Race and sports?

Question

In issue # 110 of Slam Magazine I was reading an article on race and sports in the world today. Dr. Larry Davis was quoted as saying "A lot of good white players could have been Michael Jordan, but instead they become brain surgeons or something. The black players play often because they have to. The good white ones have more options. There's a white MJ out there. I'm sure of it." What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

The premise is that white players have more options with their lives, and more clear paths to financial success. I can't argue with that. Sports have been a way out of poverty for decades. (Why do you think people box?)



Still, the idea that someone could grow up to be another Michael Jordan is something of a reach. Jordan had a unique set of athletic skills and ability. Some came at birth, some were developed through hard, hard work over many years. Plus, Jordan had an incredibly developed sense of competition in his personality. He didn't like losing, and didn't like being second-best. That had its drawbacks, such as the way he treated some teammates and as his well-publicized problems with gambling.



I guess what I'm saying is, while many good basketball players may have wound up doing other things, Jordan brought a unique set of circumstances to his situation. So I'm not convinced that there's a white Jordan out there.

Answer 2

I'm sure there are too. It seems to me they are not interested in sports, that's all. It's not a black or a white thing. It is nothing more than people doing what they have a passion for, that's it in a nut shell.

Answer 3

Larry Bird????

Answer 4

I think his name was Larry Bird...