Just how important is Dontrelle Willis? (Race Bomb)

[biittner77]

It seems to me Willis gets plenty of exposure. Any exposure he gets should be because he's good not because he's black.

 

I don't believe MLB is actively or even passively discriminating against black players. Therefore, I don't care what the ethnic make up of the league is. All I want to know or see is if the guy can play.

 

The NFL, or rather football in general, is a different story. I believe they do passively discriminate against black QBs.

[Derwood]

It seems to me Willis gets plenty of exposure. Any exposure he gets should be because he's good not because he's black.

 

I don't believe MLB is actively or even passively discriminating against black players. Therefore, I don't care what the ethnic make up of the league is. All I want to know or see is if the guy can play.

 

The NFL, or rather football in general, is a different story. I believe they do passively discriminate against black QBs.

 

"They" meaning whom? It seems that they premiere QB's in the league (and thus, who the league is marketing themselves with) are all black. McNabb, Vick, Culpepper, Leftwich. You can't say that Brady, Manning or Favre get better coverage or more exposure. Look at video games in particular and whom they market themselves with.

[biittner77]

It seems to me Willis gets plenty of exposure. Any exposure he gets should be because he's good not because he's black.

 

I don't believe MLB is actively or even passively discriminating against black players. Therefore, I don't care what the ethnic make up of the league is. All I want to know or see is if the guy can play.

 

The NFL, or rather football in general, is a different story. I believe they do passively discriminate against black QBs.

 

"They" meaning whom? It seems that they premiere QB's in the league (and thus, who the league is marketing themselves with) are all black. McNabb, Vick, Culpepper, Leftwich. You can't say that Brady, Manning or Favre get better coverage or more exposure. Look at video games in particular and whom they market themselves with.

 

By "They" I mean coaches on all levels. Perhaps they're not consciously doing it. Perhaps they're becoming more aware and that's why you're able to name 4 black NFL QBs. Add Aaron Brooks and the guy from Tenn that never practices because he's always hurt and that's 6. Let's say there are another 6 that we've missed. That makes 12. There are 31 teams, each with 3 QBs. That means 12 of 93 NFL QBs are black. That's an almost 8-1 ratio.

 

Look back at all the black QBs that have played in the NFL, almost every one of them has these things in common:

1. a cannon for an arm

2. the ability to run

 

Those qualities are good to have in a QB but there have been a lot of white QBs that had one or neither of those qualities.

 

I'm not saying that these coaches wouldn't play a great black QB but they will convert an average one to another position.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not saying that these coaches wouldn't play a great black QB but they will convert an average one to another position.

 

Like Matt Jones?

 

I think you're talking about a different time. Things have changed drastically in the football world. I just counted 18 black QBs in my fantasy league's list of all QB's. There are lots of black QBs in high school and college, and they will keep coming into the NFL.

[Mike Aller]

I hate these talks. Just let the people play, regarless of race.

 

How many white males do you see playing the running back position in football? Not many. Let it go. The guy is talented, it seems rude make a big deal out of his race.

[UK1679666180]

I hate these talks. Just let the people play, regarless of race.

 

How many white males do you see playing the running back position in football? Not many. Let it go. The guy is talented, it seems rude make a big deal out of his race.

 

Given the history and struggles of MLB, I think it merits discussion.

[Derwood]

I hate these talks. Just let the people play, regarless of race.

 

How many white males do you see playing the running back position in football? Not many. Let it go. The guy is talented, it seems rude make a big deal out of his race.

 

Given the history and struggles of MLB, I think it merits discussion.

 

I guess the question remains "Is it a big deal if black kids don't want to play baseball?" If the sport is thriving with a mostly white and hispanic player base, who cares? Is anyone making a big deal of the lack of hispanics in basketball? Or how about no black drivers on the Nextel Cup Circuit?

 

I don't think baseball on any level is practicing a broad form of discrimination against black players. Instead, I think football and basketball are the sports that tend to attract the black youth of this country.

