Only 8.4 percent of MLBers were black in '06 - Page 2 - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

TwYcH · #11 (**permalink**) 05-03-2007, 09:01 AM

Better article -

'Why the Tigers are better than the Yakees, and Boston'

Now thats a good read.

just sayin'

mikhail1973 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-03-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggazoo69

The point of it is to show that African Americans are more likely to gravitate to fewer sports, such as football, track and basketball, rather than a wide variety of sports, as whites do. The point of it, and the larger picture of it, is African Americans have fewer perceived choices in this country because U.S. society has told them there are certain places they can go and certain places they can't. The influx of Hispanics in MLB can be compared to the influx of African Americans in the NBA. A lot of little African American kids and a lot of little Hispanic kids think they are going to make it to the pros when, in reality, few will make it. But instead of striving for other goals, like pursuing a non-sport career, many feel like their only shot is to pursue something in sports and in a narrow variety of sports at that.

So, yes, that article has a point. It shows that African Americans don't really consider baseball to be as viable an option as other sports. Cross another sport off the list. It isn't good news at all.

I have my own thoughts on this. Unfortunately, many times African American kids come from poorer families and that is why you are not going to find many of them playing hockey. The equipment and the ice time is prohibitively expensive. Up in Canada in many places ice time is free (when everything freezes) and makes it easier and more fun for kids to play hockey. Baseball equipment is quite a bit cheaper, but for some it is still a stretch. And there aren't as many playgrounds that have baseball fields. So while it is more popular in African American communities, it is not quite what basketball is. For basketball all you need is a ball. There are hoops all over the place. And the basketball is a lot more dynamic and kind of "show off" type of sports, so it attracts a lot more attention.
Just my two cents worth.

Buckeyes#1 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwYcH

Better article -

'Why the Tigers are better than the Yakees, and Boston'

Now thats a good read.

just sayin'

My least favorite team: The Yakee's
My least favorite song: I'm a Yakee Doodle Dandy.
My least favorite movie: Yakee Come Home

Winless Wonders · #14 (**permalink**) 05-21-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggazoo69

The point of it is to show that African Americans are more likely to gravitate to fewer sports, such as football, track and basketball, rather than a wide variety of sports, as whites do. The point of it, and the larger picture of it, is African Americans have fewer perceived choices in this country because U.S. society has told them there are certain places they can go and certain places they can't. The influx of Hispanics in MLB can be compared to the influx of African Americans in the NBA. A lot of little African American kids and a lot of little Hispanic kids think they are going to make it to the pros when, in reality, few will make it. But instead of striving for other goals, like pursuing a non-sport career, many feel like their only shot is to pursue something in sports and in a narrow variety of sports at that.

So, yes, that article has a point. It shows that African Americans don't really consider baseball to be as viable an option as other sports. Cross another sport off the list. It isn't good news at all.

I would just like to add that I have been reading for some time that baseball has been on the decline with inner city kids because they don't have decent equipment to play with. You need bats, bases, helmets, etc. For basketball all you need is a ball and a hoop and for football all you need is a football. Also kids see the big dollars that basketball and football players make. You really have to have a love for the game of baseball to spend years in the minor leagues making next to nothing and riding buses versus riding the bench as the 12th man as a rookie on an NBA club collecting a couple of million bucks and traveling 1st class and staying in the best hotels.

TwYcH · #15 (**permalink**) 06-22-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckeyes#1

My least favorite team: The Yakee's
My least favorite song: I'm a Yakee Doodle Dandy.
My least favorite movie: Yakee Come Home

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ggazoo69 · #16 (**permalink**) 06-22-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winless Wonders

I would just like to add that I have been reading for some time that baseball has been on the decline with inner city kids because they don't have decent equipment to play with. You need bats, bases, helmets, etc. For basketball all you need is a ball and a hoop and for football all you need is a football. Also kids see the big dollars that basketball and football players make. You really have to have a love for the game of baseball to spend years in the minor leagues making next to nothing and riding buses versus riding the bench as the 12th man as a rookie on an NBA club collecting a couple of million bucks and traveling 1st class and staying in the best hotels.

One thing to add: A lot of cities are getting outta the parks-and-rec biz and leaving it to nonprofit sports organizations, which tend to be permeated with white privilege. Detroit has an organization called Think Detroit that provides sport opportunities for kids (including baseball) in the city but they're barely scratching the surface.