TheBayIsTheSco said:
jerome williams who came up for a start, and by the way felipe is domincan ya fuckin idiot. i know who's latin and black! why does it matter though?? like i said why does race have to come into everything? why is it a problem? whoever is good makes it bottom line. is it a problem that there's not that many latins or whites in the nba??????????
Alou is Latin. You are right.
Let me put a little perspective on this. In the late 70's, early 80's some teams figured out a way to beat the system. They started developing players from places that would not be subject to the League's draft. They put schools in the latin american countries that were dedicated to producing baseball players. It taught them english, taught them all the nuances of the game. Gave them food (many of these places were very poor) and basically became a home away from home. They invested SERIOUSLY in the talent from these areas. It paid off.... there has been a flood ever since then from Latin countries who have these schools. Many teams has their own "schools". If a kid was good enough, they basically just sent him right into their farm system without having to worry about other teams swooping them up.
Tejada.... you just have to read his story once. That's why he's so loyal to the A's.... dude basically grew up with the A's from the time he was a youngster.
Anyway, my point is that when the teams made the investment in that geographic region the talent (which everybody has) was cultivated and showed its face in the beague leagues intremendous numbers. It's not rocket science.
MLB doesn't make that same investment in the inner-city. I am not saying it has to or should.... but the fact is that there is talent everywhere. It's not being cultivated in the black community. Its not about assigning a "fault". It's just a fact.
Take here in Oakland. For 30 years there was this cat who was basically the baseball guru.....every little leaguer out here, every kid wanted to play for him and develop his skills.... I forget cat's name. Dude retired not too long ago (or died) and the city's youth baseball is on life support. I coach at the East Oakland Youth Development Center, Tassle, YMCA, Raindow, shit...I LOVE coaching. But do you know most all of these rec centers have hoops and MAYBE flag football, but no baseball. Maybe the EOYDC has a lil league, but it's not really teaching them anything...its just to get them off the streets (real talk). The inner city has basically stopped supporting baseball, MLB does not invest in these communities either..... so it is no mystery that you see fewer A/A's in the big leagues. So what. It's not racist. It's just reality. A topic that involves race does not mean everybody is a hater.
Basically, though, I think the folks in the inner city have to pick up the slack and volunteer, coach and give these youngsters a chance to play more sports than just hoops. Everybody can't be Jordan.... but if you start early enough.... you can at least be a baseball player that can make a high school team and have hella fun.
As an A/A growin up I remember seein guys like Dusty Baker, Willie Randolf, Dave Winfield, Dave Murphy, Dave Parker, Ricky, Jim Rice, and other cats making the All-Star team..... Ozzie, yall remember WIllie McGee from RICHMOND!! Now, besides Barry Bonds, can you think of 3 or 4 other A/A's who are going to be in the All-Star game. They are mostly retired. Where are they?
Name 3 (excluding Barry Bonds) that are going to make the All-Star team. I can think of 1, Garrett Anderson and he wont make it this year...he's playing terribly. That leaves Derek Jeter... I am assuming he's A/A, but he's been hurt and wont make it. Think about it. Youngsters don't have those ballers today to look up to and idolize..... like the NBA or the NFL. Nothing wrong with discussing it.
WHy discuss it? Maybe some black folks will say, "Yeah, that's true. I probably should coach or volunteer." Can't hurt to discuss it
