COLUMN: Racism still alive in sports
James Spearman
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Sports
Two weeks ago I attended a high school football game. That's right, a high school football game; which might I add, was a lot better than the Lions.
While there, I heard a disturbing comment.
During that football game, right around the home team's punt return, this guy says that "there's no way they should catch him. He's black."
That's right. This guy pulls the race card out on a high school football game.
I thought about saying something, but the little guy returning the ball did all the talking for me. The guy ran at least 70 yards before getting tackled.
The crowd went crazy. The question is why are we (as Americans) so stereotypical of sports? Do all blacks really have to be great runners, and only excel in basketball and football? Are Latinos really naturally born to play baseball? Are whites really the best in hockey?
Although these questions may sound stupid, are they farfetched? Seriously, are they really unanswerable?
A journalist named Khalid Salaam (SLAM magazine) recently wrote an article on racism in sports.
His article is called "True Lies." Salaam asked this question, a question that I still struggle to answer.
When the line between ignorance and prejudice is blurred, who is the real victim?
My mind goes back to Don Imus and his reference to the Rutgers girls' basketball team as "nappy headed ho's."
How could someone be so ignorant to call a female that name via the media? There's really no answer. America has come to the point where we have forgotten the dream of Rev. Martin L. King. All men are created equal.
And yes, in this age, all men are mostly treated equal. However, we are still separated in the place that brings the world together; sports.
Have you ever caught yourself saying that the best person in soccer is that "white guy?" It happens. Do you know that "white guy's" name?
What about in basketball; is the best player in the NBA really a "black guy?" If that's the case, why did Steve Nash win two consecutive MVP awards? In fact, the NBA went three years without a "black guy" being awarded MVP. There was Nash and Dirk Nowitski. Nash is Canadian and Nowitski is German. Tony Parker is French, and he's so good he's been placed on the video game cover of NBA Live 09, which I do recomend for any sports gamer.
While there, I heard a disturbing comment.
During that football game, right around the home team's punt return, this guy says that "there's no way they should catch him. He's black."
That's right. This guy pulls the race card out on a high school football game.
I thought about saying something, but the little guy returning the ball did all the talking for me. The guy ran at least 70 yards before getting tackled.
The crowd went crazy. The question is why are we (as Americans) so stereotypical of sports? Do all blacks really have to be great runners, and only excel in basketball and football? Are Latinos really naturally born to play baseball? Are whites really the best in hockey?
Although these questions may sound stupid, are they farfetched? Seriously, are they really unanswerable?
A journalist named Khalid Salaam (SLAM magazine) recently wrote an article on racism in sports.
His article is called "True Lies." Salaam asked this question, a question that I still struggle to answer.
When the line between ignorance and prejudice is blurred, who is the real victim?
My mind goes back to Don Imus and his reference to the Rutgers girls' basketball team as "nappy headed ho's."
How could someone be so ignorant to call a female that name via the media? There's really no answer. America has come to the point where we have forgotten the dream of Rev. Martin L. King. All men are created equal.
And yes, in this age, all men are mostly treated equal. However, we are still separated in the place that brings the world together; sports.
Have you ever caught yourself saying that the best person in soccer is that "white guy?" It happens. Do you know that "white guy's" name?
What about in basketball; is the best player in the NBA really a "black guy?" If that's the case, why did Steve Nash win two consecutive MVP awards? In fact, the NBA went three years without a "black guy" being awarded MVP. There was Nash and Dirk Nowitski. Nash is Canadian and Nowitski is German. Tony Parker is French, and he's so good he's been placed on the video game cover of NBA Live 09, which I do recomend for any sports gamer.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Kyle S.
posted 10/28/08 @ 9:57 PM EST
Very nice column. A lot of who excels at sports is less racial, and more socioeconomical. In the days of slavery, plantation owners liked to breed the strong slaves with each other, making certain physical traits more likely (such as height, strength, speed, etc. (Continued…)
Racism exists because you let it
posted 10/31/08 @ 7:36 PM EST
If all of this is truly about the comment you heard at a football game, you are way overreacting. No one ever said that any sport was exclusive to a certain ethnic group. (Continued…)
JC
posted 11/01/08 @ 7:59 PM EST
"The question is why are we (as Americans) so stereotypical of sports?"
Got irony?
Maybe the following questions aren't as well-thought out as yours, but they do suggest themselves, nonetheless: Why do you take a single case and generalize it to the larger population? Are Americans' attitudes qualitatively different from those of other nations? Are we more or less likely to demonstrate stereotypical attitudes? Do such factors such as age and education play a role in the holding and expressing of such attitudes?
I know. (Continued…)
Dil Herath
posted 6/05/09 @ 11:50 AM EST
I'll be having a debate on Monday.This was very useful 4 that.so nice
Tom
posted 6/10/09 @ 5:27 AM EST
What a joke!!! Sensitive much???
hockey equipment
posted 7/27/10 @ 11:35 PM EST
Hey Nurses! Keep Away from hockey equipment !
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