. Finally, you really are some kind of disturbed person to inflame even this most innocuous thread about lack of black participation in baseball and go on about how the poor white majority is being shafted yet again. The next time you feel like injecting your wretched belief system into a civil discussion in order to amuse yourself why don't you save us the horror of your depravity and go do something else.
i like how you compare AA baseball to playing at Memorial Stadium. or playing at Miller Park vs. playing the very best in basketball. how about playing for the Red Sox and having some of the most passionate fans in all of sports rooting for you night in and night out? or putting on Yankee pinstripes? or winning the World Series for a franchise that's never won it before?? you don't like baseball...that's fine. but it's not going anywhere.
