Race in the MLB, NBA: Not a Black and White Issue

BLACKS IN BASEBALL

Anybody who knows me well will readily acknowledge that I have a surplus of quirks and drawbacks. Despite my issues, one thing I am not is a racist or a bigot.

With that mentioned, I couldn’t help but chuckle and scoff at the latest report that only 8.2 percent of Major League Baseball players are African Americans.

I found the statistic comedic because I curiously can’t recall any mainstream report documenting the percentage of Caucasians that are currently employed by the National Basketball Association. Why is it that the lack of blacks in baseball is always noted by the media, and the minuscule number of whites in basketball never is discussed?

Seeing a white American man playing on an NBA hardwood is akin to finding a virgin in Vegas, and the media needs to become more balanced in their reporting. If they don’t, I will continue to “scoff” and “chuckle” at their unbalanced disclosures to the public. 

 BARACK OBAMA
On cue with what I broached in my first topic, below is a quote by Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama on a recent segment of HBO’s “Real Sports” when he discussed his love of playing basketball during his youth:

“Here is a place where being black was not a disadvantage.”

 JAMES DOLAN
James Dolan, a recovering drug addict and alcoholic who moonlights as a singer in the blues band “JD and the Straight Shot”, is the most incompetent and rudderless owner in the history of the New York Knicks franchise.

Since taking over the Knickerbockers in 2000, he has transformed a once proud and upstanding organization into a national laughingstock and one of David Letterman’s favorite punch-lines.

Despite his status as a mental gimp for the ages, Dolan genuinely came through for the Garden faithful at Monday’s home finale against the Boston Celtics when he provided long-suffering fans with free food and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the game.

Without sarcasm, the Miles Davis wannabe deserves great credit for his tremendous gesture. Knicks fans may never have a chance to drink championship champagne with Dolan at the helm. But, at least some supporters received grub on the house thanks to the silver spoons chairman.

 LEBRON IS OVERRATED
Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson called Cleveland Cavaliers icon Lebron James “overrated” prior to their teams first game in the 2008 playoffs this past Saturday.

Stevenson, a mediocre player, obviously has either a 24th chromosome or he is horribly delusional.

King James is, at 23 years of age, already one of the greatest players to ever perform in the history of the NBA, and it is uproarious to hear someone of Stevenson’s lowly stature claim otherwise.

Stevenson calling Lebron “overrated” is like Chelsea Clinton calling Elizabeth Hurley ugly, and I am quite confident that Stevenson dug his and his teammates graves before the first round even got underway.

 NEW YORK YANKEES
In direct contrast to what I said in my baseball preview last month, the New York Yankees (10-10) pitching staff does appear too “green” and their everyday players do seem “too long-in-the-tooth” to seriously contend this year.

It is only April and things can be dramatically altered between now and late September. But, after 20 games, it looks like it could be a quiet autumn in the Bronx.

KYLE FARNSWORTH SUSPENSION
Yankees liability and relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth was suspended for three games yesterday after intentionally throwing at the Boston Red Sox Manny Ramirez during a game Thursday in the Bronx.

For fans of the Yankees, this is an absolutely ideal scenario. In one pitch, the Yankees simultaneously sent a message to their northern rivals that they won’t be bullied in the bean ball warfare anymore and they shed themselves of their worthless right-hander for a few days.

Talk about a classic example of killing two birds with one stone.

 STEVE MCNAIR
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair retired this week after 13 highly-productive seasons in the NFL.

McNair, 35, threw for over 31,000 yards in his career and he was the league's Co-MVP in 2003.

Despite his impressive accolades, “Air” McNair will be remembered as much for his toughness and ability to play through pain as he will be for his actual accomplishments on the gridiron.

Unfortunately, toughness does not earn you a ticket to Canton. McNair was a very good signal-caller for both the Ravens and the Tennessee Titans. But, he was definitely not a Hall of Fame quarterback.

 HOPKINS VERSUS CALZAGHE

Joe Calzaghe (45-0), 36, defeated Bernard Hopkins (48-5-1), 43, via a narrow split-decision Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

If Calzaghe had fought “the Executioner” before Hopkins was eligible to receive social security checks, the Welshman would have entered, as Walter Sobchak said, “a world of fucking pain.” Time stands still for no man and that adage holds true even for the great Bernard Hopkins.