Basketball is widely considered as a black
man’s game. In the rich history of the NBA, there are only a few white players considered legends. But lately, not a few Caucasians are fast emerging in the hoops
limelight. Take the case of the NBA MVP winners from 2004 to 2007, Steve Nash
nailed down a back-to-back and German bomber Dirk Nowitzki lorded it over the
following year. Or the 2007 College Player of the Year which went to J.J.
Redick. According to Dr. Larry Davis,
Dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work
and Director of the School’s Center on Race and Social Problems, a Michael
Jordan-type of a white player may just be around the corner and ready to
dominate.
“A lot of the good white players could have been Michael Jordan, but
instead he’s a brain surgeon or something. The good black players play because
often they have to. The good white ones have more options. There is a white MJ
out there, I’m sure of it.”
Basketball is considered a blackman’s game because it is the only game that they can afford to play. When you are talking about basketball you are talking about ghetto neighborhoods and poor black families whose parents does not have the money to send their kids to fancy places and play sports that requires money to participate. In the ghetto or any poor neighborhoods, you see nothing but basketball hoops sometimes with chain nets or just a bare iron ring. You don’t see a manicured grass field to play soccer, baseball or golf. No public swimming pool or other expensive recreation facility. The only recreation facility in the ghetto is the street where they opened the fire hydrant to cool off in the summer or play basketball in some rundown court. There is no choice for them but to play basketball day-in and day-out. They live and breathe on basketball to hone in on their skills in hopes that it will get them out of the ghetto to a better life and maybe to the NBA.
ReplyDeleteWhite athletes, in contrasts with black athletes, for the most part they can choose whatever sports they want to play because they can afford it. They will buy the most expensive equipment and hire professional trainers to be a professional athlete. I am sure that there is a Caucasian Michael Jordan out there, if he commits to be the next one. Exposure and a passion to the game is the key.
As I have mentioned, black basketball players dominate the sports because of their exposure on basketball environment and their drive for a better life. This is true with any sports or any profession and it does not pertain to certain races but to every race. I have no doubt that there will someday be a white Michael Jordan, but also a Pinoy Michael Jordan. It is not going to happen overnight, but I am dead serious on that statement, when I based the same environment on the majority of our athletes that have similar upbringing as the black athletes. Just look at how many Asian athletes are now playing in the NBA. In other professional sports, Latinos currently have about seven of the top 10 highest paid athletes in major league baseball since many Latin countries have adapted baseball as their number one sports several years ago. Tiger Woods, who is half Asian and half black, was swinging a 9 iron since the day he was born, is now considered to be the best in golf which is a sports dominated by whites. How about Manny Pacquiao dominating a sports which was once a black man’s sports?
Very nice observation, Ollie.... And yes, boxing was once considered a black man's sport dating back to the days of the "brown bomber", Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson..... Blacks and sports are almost synonymous to each other because Caucasians have more career options other than being in sports. But I'm still looking forward to another "Larry Bird" in the near future rather than white Michael Jordan...
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