It's sorta ironic that the right would consider this a racism discussion but truly consistent with their constant finger pointing. Coincidentally just this weekend I heard from my conservative friends that Jimmie Rollins thought it had something to do with the missing father. That played right into prevalent racist attitudes. Black family, no father. Everyone forgets the single white mother. Rollins also thought it was marketing, no glam was his pov. The first point was dads and sons played baseball together. Now I am of an older generation and my dad was a talented ball player who stopped playing because of WWII. Did our dad play baseball with us, heck no, he was busy working to support all us brats. How many dads have time after work and is this more valuable than other activities between parents and children?
My brothers and I played lots and I still play with my married sons when we get a chance, mostly just catch. How many remember taping broken bats, electric tape covered baseballs, gloves so worn shoelaces held them together. If you wanted to play you did. Electronics has changed that but still baseball can be played if you can find enough space etc to play. But....
If we want to explain things so simply consider why are there so few black hockey players? Or Asian tennis players? Or Black swimmers - cities have public pools surely Blacks can swim? Or even white basketball players? I've noticed today more than in the past that sports is organized, structured and has become in lots of places an upper class activity. While less than one percent ever make it big, sports has an image and following that astounds me. Maybe I am missing something in this discussion but my take is lots of factors enter into creating the pro athlete and most of the discussions seem off base.
For fun I once wondered why the Olympics didn't include the sports we city boys played?
http://www.usmessageboard.com/writing/204748-an-essay-contest-2.html#post5513278
Additional commentary.
"Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers. His mother, Mallie Robinson, single-handedly raised Jackie and her four other children. They were the only black family on their block, and the prejudice they encountered only strengthened their bond. From this humble beginning would grow the first baseball player to break Major League Baseball's color barrier that segregated the sport for more than 50 years."
Jackie Robinson - The Official Site
Below is Rollins Comment, I would have to ask what sport isn't? or why?
"JR: There are a number of factors. First of all, it starts at home. If you’re growing up in single- parent homes, it makes it that much tougher to go play baseball. Baseball is a game usually introduced by the father to the son, or to the daughter. But if you only have one parent, who has to work, you could have love for the game, but you just don’t have time for it. And a kid can’t play baseball by himself."
[..]
"JR: Exactly. For kids -- I mean, don’t get me wrong. Some kids only have RBI. But we’re talking about in the big scheme of things, to get the numbers up, everything helps but marketing is going to be number one. Once you get outside the family issues, without marketing it doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t matter."
Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins with strong words on race and baseball; notes on NY Mets and Yankees; Greinke hurt in fight | New York Daily News
And I saw a gnome creeping around my backyard last night carrying a miniature AR-15!!!
In fact, I was able to get a shot on my cell phone while he was engaged in targt practice........
