Rosen: DeBerry speaks truth (Air Force coach's comments on blacks running faster than whites)

Rocky Mountian News column ^ | Friday November 4th, 2005 | Mike Rosen

[ajolympian2004]

My take ---

There was a firestorm on talk radio here in Colorado over Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry comments the other day.

See:

Air Force coach mentions race when discussing teams' abilities 9 News story

and

AFA coach apologizes for remarks 9 News Story

Case Study: white sprinters (Jeremy Wariner) vs. black sprinters (Michael Johnson)

Something to consider when talking about white vs. black (or an other race / nationality) when it comes to athletic ability, sprinting in this case.

Michael Johnson (black), current world record holder at 200m and 400m http://www.usatf.org/statistics/records/outdoortrackfield_world_open_all.asp

Jeremy Wariner (white), current world champion and number one ranked 400m runner in the world, Athens 2004 gold medal winner (he smoked the field of 'black' runners in the Athens games)

---

Jeremy Wariner's bio at the USATF website: http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Wariner_Jeremy.asp

What do Michael and Jeremy have in common??? They were both born and raised in Texas. There you have it! Wait a minute... a closer look... they both trained and compete(d) under the same coach Clyde Hart of Baylor University.

Clyde Hart's bio: http://baylorbears.collegesports.com/sports/c-track/mtt/hart_clyde00.html

As a caller to Jon Caldara's show said tonight on 850am KOA here in Denver it comes down to "getting off your butt" and putting in the time to train and compete along with some excellent coaching.

The 400m has been dominated by black runners from all over the world for the past 30+ years. Now the best two 400m runners in the world are Jeremy Wariner and Andrew Rock of the United States.

---

Andrew Rock's bio at USATF's website: http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Rock_Andrew.asp

Why is that? What I'm observing in my track & field circle of friends is that young white kids now have a role model for becoming involved in sprinting. Over the next few years you will start to see the next Jeremy Wariner and Andrew Rock emerge in high schools and colleges all across this country. It's already happening.

In China, with the upcoming summer Olympic Games in Beijing, there is an all out effort to produce superstars for the track & field events in that competition. The Chinese already have the number one 110m hurdler in the world, (man) Liu Xaing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Xiang

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[familyop]

There's no quote from DeBerry on that for context, so I'll assume that he's wrong. His statement is only true with regards to short distances, especially when considering military applications.

Try 12-25 mile runs with 55 lbs.

[g]

[tessalu]

It was not racist. Give blacks credit for all that they do.

[ajolympian2004]

Deberry's exact quote:

"It just seems to be that way, that Afro-American kids can run very, very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to me they run extremely well," DeBerry said in remarks broadcast Tuesday night.

Sourced from 9News KUSA channel 9 on-line website story: http://9news.com/sports.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=2b0be17c-0abe-421a-00a2-92aa4d1aaa3d&TEMPLATEID=af6b6b60-ac1f-02c5-0012-a9383dc2f691

[ajolympian2004]

It was not racist. Give blacks credit for all that they do.

Could not agree more with that.

[familyop]

I did. See "short distances" in my comment.

[MPJackal]

Didn't Jimmy "the Greek" get fired for the same comment some years ago?

[patriciaruth]

I thought everybody knew now there is a racial difference in skeletal muscles between blacks and whites.

It was in the news a fair amount some years back.

Here's a research article I grabbed quickly at Google, but I'm sure better ones and more recent scientific literature could be easily located.

Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 61, Issue 5 1758-1761, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES
Skeletal muscle characteristics in sedentary black and Caucasian males

P. F. Ama, J. A. Simoneau, M. R. Boulay, O. Serresse, G. Theriault and C. Bouchard

Twenty-three male Black African and 23 male Caucasian subjects, ascertained as sedentary, participated in this study designed to determine whether there were differences in skeletal muscle histochemical and biochemical characteristics between racial groups. Muscle fiber type proportions (I, IIa, and IIb), fiber areas and activities of several enzyme markers of different energy metabolic pathways were determined from a biopsy of the vastus lateralis. Results indicated that Caucasians had a higher percent type I (8%, P less than 0.01) and a lower percent type IIa (6.7%, P less than 0.05) fiber proportions than Africans. No significant differences were observed between the two racial groups in the type IIb fiber proportion or in the three fiber type areas. Enzymes catalyzing reactions in phosphagenic [creatine kinase (CK)] and glycolytic [hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] metabolic pathways had significantly higher activities (about 30-40%) in the Black African group than in the Caucasian group (P less than 0.01). No significant difference was noted in the activities of oxidative enzymes [malate dehydrogenase (MDH), oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH)]. Consequently, the PFK/OGDH ratio was significantly elevated in Africans (P less than 0.05). The racial differences observed between Africans and Caucasians in fiber type proportion and enzyme activities of the phosphagenic and glycolytic metabolic pathways may well result from inherited variation. These data suggest that sedentary male Black individuals are, in terms of skeletal muscle characteristics, well endowed for sport events of short duration.

