i thought you were supposed to get wiser with age

[anabiono]

The percentage of African-Americans playing Major League Baseball is at an all-time low and Gary Sheffield says he has a theory why that's the case.

 

Gary Sheffield

 

Sheffield

 

In an interview with GQ magazine that's currently on newsstands, the typically outspoken Tigers designated hitter said Latin players have replaced African-Americans as baseball's most prevalent minority because they are easier to control.

 

"I called it years ago. What I called is that you're going to see more black faces, but there ain't no English going to be coming out. … [it's about] being able to tell [Latin players] what to do -- being able to control them," he told the magazine.

 

"Where I'm from, you can't control us. You might get a guy to do it that way for a while because he wants to benefit, but in the end, he is going to go back to being who he is. And that's a person that you're going to talk to with respect, you're going to talk to like a man.

 

"These are the things my race demands. So, if you're equally good as this Latin player, guess who's going to get sent home? I know a lot of players that are home now can outplay a lot of these guys."

 

According to a 2005 report by the University of Central Florida Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, only 8.5 percent of major leaguers were African American -- the lowest percentage since the report was initiated in the mid-1980s. By contrast, whites comprised 59.5 percent of the majors' player pool, Latinos 28.7 percent and Asians 2.5.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[inari]

I can't imagine this will sit well with his Latino team mates.

[JeffH]

Carlos Zambrano has proven to be extremely easy to control.

[Soriano12]

What. An. Idiot.

[Outshined_One]

I nearly died of laughter when I saw that he was taking Elijah Dukes under his wing.

 

Something tells me that won't do a whole lot of good for Dukes.

[TruffleShuffle]

maybe he's been watching neifi perez too long, and can't figure out why he has a job in the major leagues

[frostwyrm]

Sure, Gary, Carlos Zambrano is a step-and-fetching Uncle Tomas. That explains everything.

[Exile on Waveland]

There are so many things wrong with that. Gary Sheffield is a moron.

 

Also, I've never heard the stereotype that Latino's were "easy to control". I thought the stereotype was passionate, fiery Latino's (like a Carlos Zambrano). So I don't really think Sheffield's idiotic, myopic, unfortunate stereotyping statements even hold true. If MLB management was racist and subscribed to common stereotypes, I don't believe they'd pick Latino's for "control".

 

*I want to stress that I'm not supporting the above stereotype.

 

Plus, it's clear that baseball isn't near as popular within the African-American population as basketball and football, for many reasons.

[B]

I think he is right about "his race" not being easy to control. Look at other sports and who their most troubled athletes are. I'm not saying they are the only ones that get in trouble, but they are the majority. I don't have a clue about latino players being easier to control though.

[Soriano12]

The stereotype of black MLB players as "militant" and "uncoachable" as inferred by Sheffield is just sad.

[abuck1220]

I think he is right about "his race" not being easy to control. Look at other sports and who their most troubled athletes are. I'm not saying they are the only ones that get in trouble, but they are the majority. I don't have a clue about latino players being easier to control though.

 

come on.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

http://sportsargumentwiki.com/index.php?title=Gary_Sheffield

[CubmanPi]

Not only is Big Z so easy to control, but Derrek Lee is the epitome of Out-Of-Control-Thug. Gimme a break.

[Soul]

Sheffield needs some brain steroids.

[Backtobanks]

The percentage of African-Americans playing Major League Baseball is at an all-time low and Gary Sheffield says he has a theory why that's the case.

 

Gary Sheffield

 

Sheffield

 

In an interview with GQ magazine that's currently on newsstands, the typically outspoken Tigers designated hitter said Latin players have replaced African-Americans as baseball's most prevalent minority because they are easier to control.

 

"I called it years ago. What I called is that you're going to see more black faces, but there ain't no English going to be coming out. … [it's about] being able to tell [Latin players] what to do -- being able to control them," he told the magazine.

 

"Where I'm from, you can't control us. You might get a guy to do it that way for a while because he wants to benefit, but in the end, he is going to go back to being who he is. And that's a person that you're going to talk to with respect, you're going to talk to like a man.

 

"These are the things my race demands. So, if you're equally good as this Latin player, guess who's going to get sent home? I know a lot of players that are home now can outplay a lot of these guys."

 

According to a 2005 report by the University of Central Florida Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, only 8.5 percent of major leaguers were African American -- the lowest percentage since the report was initiated in the mid-1980s. By contrast, whites comprised 59.5 percent of the majors' player pool, Latinos 28.7 percent and Asians 2.5.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Sheffield had better hope that the NBA and NFL don't find out.

[Productive Outs]

I think he is right about "his race" not being easy to control. Look at other sports and who their most troubled athletes are. I'm not saying they are the only ones that get in trouble, but they are the majority. I don't have a clue about latino players being easier to control though.

 

you really don't try to change the stereotype that all southerners and rednecks are racists, do you?

[seanimal]

Sheffield needs some brain steroids.

 

LOL. Literally.

[rocket]

whatta moron

[Magnetic Curses]

I think he is right about "his race" not being easy to control. Look at other sports and who their most troubled athletes are. I'm not saying they are the only ones that get in trouble, but they are the majority. I don't have a clue about latino players being easier to control though.

 

your views are intriguing to me and i would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[frostwyrm]

I still haven't figured out how Charlie Hayes lasted 14 seasons in the big leagues. The guy just plain sucked and he was a fat slob. I'd like to hear Sheff's opinion. I bet he'd say coaches liked having Hayes around because he was an Uncle Tom.