THE BLACK ATHLETE IN AMERICA
The good, the bad and …
By Ketsela
“FOOLS ARE DARE ENOUGH TO ACT UP ON WHAT ANGELS ARE AFRAID TO DO”
Many things change in the dynamic nature of the American culture. Many laws were written and enacted to ensure equal rights and yet I seemed to observe, “two steps forward and one step backward” phenomena in the sport world. Last year we all witnessed the greatest super bowl ever coached by two African-Americans and to the many of us black people, the result was not as important compared to having Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, tow African American coaches on the sidelines.
Then came the historic run by Barry Bond in breaking the career home run record in baseball echoed all over the country with quite a lot of doubters. The brother was accused of hitting 756 home runs using performance-enhancing drugs by the media and the white community. Was that really the reason for the doubts or was it that he happened to break the record? Of course I had witnessed Hank Aaron’s homerun record-breaking event even at a time there was a lot of bickering between the media and the white world of America. What is important to note here is, when Hank Aaron broke the record, it was believed that no one could ever match it let alone a black man. Baseball, ladies and gentlemen, was considered as America’s game along with hot dog and pie. The players before Hank Aaron, most of whom were inducted into the Hall of Fame were mostly whites. Just like most other sports, Black Americans were discriminated in all areas of the sport. If blacks made it like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays did, they were never treated equally including staying in the same hotel with the white players.
So, what seems to be the problem with Barry Bonds? Ah! The problem was the record was held by the famous Babe Ruth aka The Bambino. He was and still is considered the baseball hero and no one was supposed to come close, particularly a black player to his home run record. Who was Babe Ruth? He played for few of the east coast teams and broke held most records and was considered to be the number one player in the history of baseball. Certainly, he was a great player. There is no doubt about it. But in comparison, what was placed on and the two Black men who came after him was that they were accused of this and that and other lame excuses. Mr. Ruth was a beer guzzling, big-bellied man. It is said that before and after the games he drank a case of beer! This, according to the media, was never a problem at all. Of course, there was no drug or alcohol test requirement on many of the players at the time. They were never required to follow the league’s regulation. They did every thing. They were then above the law.
Now, Barry Bond made Babe Ruth to be placed in third place in the career home run history of baseball. The media continues to put a question mark on Bond’s record. Oh! Oh! Barry never liked them either and had never been a willing partner to give interviews. But the latter one had never been that significant. Now the record is broken I wonder what they will do next to dethrone him. Way to go brother, you made me very proud!!!
Every thing that glitters is not gold. And then there is the stupidity of Michael Vick. How in the hell did he get involved in such a criminal action? Why? It is estimated his income ranges between 8 million to 13 million a year. Isn’t it foolish to be entrapped by the racist world? This is one fool who got in trouble for no apparent reason. They caught him. They are so certain he committed the crime, even the senate opened a discussion where the most senior Senator Robert Byrd made a comment on the Senate floor “Barbaric, let that word resound from hill to hill.” Readers when do our famous black brothers and sisters learn that they are being watched?