[ajolympian2004]

Book by Jon Entine that Mike mentions in his column:

More info at Amazon

[taxesareforever]

His statement is only true with regards to short distances, especially when considering military applications.

I do believe in marathons such as the Boston marathon we see blacks finishing near the top if not at the top. DeBerry didn't say anything about military applications so stop with the additions to his statements.

[taxesareforever]

DeBerry is being punished for telling the truth. A truly sad society we live in that doesn't allow freedom of speech or the truth, especially from a military academy.

[sphinx]

The racial stratification is so lopsided at the higher levels of sport -- both in the U.S. and internationally -- that an occasional counter example, while interesting, doesn't carry much weight.

IMO, part of the problem is the way the issue is usually presented in the U.S. press -- i.e. "blacks are better athletes." Not so, if you look across the whole range of athletic events. What distorts the picture is that speed is a key factor at so many positions in the team sports, and athletes of West African descent have an edge there. If you take the sprinters out of the mix, the picture is very different. Look at the strength guys, the wrestlers, gymnasts, swimmers, high jumpers and pole vaulters, decathaletes, etc.

Of course, like most people I have no interest in most of these sports. I prefer to watch football, where the ability to run fast is a key factor, and basketball. Big time football is dominated by blacks because running backs, receivers, and defensive backs are all speed positions. White guys are competitive at other positions. The black dominance of basketball, I think, is mostly socio-economic and cultural; it has to do with lower-income city kids being willing to put 6 or more hours a day into improving their game. (And yes, white men can't jump.)

Even the examples you cite are telling. 400 meters is a borderline event. White guys are more competitive at intermediate distances. The marathon is another story; just as East Africans dominate the sprints, West Africans do disproportionately well in the marathon. But those are two quite different groups.

[sphinx]

Oops. I was reversing West and East Africans. But the point stands.

[LS]

I know that any question, however sincere, can immediately devolve into racist slanders on these threads, but I'm curious as to your explanation of why blacks are no longer going into major league baseball (at least, American blacks) but continue to dominate football and basketball.

Moreover, I'm amazed at those who bring up examples of white sprinters: who was the last white cornerback in the NFL (hint: he was the only one in the last five years or so)?

While the "taboo" is no longer in existence for the black center, middle linebacker, or especially quarterback in the NFL, the white CORNERBACK just does not exist. Why?

[ajolympian2004]

While the "taboo" is no longer in existence for the black center, middle linebacker, or especially quarterback in the NFL, the white CORNERBACK just does not exist. Why?

I think Jason Sehorn, formerly of the NY Giants, was the last white cornerback in the NFL.

Why? ... too many white kids with 'speed' and 'cover' potential are at home in front their TVs playing video games. At least that's my observation of our neighborhood.

My brother and I were fast because we played baseball, football, street hockey, etc. whenever there was an opportunity to do so. We didn't have video games back then.

My brother and I grew up in an area where blacks were bused into our public high school. All the way through high school I was the fastest person in my grade and my brother was in his grade. Our school enrollment included many outstanding and very fast black athletes, many of whom made a significant contribution to our state high school championship and our track team.

Many of the white friends I grew up with were just a shade slower than my brother and I. Had we not been so involved with the major team sports and had instead run track we might have both won state championships in the sprints.

In my class two black friends who ended up in the state semi and finals in the 100 were never able to outrun me at any distance. They both went onto college with full scholarships, one in football (ran track also) and the other in track.

Anyway, just my own personal experience.

[armydawg1]

DeBerry is a victim of the profound political correctness gripping the Air Force Academy. They have become a laughing stock among military officers and in the ranks also. From the high profile anti Christian positions to this, who ever is running that place needs a dose of reality. What a bunch of nut cases.

[ajolympian2004]

DeBerry is a victim of the profound political correctness gripping the Air Force Academy. They have become a laughing stock among military officers and in the ranks also. From the high profile anti Christian positions to this, who ever is running that place needs a dose of reality. What a bunch of nut cases.

This is part of the bill clinton legacy, a military operating under a "commander-in-chief" such as hillary clinton from Jan. 20th 1993 to Jan. 19, 2001. ;)

[cynicom]

AF has to decide if they are in business to educate warriors or to further careers of criminal sports hustlers.

[ajolympian2004]

AF has to decide if they are in business to educate warriors or to further careers of criminal sports hustlers.

Can you name any "criminal sports hustlers" that have ever attended and/or graduated from the Air Force Academy, West Point or the Naval Academy??? Just one please?

In the over 100 year tradition of athletics at our military academies you should be able to come up with just one don't you think? ;) :)

[cynicom]

UHHHH...Did you read the same story I did????

If you did, your comprehension needs adjustment.

The AF Academy coach is advocating MORE black athletes.

Now, if you consider that carefully, that would indicate FUTURE athletes. Future does not indicate "PAST", have we got that correct now????