The Imus hubub is finally losing momentum, but as his fire flames out, a new one begings to burn. Should all of our culture, including rappers and other musicians, be held to the same standard? I say yes, this guy says no.
I completely disagree with this opinion, but offer it up anyway.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
...Jackie Robinson's ripple...
If there’s one woman I’d love to have the privilege to interview, it’s Rachel Robinson. She was married to the late Jackie Robinson, the pioneer who started to breakdown racial barriers in our country.
Rachel Robinson, a woman who lived through segregation, who lived through a time where blacks were socially considered inferior to whites, would be a truly astounding person to have lunch with, let alone interview.
Still, I truly gawked at her on ESPN Sunday night when she said her husband, if alive, would be disappointed with the state of baseball. She cited that of the 40 percent of minorities playing in MLB, only 8 were black. She and Jackie would truly have been disappointed.
Those are pithy numbers, indeed, but maybe Mrs. Robinson doesn’t follow other sports. Yes, minority involvement in baseball has dropped, but is has no doubt swelled in other sports, a feat Jackie would no doubt take pride in.
A report on Yahoo! said that 80 percent of the NFL was black, or African American, compared to 17 percent white and 3 percent other. I also sent a breakdown inquiry to the NBA, but will wait to hear back and update this blog.
So much has also been done in sports in terms of minority hiring to bridge the gap of coaches, managers and front off ice personnel, but that is not a battle that has been won.
On the field is a different tale. It’s all about the almighty dollar these days, and that means winning. I don’t think any MLB executive would choose a white, Hispanic or Asian player over a black one if it meant hurting his team’s chances to win.
That is a victory in itself.
Rachel Robinson, a woman who lived through segregation, who lived through a time where blacks were socially considered inferior to whites, would be a truly astounding person to have lunch with, let alone interview.
Still, I truly gawked at her on ESPN Sunday night when she said her husband, if alive, would be disappointed with the state of baseball. She cited that of the 40 percent of minorities playing in MLB, only 8 were black. She and Jackie would truly have been disappointed.
Those are pithy numbers, indeed, but maybe Mrs. Robinson doesn’t follow other sports. Yes, minority involvement in baseball has dropped, but is has no doubt swelled in other sports, a feat Jackie would no doubt take pride in.
A report on Yahoo! said that 80 percent of the NFL was black, or African American, compared to 17 percent white and 3 percent other. I also sent a breakdown inquiry to the NBA, but will wait to hear back and update this blog.
So much has also been done in sports in terms of minority hiring to bridge the gap of coaches, managers and front off ice personnel, but that is not a battle that has been won.
On the field is a different tale. It’s all about the almighty dollar these days, and that means winning. I don’t think any MLB executive would choose a white, Hispanic or Asian player over a black one if it meant hurting his team’s chances to win.
That is a victory in itself.
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