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I think baseball is like golf, gymnastics, and ice hockey for young Blacks. It's expensive. And when the income isn't there, they trend toward something that's not as costly.
If you are a black kid in an "underprivileged" school in America you don't have to buy anything to play baseball (or any other sport). Simply show up, have some athletic talent, and you are on the team with all expenses paid.
With baseball, you have got to be a on a travel team and in a league that can be seen. I was looking at one of the local high school teams baseball roster last Spring. They are usually pretty good. All but two or three of the guys on varsity were part of travel teams during the off season. The ones who weren't played football in the fall so they didn't need to play on baseball travel teams.
It's hard, for the most part to play varsity baseball without being part of a Summer league or a team that travels.
I think you've got it backwards. The best players play on elite travel teams, period. They easily make the varsity team because they play so much more than most other players.
BTW, in your post you quoted Matt Wade who basically said black kids get their fees paid, get free equipment and placement on a team, not because they are elite athletes, but because they are black. That sentiment is extremely offensive, and patently wrong. I can't believe you let that slide by.
I just thought he was trying to say that if they were playing football, basketball,, baseball, that the school would pay for all of the equipment. I was hoping that he knows that's done for ALL players in school sports.
Around here black schools get free equipment. White schools you have to pay to be on the team. Black schools you get to be a cheerleader for no charge. White school? Being a cheerleader runs about 400 dollars (more if they go to competition).
Of course I expect you to say the black kids deserve it....reparations and all.
Thank you for this. I've been trying to avoid calling this BB "racist" for a while because I am honestly starting to believe that it may just be ignorance talking. That being said, this place has a certain uncomfortable tone whenever race is discussed. Your mileage may vary of course. The OP in this topic is cringeworthy and the you brought around the whole point of the IL team being "newsworthy" quite nicely. MLB and its host cities are trying to combat the lack of interest in baseball with intiatives like the RBI program and the urban youth baseball academies. I think Joe Morgan just opened the one in Cincinnatti and was quite emotional about it as it was a similar program that got him into the sport as a child.
If your first reaction to this story is "what about the white kids," then you probably ought to revaluate your world view. By the way, there were "all white" and "all asian" teams in the LLWS. As I recall the South Korean team defeated the team from IL in the finals. Maybe "all white" baseball teams aren't newsworthy because often times that is the status quo.
It's illegal to REQUIRE that any student pay to play sports in the public school system in most states including Florida. If they choose to not pay these "fees" they can't be kicked off a team. ...
Do you have a link for that ?
It's illegal to REQUIRE that any student pay to play sports in the public school system in most states including Florida. If they choose to not pay these "fees" they can't be kicked off a team. ...
When you make a firm statement, you should be able to back it up.
He's not going to provide it because it simply isn't true.You Stated:
According to your link, evidently it is illegal in Calif.
Still looking one for Fla, as well as other States or Commonwealths.
When you make a firm statement, you should be able to back it up.
He's not going to provide it because it simply isn't true.
..... don't hold your breathe waiting for that. I've challenged him to back up his accusations many times, and all I get is insults and another round of name calling! :wavey:
From the 5th Paragraph of an AOL story:
"The beloved Jackie Robinson West All Stars, Chicago's first all-black team to claim the national title,..."