So the topic on first take today..

[bodyhard]

There are 3 MLB teams without black players and only 67 blacks in total...

I don't get it, you don't see other races complaining about not being in XX sport.

WTF am I missing something?

[ChickenPauk]

There are 3 MLB teams without black players and only 67 blacks in total...

I don't get it, you don't see other races complaining about not being in XX sport.

WTF am I missing something?

it is an odd thing to complain about - I'd think the stats are more so non-black in hockey as well. Also, in hockey a higher percentage of white than mlb. There's a large population of non-white in the mlb. Maybe not black, but Hispanic, etc.

Seems like if there is complaining to be done, it would be in that sport as the higher disproportion.

[Jbizzlechizzle]

There are 3 MLB teams without black players and only 67 blacks in total...

I don't get it, you don't see other races complaining about not being in XX sport.

WTF am I missing something?

Not listening or watching First Take today, but they're probably talking about baseball's lack of popularity among black kids. Basketball and football are a much more popular with them. I've heard similar sentiment in the media about the dwindling number of white players in the NBA and the small (but growing) percentage of black quarterbacks in the NCAA and NFL.

[thnikkaman]

I think the bigger issue here is why are you paying First Take with your attention?

ESPN has become Sports Tabloids.

[adkins0311]

That's all any discussion seems to turn to on there anymore bc Stephen a smiths ******* ass turns it into a race debate n skips to beta to disagree,,,I mean for **** sake it's the same way in the nba not having alotta white players

[mslman71]

.. n skips to beta to disagree,,,I mean for **** sake

[bodyhard]

I found it really weird/odd for this topic to be taking place when so many other sports have majorities, like Hockey with whites, Basketball with blacks.

Just seems like a stupid topic to be arguing over.

[mslman71]

Just seems like a stupid topic to be arguing over.

That never stopped anyone, especially someone who gets paid to fill air time.

[thnikkaman]

That never stopped anyone, especially someone who gets paid to fill air time.

Right? Isn't this the same show that could have been called First Tebow for 3 years?

[Karl_Hungus]

That never stopped anyone, especially someone who gets paid to fill air time.

People get a lot of mileage out of inventing phony racial controversies. The media does it all the time.

[bodyhard]

That never stopped anyone, especially someone who gets paid to fill air time.

Yeah but he was so adamant about it, like he took it personal, ya feel me?

[mslman71]

Yeah but he was so adamant about it, like he took it personal, ya feel me?

Beats me, maybe he's gotten to believing his own bullshit?

I don't voluntarily listen to sports radio of any sort and when I do hear it in the background it's like nails on a chalkboard (just like the political programs).

[bodyhard]

Beats me, maybe he's gotten to believing his own bullshit?

I don't voluntarily listen to sports radio of any sort and when I do hear it in the background it's like nails on a chalkboard (just like the political programs).

Sports RADIO?? It is on TV, didn't even know he had a radio show as well lol

[mslman71]

Sports RADIO?? It is on TV, didn't even know he had a radio show as well lol

Sorry, I was using that term generically to refer to all sports shows that only talk about sports.

[so-tex]

That never stopped anyone, especially someone who gets paid to fill air time.

Yup.

People get a lot of mileage out of inventing phony racial controversies. The media does it all the time.

It doesn't have to necessarily have to be racial controversy, but it's probably the easiest one.

Yeah but he was so adamant about it, like he took it personal, ya feel me?

These guys are all great actors, whether it's sports or politics. You have to sell the product if you wanna make the big $$$.

[Jbizzlechizzle]

I think the bigger issue here is why are you paying First Take with your attention?

ESPN has become Sports Tabloids.

This is largely true, but not in all cases. ESPN is in the entertainment business. Entertainment first... sports second. Controversial topics = better ratings = more $$$$ for the network

[Bando]

for the last 15-20 years the majority of baseball talent at the kids level is from year round leagues (travel teams)...and they cost money to be involved in, simple fact of the matter is these days is you want your kid to be a factor even at the high school level, you're gonna have to shell out the time and MONEY to get him to a higher level.

Those are American travel teams. In Panama, Mariano Riviera used a glove he made out of an old milk carton until he got his first leather glove at age 12.

[Brackneyc]

This is largely true, but not in all cases. ESPN is in the entertainment business. Entertainment first... sports second. Controversial topics = better ratings = more $$$$ for the network

They brought Olberman back....now the conversion to totally sucking is complete.

[Bando]

BH was referencing African Americans

Nope, he said "Blacks"

[SP1966]

Funny stuff! I follow the Timberwolves a bit and last year the team was so white that we were joking they needed to sign Birdman to add some color!

[Bando]

rep me "whitey"

I took this screenshot a little while back. My Desktop picture. A man who played with a fukking milk carton on his hand as a child.

[pharmamarketer]

I found it really weird/odd for this topic to be taking place when so many other sports have majorities, like Hockey with whites, Basketball with blacks.

Just seems like a stupid topic to be arguing over.

It is stupid. So now we have to have a certain number of each race in every sport? Then we can give trophies to everyone too and have 8th place ribbons as well.

[beachguy498]

I was reading something about this, forget if it was in ESPN or SI. It seems that most black BB players came up out of inner city programs, which have dwindled drastically in recent years. These were were the grade school teams that fed the high school teams that fed the college teams and so on.

Rob

[superman713]

he always tries to turn everything into a race issue... He's the Jessie Jackson/Al Sharpton of sports.

[quicksand jesus]

There are 3 MLB teams without black players and only 67 blacks in total...

I don't get it, you don't see other races complaining about not being in XX sport.

WTF am I missing something?

Since the majority of young black kids are not playing sandlot ball anymore ( lack of fields for one) it is no surprise that the MLB only has 67 blacks.

[crupiea]

There is money to be made by keeping stupid arguments like this going. Thats why its still an issue.

Does anyone here think that a professional sports team would pass over a player because of his skin color?

Thats asinine but the media and race peddlers would have us believe that is exactly what is happening.

The real problem is that people are so ****ing stupid they actually believe it.

[acrawlingchaos]

I don't know many black people that watch baseball, or even discuss it. Coupled with being a small minority in the professional game, I am inclined to believe that baseball may not be a game the black community is interested in.

Or maybe the MLB is racist, I don't know.

[DocHoss]

It is stupid. So now we have to have a certain number of each race in every sport? Then we can give trophies to everyone too and have 8th place ribbons as well.

[Jtbny]

This topic comes up every year on Jackie Robinson day. Nothing new here.

[beachguy498]

Since the majority of young black kids are not playing sandlot ball anymore ( lack of fields for one) it is no surprise that the MLB only has 67 blacks.

Most city kids played in PAL style entry-leagues, which I understand are greatly unfunded in recent years. Black kids gravitate towards basketball and football over baseball. But you get out of the US and head to Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, etc. These kids play baseball all day, every day. There is tremendous local support for Little League and other BB programs. They fully recognize it as a way out for their kids. My nephew spent 10 days one summer playing on a travel team visiting Puerto Rico when he was in HS. They played every day and had a great time and he observed that the kids playing there were better than many of kids playing in the US.

Rob