[Illini Iceman]

That's true, but you can't argue that Black QB exposure went up as soon as Vick started at Virginia Tech.

 

Cunningham planted the seed, but no one watered it until this current group of QB's showed up, in my opinion anyway.

 

Agreed. Vick's emergence is keeping a lot of kids from being college WRs, but I give Cunningham the credit for giving guys like Vick (and the current crop) a chance to stay at QB.

 

was warren moon before cunningham?

 

warren moon was my favorite nfl player growing up!

 

Let's not forget Doug Williams. He was the Super Bowl MVP in 1988 and continues to make significant contributions at Grambling.

 

Williams left Grambling last year to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers front office.

[hardcorecubfan]

Looking at the MLB leaders in ERA, how many in the top 40 are american born black athletes? One. How many in the top 80? Two.

 

Why aren't there more black pitchers? Is it because, like with QB's in football, many are pushed to other positions at a young age? Is it because, this is a little un-PC, but is it because they are more athletic than their white counterparts, and pitching is a position where athleticism isn't as necessary?

 

Whatever the reason, Dontrelle Willis could become something of a Mike Vick of Baseball. When Vick exploded onto the scene at Virginia Tech, it seemingly gave more black high school players the opportunity to play QB in college, and actually pass the ball.

 

I really wish MLB would give Dontrelle more exposure, not only because of his incredible year, but because of the good it would do to the overall health of the sport.

 

The big question then is will the old race card be played as an excuse when carpenter wins the Cy Young?

 

 

Pitching isn't as athletic??? usually the best pitchers were the better athletes at there respective HS and colleges, they just chose to concentrate on pitching.

[hardcorecubfan]

.

 

I guess the question remains "Is it a big deal if black kids don't want to play baseball?" If the sport is thriving with a mostly white and hispanic player base, who cares? Is anyone making a big deal of the lack of hispanics in basketball? Or how about no black drivers on the Nextel Cup Circuit?

 

I don't think baseball on any level is practicing a broad form of discrimination against black players. Instead, I think football and basketball are the sports that tend to attract the black youth of this country.

 

very well said!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Looking at the MLB leaders in ERA, how many in the top 40 are american born black athletes? One. How many in the top 80? Two.

 

Why aren't there more black pitchers? Is it because, like with QB's in football, many are pushed to other positions at a young age? Is it because, this is a little un-PC, but is it because they are more athletic than their white counterparts, and pitching is a position where athleticism isn't as necessary?

 

Whatever the reason, Dontrelle Willis could become something of a Mike Vick of Baseball. When Vick exploded onto the scene at Virginia Tech, it seemingly gave more black high school players the opportunity to play QB in college, and actually pass the ball.

 

I really wish MLB would give Dontrelle more exposure, not only because of his incredible year, but because of the good it would do to the overall health of the sport.

 

The big question then is will the old race card be played as an excuse when carpenter wins the Cy Young?

 

 

Pitching isn't as athletic??? usually the best pitchers were the better athletes at there respective HS and colleges, they just chose to concentrate on pitching.

 

Yeah, in youth leagues the best athletes/players are almost always tried out at pitcher.

[UK1679666180]

I guess the question remains "Is it a big deal if black kids don't want to play baseball?" If the sport is thriving with a mostly white and hispanic player base, who cares? Is anyone making a big deal of the lack of hispanics in basketball? Or how about no black drivers on the Nextel Cup Circuit?

 

I don't think baseball on any level is practicing a broad form of discrimination against black players. Instead, I think football and basketball are the sports that tend to attract the black youth of this country.

 

As a baseball fan 1st, I'd like to see more kids playing baseball no matter what their race. It just happens happens to be one race that is lacking in the overall numbers.

 

What also adds importance is the struggles of Robinson getting into MLB, the hardships of the Negro Leagues, etc..

 

There is no other sport that has had nearly as much racial tension of MLB, that is what separates it from other sports...