Cubs manager Baker 'meant what he said' (about white players not taking the heat well)

ESPN ^ | July 7, 2003

[Michael2001]

CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Dusty Baker didn't back down Monday when asked about his recent comments that black and Latin players were better suited to play in the heat than white players.

"I meant what I said. ... I try to be as honest as possible, and if that's how I feel, then that's how I feel.'' he told reporters before Monday's game, a 6-3 win by the Cubs over Florida.

On Saturday, in another pregame talk with reporters, Baker said: "We were brought over here for the heat. Isn't that history? Your skin color is more conducive to heat than it is to the lighter-skinned people. I don't see brothers running around burnt.''

Those comments have since prompted debate on radio shows and in newspaper columns across the country.

"It doesn't really matter to me because that's what I said. I'm not going to take it back,'' Baker said. "What I said to you guys is what I said to my team. I told my other teammates this a long time ago, too. When we talk about how hot it is, I told them that's why my ancestors were brought over here, for that reason, and that's history.

"My mother was a black-American history teacher in Sacramento,'' he said. "... A lot of people don't know history, that's what it sounds like to me. If they take it as reverse racism ... then they can take it wherever they want to take it.''

[ibbryn]

You are bad! I'm writing down everything you said for use later.

[stylin19a]

... I told them that's why my ancestors were brought over here, for that reason, and that's history.

um.....then why were the indentured irish brought here ?

[new cruelty]

Could be because they were indentured.

[jagrmeister]

Taking a step back from the emotionalism of the issue, Baker may have a point. Personal observations are that blacks and latinos get cold easier while whites are generally the first to ask for the AC to be turned up. Baker could have modified his comments by adding that whites can likely handle the cold better. Instead, by only pointing out the generalization that whites can't handle the heat, his comments made whites out to be weak complainers. The subject of race needs to be discussed more carefully, especially when done in public.

[666beast]

i know. i can't really watch baseball anymore.

i mean, i love the game, but i'm always seing people flying foreign flags and watching dusty baker's kid cry.

I thought there was no crying in baseball. Plus, I tune into a baseball game and all i see is this guy's kid during every game.

[gubamyster]

Note to self: don't post comments late at night.

dueto = due to
bread = bred
stronges = strongest

[TedsGarage]

Do you know why Jimmy the Greek really got fired? Because he couldn't pick winners. I used to watch him on CBS, and he was hitting maybe 40% against the spread. Jimmy made his name by making Truman the 11-10 favorite over Dewey in the 1948 election (he knew that the way people bet was a better indication of their preferences than what they told pollsters), but by the 1980s, he was washed up.

[stylin19a]

wow !....thanks for the insight !

Slavery evolved from indentured servitude. The first indentured servants were European. Africans were first considered indentured servants. The treatment of indentures was no different than the treatment of slaves.

[GSWarrior]

He's a so-so manager. He's had great ball players, but his piss-poor decisions cost his team the world series.

He does make questionable decisions, but his teams always overachieve. He must be doing something right. Plus other than Bonds, and maybe Kent, his players are pretty ordinary.

[new cruelty]

You're welcome.

[Petruchio]

um.....then why were the indentured irish brought here ?

Ummm . . . . 'cause they had false teeth?

:-)

[new cruelty]

BWAHAHAHA! indentured... false teeth... thats funny.

[Cooter]

What was it that former Dodger GM Al Campanis said about black managers (or the lack thereof)?

[stylin19a]

:)...maybe "implanted dentures" ?

[Pa' fuera]

Funny how Dusty's team lost the World Series, maybe he wanted it for the wrong reasons. Things have a way of working out!

and the Angels had more white guys, go figure!!!

[Mat_Helm]

A stupid thing for Dusty to say.

[Petruchio]

My LTE to the Chicago Tribune:

Ask yourself one simple question, "Could a white Manager say what Dusty Baker said without losing his career?" If not, his comments were racist and he should get the exact same treatment. Racism has no place in sports or in America. I don't care what race made comments about what race, it is wrong and has no place in America.

We spent the last 40 years hyphenating our population. Sadly, to hyphenate is to segregate. As long as we are african-american, asian-american, or whatever-american, segregation lives. That is sad. When we as a Nation finally grow up and realize that we are all Americans, then Dr. King's dream will have come true.

Until then I guess I am a native born whitey-american.

I wonder if they have the balls to print it.

[Ganymede]

I could care less if he's a racist or not, that's his business, but his statement is a bunch of horsesh!t. I was raised in the deep south and grew up playing football, baseball, and working around black folks in some terrible heat and humidity. They don't endure it any better than us white folks. In fact, I think they can't handle it quite as well.

Omigod! You're soooooooo racist!!!!