Comments on: The lack of African-American baseball players: A more complete explanation http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/ African-American culture, news commentary, politics Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:52:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: John Lindsay http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-394 John Lindsay Fri, 26 Aug 2005 16:55:16 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-394 Why would anyone want to make it into "some type of conspiracy?" However, I had a white sociology prof a couple of years ago who gave our class a research article demonstrating that "in baseball Black players are most likely to be placed in the outfield...because out there they don't have as many decisions to make as infielders." John L. Why would anyone want to make it into “some type of conspiracy?”

However, I had a white sociology prof a couple of years ago who gave our class a research article demonstrating that “in baseball Black players are most likely to be placed in the outfield…because out there they don’t have as many decisions to make as infielders.”

John L.

]]> By: Duane http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-393 Duane Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:31:31 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-393 I think you know the answer to your first question. As for your second question, you will see blacks coaching little league baseball teams mostly in suburban areas where the population tends to be largely black, but not on the level that you will see whites doing it in theirs. Like the article suggests, many of us are just not that interested in the sport. Many people would want to make this into some sort of conspiracy. The interest is just not there as it once was 30 + years ago. I think you know the answer to your first question.

As for your second question, you will see blacks coaching little league baseball teams mostly in suburban areas where the population tends to be largely black, but not on the level that you will see whites doing it in theirs. Like the article suggests, many of us are just not that interested in the sport. Many people would want to make this into some sort of conspiracy. The interest is just not there as it once was 30 + years ago.

]]> By: John Lindsay http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-392 John Lindsay Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:07:50 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-392 " In the suburbs, fathers organize the leagues. In the city, there are not a lot of fathers to do that" **** So all Blacks live in the cities?!" What about the Black fathers that live in the suburbs? John L. ” In the suburbs, fathers organize the leagues. In the city, there are not a lot of fathers to do that”

****

So all Blacks live in the cities?!”

What about the Black fathers that live in the suburbs?

John L.

]]> By: Tremenda Trigueña http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-391 Tremenda Trigueña Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:50:41 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-391 Sorry, I meant to say "makes you wonder where our VALUES are"... Sorry, I meant to say “makes you wonder where our VALUES are”…

]]> By: Tremenda Trigueña http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-390 Tremenda Trigueña Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:16:40 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-390 Duane, Baseball players in the Dominican Republic are paid the same as any other job. They go to work, live with their families and are normal citizens. In the sports industry in the U.S. (my company has attributed a great deal to this) we deify athletes and pay them more than teachers, doctors, even the president! Makes you stop and think about where our goals are, because we make the CHOICE to spend that money on those people. Duane,

Baseball players in the Dominican Republic are paid the same as any other job. They go to work, live with their families and are normal citizens. In the sports industry in the U.S. (my company has attributed a great deal to this) we deify athletes and pay them more than teachers, doctors, even the president! Makes you stop and think about where our goals are, because we make the CHOICE to spend that money on those people.

]]> By: Duane http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-389 Duane Thu, 25 Aug 2005 17:18:02 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-389 Tremenda, What you mention in your comment is something that I failed to mention in this piece. As far as I am concerned, America does not have a national sport. When I watch European soccer games, the crowd really gets into it. To them, soccer is blended with national pride. Here in America, I think one of the reasons this "soul" is missing is because we play against ourselves in most sport venues. True, you will find die hard fans in many northeastern cities, but not on the level that you see internationally. The only time I have seen such "pride" is during the olympics. The other reason of course is like you mention, baseball was intertwinded in the culture. It was something that we did. I personally think that MONEY (I'm talking about the ungodly amounts athletes are paid today) has taken away the soul of the game you mention. Tremenda,

What you mention in your comment is something that I failed to mention in this piece.

As far as I am concerned, America does not have a national sport.

When I watch European soccer games, the crowd really gets into it. To them, soccer is blended with national pride. Here in America, I think one of the reasons this “soul” is missing is because we play against ourselves in most sport venues. True, you will find die hard fans in many northeastern cities, but not on the level that you see internationally. The only time I have seen such “pride” is during the olympics. The other reason of course is like you mention, baseball was intertwinded in the culture. It was something that we did.

I personally think that MONEY (I’m talking about the ungodly amounts athletes are paid today) has taken away the soul of the game you mention.

]]> By: Tremenda Trigueña http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-388 Tremenda Trigueña Thu, 25 Aug 2005 15:10:42 +0000 http://blackinformant.com/2005/08/25/the-lack-of-african-american-baseball-players-a-more-complete-explanation/#comment-388 As someone in the athletic industry, this is something I have often thought about: sports and culture are interrelated, people play team sports for camaraderie, and most people want that camaraderie to be with people of their own culture, especially those who feel a strong connection to their cultural community. When I saw a baseball game in the Dominican Republic for the first time, I felt a connection to the game I had never felt before. It wasn't because a bunch of guys were on a field throwing a ball around, but the SOUL that filled the stadium spoke to me and I felt connected. I don't feel that soul when I watch football or basketball, but then again there aren't a whole lot of people that look like me that play those sports. I am connected to baseball through the Latino community, not the other way around... As someone in the athletic industry, this is something I have often thought about: sports and culture are interrelated, people play team sports for camaraderie, and most people want that camaraderie to be with people of their own culture, especially those who feel a strong connection to their cultural community. When I saw a baseball game in the Dominican Republic for the first time, I felt a connection to the game I had never felt before. It wasn’t because a bunch of guys were on a field throwing a ball around, but the SOUL that filled the stadium spoke to me and I felt connected. I don’t feel that soul when I watch football or basketball, but then again there aren’t a whole lot of people that look like me that play those sports. I am connected to baseball through the Latino community, not the other way around…

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