[Fox 26] Astros interested in outfielder Preston Wilson

If this is what you really meant, I misunderstood you. My apologies.

But I do have a hypothetical question: if the Astros had only two players to choose from to complete their roster (everyone else taken, and no trade possibilities) and the two players were 1991 Gerald Young and 2004 Lance Berkman, whom do you take?

 

I agree with everything you say, as stated above. I would like to point out to you, though, that a black from Venezuela and a black from Texas are two very different people. Just like a white American is different from a white German who is different from a white Hungarian.

 

nope not in the United States of America

 

I agree with this completely, and my travels bear it out. But the question was one of race, not culture. Also, ironically, the white American may very well be a white German-American, who is in fact very different (as you have already correctly noted) from the white German across the pond.

 

You do realize this attitude is what countless black leaders have fought against in the working world for 40+ years, don't you? Can't have it both ways.

 

TJ what wrong with want a Black American on the home team I think that what were saying it's like not have a white American on the rockets.

 

I'm an entertainer that works comedy clubs. These clubs have to fill 52 weekends a year with headlining acts. There are fewer than 20 African-American non-celebrity headliners that work these clubs and another 400 or so non-celebrity headliners of difference races. Successful comedy clubs seem to find a balance within what's available to be able to cater to their city's racial demo, not because black people will get mad if black performers don't come in but because it's just good business.

I am a good, solid performer that is not a superstar or a celebrity act (Preston Wilson?). I get hired because I can compete with the best of them in a 45 minute time slot and because when my picture is on the wall it lets African American customers know that even though Dave Chappelle (Barry Bonds) isn't available they are still haven't neglected the consumer that will buy a ticket to see an African American performer.

I hope that makes sense to you.

 

I don't see anything wrong with wanting it, but to me it comes down to whether or not the team is competing with the current roster. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Rockets win a championship with Hakeem, Smith, Thorpe, Horry and Maxwell/Cassell playing the majority of the minutes. The following year, I enjoyed it when Drexler replaced Maxwell and Brown replaced Thorpe.

 

What attitude?

Black leaders have fought against being able to cheer for other black people? That's right, MLK hated Jackie Robinson.

One more thing.

It's not just about black people suceeding, it's about being proud of a member of my race that contributes to the common goal, winning a championship. I want to be able to talk about the black guy(s) on the team whether good or bad! No matter who comes in Fat Elvis will still be my favorite player, and if he (bg) screws up I will on his ass as quickly as anyone else. Again, these are my preferences and I am not trying to impose them on the Astro organization or anyone else in this forum.

 

There should be nothing wrong with that. It is always good to have role-models for young people of the same race. It is also good to have something in common with the professional athletes you root for. I could care less though if the Rockets didn't have a single white player. It would bother me though if the league had no white people at all, or just a few. If I was a non-Hispanic black, I probably wouldn't be a baseball fan, because there are so few of them in the league as a whole, not just because the Astros didn't have one last year.

 

Black is a race now?

"He's not black, he's hispanic!!!"

 

OK this has gotten BEYOND silly now. The White Sox won the series because they had better BASEBALL players. Simply put, their position players were far better offensively than were the Astros position players. In case no one has been paying attention, there is a dearth of African-Americans in baseball period because as a sport it is not being emphasized in urban areas to the degree it once was. Minority athletes are now predisposed to pick basketball & football over baseball and that's been a documented fact. I believe that the Astros team makeup reflects more on their inability to scout better in Latin America which, BTW, is where most of the White Sox key players come from.

 

Perfect business sense. But, as a GM, do you want to market your team to everyone in your city by profiling or by winning? It hasn't worked out for the Astros in a couple of years. But, this year we might have Preston Wilson and God knows who else as the year goes on. Great! As long as they win.

 

All of you are wrong and I'm right.

 

We used to be very successful in Venezuela. I know Garcia and Hidalgo came from there. What happened to that?

At this rate, this thread is going to belong in the Hangout, because Preston Wilson seems to have dissappeard. Partially my fault I will admit.

 

Other teams caught on, and the competition for those players became a lot stiffer.

 

It's hilarious (or sad?) that AB continues to trot out this topic and humiliate himself. The claim that the Astros are racist is simply absurd, given their history of drafting, signing, and trading for black players. Totally absurd. That much has been clearly established so many times on this board. Strangely, AB continues to trot out these wild (and insulting) claims in thread after thread.

Aside from the baseball side of things, his argument is really indicative of why so many people are turned off by the modern day extortion campaigns of people like Jesse Jackson and the Push Coalition. They jump to cry racism when they feel they are wronged, then they turn around and promote racism in the hiring process by encouraging (more like demanding) business owners to hire based on race. Society's collective guilt from the actions of 50 years ago (and slavery) allows this repulsive, hypocritical behavior to go unchecked. That is a shame.

 

Dang dude, where you been?

Good to see ya.

As a GM I'd want to make everyone feel like they're a part of the success of this team, and right now Purpura needs some new fans!

 

Speaking of humiliating himself TJ, AB clearly stated that this was a preference (for him only) and never (in this thread) did he claim that the Astros were racist.

 

Not necessarily. He just wants to see someone on the roster who looks like him. That's only natural. As for myself, it would be something nice to see but I completely understand why there are so few African-Americans in MLB period. RealSports did an in-depth show on just what you guys are debating last year.