Decrease in African Americans in baseball has officials puzzled, concerned

The Miami Herald/St. Paul Pioneer Press ^ | 22 Mar 2004 | GORDON WITTENMYER

[Wright is right!]

Let me put it another way, RK. Beisbol isn't a contact sport. Current black culture encourages contact sports. Further, if there weren't a Tiger Woods, you'd see almost no black golfers. Matter of fact, you still don't on the pro level. It's certainly not that blacks can't excel at the game - they obviously can. They just don't WANT to. It isn't contact, and it ain't hip-hop.

Michael

[dead]

along with notable influxes of Japanese, Korean and Australian players.

Who are the Australian players?

[OldFriend]

Hispanics have proven to be better baseball players. Do we now need a quota against them?

The entire concept is ridiculous....quota for merit?????

[Unicorn]

I for one don't care.

[leadpenny]

With 43 cars starting in a Nextel Race, I wonder how that would break down for the various groups? What would it be for cars owned, driven and crewed by Asian-Americans - one or two maybe?

Now, about pro-hockey . . . .

[Mr. Bird]

The idea that scouts are "afraid" to find the next Henry Aaron in an Oakland ghetto is laughable. There are organizational and free lance scouts who would run over their mother to find the next star, regardless of location.

Fact is, a scout can go hang in the Dominican and watch a pick up game among pre-teens that has a dozen prospects in it. Those kids LIVE for the game, and play it all year. Kids of all races in the U.S. have chosen to participate in other sports. That's not a bad thing, it's just reality.

Another issue is facilities. A baseball diamond in the city takes up the same amount of space as a dozen (if not more) basketball courts. From a utilization perspective, a whole lot more kids can take advantage of hoops than baseball.

And let's not forget the social aspects. You typically can't show up on a diamond with a glove, bat, and ball, and have the neighborhood show up for a game. Hoops can be played one-on-one, five-on-five, whatever. It doesn't take the numbers for recreational play that baseball does.

[DCPatriot]

Your tag line is funny but ironically true.

Player salaries have absolutely no bearing on the price of seats.

I have been taken to the woodshed more than once by numerous informed and intelligent people on the Orioles' newsgroup in Usenet for stating the same convictions voice by you and others in here.

It's strictly supply and demand. In baseball, the profit-sharing of TV revenues more than compensate teams for salaries.

[BluH2o]

Blacks may not be as representative in baseball as they once were ... however, they more than make up for it in football and basketball. A glance at any NFL or NBA roster attests to that ... many teams are over two thirds black. Look at any sports page in a newspaper and it's hard to spot a white guy. Don't see Selig or Tagliabu(sp?) losing any sleep over that side of the issue.

[MrB]

Why is it that so many people are troubled by the "free" part of "free market?"

Baseball simply isn't as popular among certain demographics as it is to other demographics.
People are making (gasp) choices.

[DCPatriot]

Baseball players aren't athletes and baseball games are boring, especially athletically.

You're an idiot. Hitting a baseball is the most difficult task in sports. Go and ask Michael Jordan.

[mhking]

Concerned? For what?

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[spodefly]

I am concerned about the fact that there are so few blacks in curling, field hockey, and lacrosse. And what about synchronized swimming? Name just one famous black synchronized swimmer. Bet ya can't.

And don't even get me started on NASCAR and Hockey. And badmitten. And Alpine skiing.

[RISU]

We will never become a "color blind" society as long as people keep harping on this sort of "news".

I find it curious that the Government, so intent upon "non-discrimination", forces the publ;ic to choose "race" on nearly every document.

When we stop tracking "race" we will be beyond it. Until then we are segregated.

[CharacterCounts]

Name just one famous black synchronized swimmer. Bet ya can't.

Nme just one famous synchronized swimmer from any race!

[CommandoFrank]

Could it be that the reason for more Latino's playing baseball than blacks is because there are more Latino's as a percentage of US population than blacks?

Could it be that baseball is a big business out to make the bucks and will hire only the best players, regardless of race?

[Dudoight]

They would rather be Rappers. Less discipline, much more glorification.

[Hoof Hearted]

Baseball players aren't athletes and baseball games are boring, especially athletically.

By your logic, Michael Jordan should have easily become a baseball superstar. Except a great athlete like Jordan wasn't good enough. Show me ONE non-athlete that can accurately and consistantly throw a baseball at nearly 100 mph, or hit a baseball that is moving at that speed. (Or even a curve ball or slider). <

I have no problem that you think baseball is boring, but it doesn't excuse your idiotic comment.

[smith288]

List

[Mr. Bird]

In baseball, the profit-sharing of TV revenues more than compensate teams for salaries

Do you mean the national TV contract? $400 million each year for 30 teams? That doesn't cover payroll. And they do NOT pool local TV revenues, so that can't be it.

Who told you TV revenues covered salaries?