I was listening to the Kojo Nnamdi Show today, and part of the discussion centered on African American sports preferences. An old head like Gerald Early loves baseball like it was his second wife. But for a guy like me? I'm down with baseball when the Tigers are doing work. I keep up with them enough to have been happy that Alan Trammel, Lance Parrish, and Kirk Gibson were brought back into the fold, but I don't live and breathe baseball.
I live and breathe basketball. When I'm not thinking about writing, or researching, or writing? I'm thinking about a crossover. A jumpshot. A behind the back look off bounce pass on the break. And truth be told? I can't play. I play well enough to hold my own, but I can count the number of times I've been in the zone during a pickup game on one hand with two fingers lopped off. And I'm not alone. Starting with my generation I think, blacks have turned their backs on baseball.
Why?
One of the guys on Nnamdi's show made "the bling" argument. Black kids are transfixed by the dream of getting paid. Of getting on ESPN Sportscenter. Of being in the slam dunk contest.
I don't buy this. I called in for the better part of a half hour trying to smack some sense in them fools. NO one chooses basketball because of the promise of loot. After you CHOOSE basketball, and get good at it, you might try harder because you think you can make loot later down the line...but you don't pick up a rock at 6 and make a decision like that.
For me what looms large are three things: the first is the dearth of urban baseball diamonds. When cities started getting their budgets hamstrung, the first thing they cut was parks and rec. It's easier finding a Sharper Image within Detroit's borders than it is finding a nice serviceable baseball diamond. If you don't already have a group of baseball hardheads who are willing to dive through broken glass to snag grounders, nobody's going to pick up the game when the fields suck. The second? Getting 6 people to play three on three, 10 people to play five on five is easy.
Try getting 18 to play a pickup game of baseball. Who just happen to have gloves on them. Ain't happening. You can't find those types of numbers in the city anymore. Hell, how many times have we heard stories about pros practicing by themselves imagining themselves as Jordan, or Dr. J? Magic used to play one on NONE imagining he was Julius Erving taking the last shot. Do that with a baseball why don't you?
The third? The lack of a serviceable Little League infrastructure that can expose people to the nuances of the game. The reason why Detroit, Flint and Saginaw produce ballers left and right is because a dedicated basketball infrastructure exists that identifies and trains talent. It wasn't uncommon to see Isiah, Derrick Coleman, Chris Webber, all playing ball at Saint Cecilia during the summers.
Nowhere in this model does "bling" play a role. Kids don't make decisions on what to play based on potential income. And the thing is, if we were talking about white kids, I don't think anyone would make that type of argument. If the bling model held fast, then wouldn't white kids be moving away from the game too? Sheesh.
For me, Jelani Cobb, and Avery Tooley, not a damn week goes by when something doesn't happen and we're like "damn. I wish Wiley was here."
I think I'ma add a new category. Call it Wiley.
Posted by at April 28, 2005 11:20 PM | TrackBackGolf pays well, but no one rewards mediocrity like beisbol. No doubt that golfers work harder than middle relievers and closers.
Posted by: Temple3 at April 29, 2005 02:54 PMI played little league and traveling league baseball. It was fun to play and watch when you had a direct interest in the game.
After awhile, I couldn't watch it anymore. Too boring.
I ran track in high school and college. My kid runs track now. Let me tell you, it is one boring time to sit through a full track meet, for 2 or 3 days, in the heat of the summer.
But, the 100, 200, and 400 meter sprints make up for it. Sometimes the 800 meter long sprint does too.
Baseball is boring. And urban baseball fields aren't around anymore. High school baseball fields are still around though.
I lived near Leakin Park, so we had grass area galore to play baseball and football. That's probably why I have no hoop game.
Les, we have to hook up soon, just to meet.
Posted by: DarkStar at April 29, 2005 07:18 PMMan I live near the Baltimore zoo, and it has one of the best basketball courts I've seen. Stays lit until 11pm too. Nothing BUT good runs.
Yeah we should get together. It only makes sense.
Posted by: Lester Spence at April 30, 2005 12:30 AMDuring the fifthy's major league baseball had clinics in urban centers .I remenber participating at Janyne field in Detroit where the likes of Al Kaline ,Charley Maxwell and Jim Bunting displayed their talents.During the sixtys this stop;Tigers took their clinics to the suburbs.At the same time rust belt citys like Detroit did not keep the ball diamonds up,they felt on hard times.Baseball require equipment catcher mask and protection,bats ,balls and gloves not to mention spikes.Basketball require a ball.The motivation is not bling but the availibility of fields and most important supervision;I didn't mention adult supervision because thats not neccessary,a brother by the name of Josh Giles who went on to coach at the collegiate level was only three years my senior.Imagine a 15 year old coaching 12 year old now.
toosie
I feel you. Ralph is definitely missed. There is so much chatter out there that there is less time for thought. Folks leap into the fray and it becomes a fire.
Anyway, there is more dough - for considerable less work in baseball. The career longevity is longer. There are more roster spots in baseball. Hitting a baseball is not the most difficult thing to do in sports...often said, often repeated, always a lie. Guys hit the ball all the time. It's those 9 bastards with the gloves that are the problem. Major leaguers seldom MISS the ball...less than 30% generally. Fouls ball, however don't count unless you're playing cricket. And, outs is outs. Still, statistics indicate that line drives are significantly more likely to drop for hits than are towering drives that make the highlights. Bonds is so good that reporters actually count the pitches he misses.
Also, some positions in baseball require so little athleticism that guys are routinely injured simply running to a base. [Armando Benitez, Giants relief pitcher will miss four months. He tore his hamstring running to first base from the pitcher's mound. That's about 30 feet.] So, no one in their right mind chooses any sport over baseball for the money. Anyone doing that would simply be dumber than a box of rocks - and probably shouldn't be on the court anyway...they could get run over in the traffic.
Posted by: Temple3 at April 29, 2005 02:44 PM