Blacks in baseball

Declining numbers of blacks in sports sounds like a good thing to me, because society is offering black youth more options.

 

Are you saying that Sosa and Rivera don't count as blacks, or does the article? Either way, I think that worrying and complaining over that is ludicrous.

Why doesn't SI go and cry about how you can count the number of Hispanics in the NBA on one hand? It sounds to me like the writer had a deadline due and was out of ideas. Well, at least that's what I'm hoping.

 

What exactly does that mean?

The term "blacks" denotes skin color, not Nationality. Period. Doesn't matter if they are Dominican, Jamaican, African, or American.

When Anglos are referred to as Whites, that doesn't just mean American Anglos.

 

OMG...Am still waiting for the apology, but we might actually agree on something.

 

I am glad we agree on something, but I will gouge my eyes out with a spoon before I apologize to you.

 

The article is about American Blacks. Please don't start an argument about who should be considered black, because Latin American blacks consider themselves Latino and separate and if that's how they consider themselves that's their right and I don't need to hear about someone else tell them how they should consider themselves.

Other than that, this is a non-issue to me and I wish these sports networks wouldn't make such a big deal about it. It was the topic on ESPN Outside the Lines yesterday. They talked about all sorts of things and only gave lip service to why it was important.

Some idiot coach from Eric Davis's old High School in Los Angeles was being interviewed. He was white, and the subject was how Eric Davis's old High School had an entirely black team in the late 70s when he was there and now it is almost 100% hispanic.

The coach was saying how he tries to tell little guys who think they can go to the NBA how they have a better chance of making it in Baseball. I was thinking, "hey idiot, since you work in a high school, why don't you help these kids out by telling them how much of a chance in life they would have by getting an education." Jeesh

 

You said it, I didn't. Remember this next time you say that you're open minded and willing to admit when you're wrong, something I have long contended is simply not true. You throw insults and accusations around like crazy, and when you are called on them and proven wrong, you either disappear from the topic, or express opinions similar to above...


All that said, in this case I hope you are correct. I am not convinced, but it is cetainly a possible interpetation of the numbers. Another might be that blacks tend to be more urbanized, urbanized people tend to be more subject to popular culture, and popular culture regarding baseball vs. basketball and football is on the negative side right now, and has been for some time now. Not making conclusions, just throwing it out there...

 

If I am proven wrong, or make a mistake, I admit it. That is my track record, and you can't change that.

 

Did the article state if overall participation in baseball is down among whites as well?

I think the influx of the baseball academies in South America and the Dominican is directly responsible for the increase in latinos.

It is easier and cheaper to practice basketball and soccer skills than it is for baseball.

As a couple of others mentioned, the U.S. appears to be offering more opportunities to inner city youths.

While blacks may see basketball as a way out of a bad situation, latinos (at least in other countries) see baseball as a way "off the island".

The big "heroes" in baseball tend to be white or latino unlike basketball and football. (Barry Bonds being the notable exception).

I don't have any hard evidence, but I suspect the interest in golf and tennis has grown tremendously among blacks due to the influence of Tiger and the Williams sisters. It would probably grow even more if James Blake would start winning or advancing in some big tournaments. It would be great if he could become a rival to Roddick (similar to the Connors/McEnroe rivalry). I suspect within another generation we will see more and more blacks succeed at a high level in those historically white sports.

Of the 32 NL All-Stars only 5 are black and only 2 are starters (there are no black pitchers). 3 of the starters are latino or hispanic.

Of the 32 AL All-Stars only 5 are black and 0 are starters. There is 1 black pitcher. 6 of the starters are latino or hispanic.

At face value, I would say the decline is due to more opportunities to do other things, a small number of 'heroes' to emulate, and cheaper and easier sports alternatives

 

There is not a decline in sports...there is a decline in baseball. Blacks are going towards basketball and football at much larger rates for reasons ranging from marketing/image to the speed to high salaries and fame (bball and football being much faster).

Funny, there was an ESPN report on this over the weekend. These guys are stealing from each other.

 

I just don't think they see the street cred that playing in the NFL or the NBA in MLB. I would reason that baseball is not as popular among black youths anymore and that explains a decline in the number of black players. Baseball in a lot of ways is the conservative of all the sports. It's not for those with ADHD for sure. Everyone complains that it is a slooooooow game and I guess maybe that doesn't translate to the video game generation, except in places like my hometown where baseball is probably the number one kids sport. I would say lack of street cred and the minute attention span of all children these days that makes baseball not the first stop for black athletes. Funny, the average NBA or NFL career lasts only 3 seasons, while baseball's average career length is considerably longer. And did I mention no salary cap!

 

I like Jim Rome .. . but the Clones and this Street Cred **** is getting annoying

Rocket River

 

i've never heard the phrase "street cred" until this summer. perhaps i'm behind the times...i can only hope, i guess.

 

I guess you are relatively new to Rome then. He will go over the same thing ad nauseum. It gets pretty annoying.

 

I agree. Is that like "Seinfeld cred"????

 

Should it really matter who is doing what? Life in general has really opened up for minority groups over the years (although I'm not saying that things are perfect). Programs such as affirmative action were/are about giving equal opportunity to groups where none existed. (Again, not that things are perfect) but since the opportunity is there now, shouldn't things be about getting the best of the best?

I guess my point would be that sports have been open to minorities for so long that most athletes have an equal chance of getting in based on ability alone. So should it matter what color skin is? Shouldn't we want the best players? It just so happens that there has been a rise in Dominicans and a decrease in blacks (the term applies as being used in the article). As long as their the best, this shouldn't matter.

 

That's it Max, your street cred just dropped like crazy on this one.

 

Yeah...I'm with Princess on this one...ok, not 'with'...not literally...heh...*doesn't her boyfriend post here or something? Either way, avoid misunderstandings BEFORE they happen...but in principle...let's move on to issues where there are still existing barriers...like royal titles, for example...Why is it that only women get to be a princess!?!? If DD can wear tutus, damint, I wanna be a Princess...or a crime fighting super hero, either way I get a high budget for wardrobe...