[Fox 26] Astros interested in outfielder Preston Wilson

So, because of everyone's feelings, you take Gerald Young over Lance Berkman. And now, everyone feels liek they're a part of the Astros 84-78 4th place finish.

Me, I take Berkman and win. And the "new fans" that Purpura needs will *not* come if the Astros are *not* winning.

 

Another Brother has not once called anybody in the Astro's organization a racist during this thread. You are the one coming off as a jerk in my opinion. Please point me to one thread where AB calls a member of the Astros a racist. I think it is pretty sad that something that started primarily as a joke could become such a heated discussion about Mclane, Hunsicker, or Purpura as being racists.

 

I have mixed feelings on this, no doubt I understand where another brother is coming from but its not a big deal to me. but I know there are guys who secretly root for someone they can relate to in a sport that doesn't feature many people of their race, religion, etc.

I used to root for every black qb to get a shot in the NFL until it really became a none issue recently.

you don't think all the wbps with the rockets last year was about their being few white players in the league? none of you guys, Trader_Jorge, had anything to say about that.

 

That thread exists but it isnt this one.

edit:
And thats no knock AB, we cool. I'm glad that the stance has changed somewhat. There is nothing wrong with wanting certain players on your team.

 

Wilson hit a couple of bombs off Lidge last year, he's a decent OF with pop. Good move. I hope we can dump everett some how

 

This is where your argument loses me. On one hand you (personally) want black player(s) on the team so that you can identify better with them as they contribute to the team's success. Nothing wrong with that. As I understand it, although you would prefer some black players on the team, you continue to be a fan and cheer their success.

The above quote, however, implies that more blacks (not just you personally) will root for the team if the Astros sign more black players. This is after the team just completed back to back stellar runs into the playoffs and their first World Series appearance ever. Do you think that is really true (serious question)? Are there that many blacks that refuse to be fans of the Astros beacuse they don't have any black players?

 

I believe Another Brother was upset because of the lack of black players on the white boy power squad also.

 

This looks like a done deal pending a physical...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3562368.html

 

Can you hit for average and steal some bases? Grab a bat and head over to Kissimmee in about a month and a half.

 

what sucks most about message boards like this is that you don't really KNOW the people behind the messages.

i know AB. i know him pretty well. i know where he's coming from. what he's saying is harmless. we relate more to people we can identify with...sometimes that means people who just look like us. it doesn't always mean that, but it does sometimes. particularly in sports where we don't really know the people we're rooting for...we cheer them on from afar.

the white boy power squad opened my eyes about myself...because i found myself saying, "this team is so likeable...one of my favorite houston teams in any sport ever." why was i saying that? i think probably because of barry and sura goofing on each other...how relateable they seemed to me. does that make me a racist? wow, i hope not. it just is what it is. i don't know those guys at all, though. AB is actually far more relateable to me than the white boy power squad...because i actually know him. we share some things in common and he's my friend. but again...from afar...the appearances are, perhaps, more important. or maybe not important but at least carry weight when we start to root for a team or a player.

 

great news.

 

How do you feel about a Taveras/Biggio/Berkman/Ensberg/Lane/Wilson 1-6.

This move really solidifies the offense, and I'm happy about it, provided the physical goes well.

 

There is a reason why the hustling white guy usually turns out to be a fan favorite.

I think another reason why a lot of people got excited about the wbps is that Barry was a common guest on 610 am. It's hard not to become a fan of his with his personality and the way he plays the game.

 

i like it a lot. that's not bad at all. i might bat wilson behind ensberg, though, and push lane to the 6 spot.

 

true...listening to sura and barry take jabs at each other was great. i really enjoyed that...funny stuff.

and then barry's little speech to begin this season where he ragged on JVG a bit!

 

Where does Bagwell bat? He isnt going to ride the pine.

 

Cool; I'll be interested to see how this shakes out.

Much happier with Preston Wilson than Nomah, Encarnacion, Burnitz, Reggie Sanders, or Rondell White.

See? The sky wasn't falling when we didn't sign those guys.

And, if the earlier Chronicle report that we're signing Wilson for under $6 million is true, then I'd say Purpura's "negotiating skills" are just fine, thank you.

 

My infamous "Racist Astro's" thread appeared about 2 years ago and in it I mistakingly used "if it looks like a duck" logic. I have learned that that type of candor is not appropriate in these types of discussions.

TJ is actually teaching a racial sensitivity class in Vidor Texas. Hey Man does David Duke still book that thing?

There are some blacks that refuse to root for the Astros because they don't have black players, I am not one and if I were I would admit it. Most people I know are like me, they love the Astros first and foremost but would certainly like to see an African American on the squad.

QUESTION

Why is it OK for Chinese people to embrace the Rockets solely because Yao is on the team and it's not OK for black people to want the same type of representation for our baseball team. Have you seen the commercial about the Chinese taxi driver singing "houston" as Yao's picture is displayed on a bus? If the cabbie is black singing "San Francisco" and Barry Bonds' pic is on that bus how is that different?

BTW I cheer for the "hustling white guy" too!

 

Okay, so how about Everett? I'm sure everything is fine there too, right?

 

I think the Yao Ming example is not the same. He is representing an entire country since there were no Chinese players of importance on any NBA team until he came around.

He is introducing an entire culture to professional basketball. I think it is more accurate to compare the effect Yao Ming has on Chinese basketball fans to the effect Tiger Woods has on black golf fans and the Williams sisters have on black tennis fans. I think it is accurate to say that blacks participation in golf and tennis has risen due to the efforts of Tiger, Venus and Serena.

While players such as Lee Elder and Arthur Ashe paved the way, the media exposure was no where near as extensive when they were playing.