by StrykerFSU on Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:37 am
While I agree that white athletes receive an inordinate amount of abuse from the media, particularly white basketball players from some of the so-called journalists on ESPN and TNT, I disagree with the basic premise of this caste sports group. Sports is one of the true meritocracies in this country. This fact is at the very core of why sports leagues were for the most part far ahead of the rest of the country in terms of integration, my beloved Red Sox being an unfortunate exception among others.
It is profitable for sports franchises to win and thus, owners have a financial motivation to put the best product on the field regardless of race. This is just as true in college as the pros though there can be extenuating circumstances, i.e. academic requirements (obviously not always applicable). Given that fact alone, the idea that coaches who's job it is to win games would exclude a worthy white athlete over a black athlete is suspect at best.
I would think that a more plausible explanation of the dearth of white athletes is that on the whole, whites have more opportunities than blacks. While whites make up the majority of people beneath the poverty line in this country, a higher percentage of blacks are poor. Many may find sports to be the only escape from the lower classes, though some like Pac Man decide to bring the lower class with them. Granted this is speaking in general terms but I believe it to be valid. Sports is not just about God given talent. There are many choices that a person must make along the way that will decide if they will be successful athletes. One of those choices is how hard and often one practices and I tend to think someone who's only perceived chance to escape poverty is through sports would be inclined to work harder at sports than an equally talented individual who has other prospects.
Cliff Stryker Buck, Ph.D.
Department of Oceanography
Florida State University