Gary Sheffield’s comments in GQ magazine have created quite a firestorm. His premise is that Latin American players are "more manageable" than African-American players, and that is why there are three times as many more (8 percent compared to 24 percent) in the major leagues. Like everybody else, he has a right to his opinion. I don’t take his view as bigoted, either, as much as misguided and misinformed. It seems like a rationalization that isn’t necessary.
It’s simple, in Latin America, baseball is king. Kids growing up in those areas, many of them dirt poor, use baseball as their tool to escape poverty. They are hungry to get out. They play the game with a drive that is not unlike many urban kids in this country with basketball. Baseball is not, generally, the sport of choice in urban areas in this country. It is more in Tampa, where Sheffield was raised - and the numbers reflect that - but not in most other areas. Not even in Los Angeles. Not anymore. Baseball teams could care less about where players come from or their racial makeup. That is why they scout Latin America so extensively. Why you are seeing more players from the Pacific Rim countries. And why an African-American pitcher, David Price from Vanderbilt, will likely be the first or second pick in the upcoming baseball draft. If anything, Latin American players have more to overcome because of the language and cultural barriers they face that are unimaginable to American players - regardless of race. That is the part where Sheffield is not being respectful to Latin American players.
It just seems like this is Sheffield justifying the shrinking number of African-American players in the major leagues with one ridiculous swipe of a brush. It doesn’t need to be justified, no more than white Americans need to justify why there are relatively few white players in NFL or NBA compared to the general population. I thought, maybe, we were getting beyond obsessing about the racial makeup of sports teams. Guess not.
My concern about the future of baseball in this regard isn’t necessarily about the way the sport breaks down along racial lines, but economic ones. There was a time when it was the game of the people. Now kids take lessons - hitting or pitching - from paid instructors. It’s almost become like golf in that way. They have to be on travel teams. It’s almost become like hockey in that way. Those have become necessities to keep up. Both factors cost money. A lot it. Baseball was never meant to be a sport for the elite, but rather one that everyone can play and have an equal chance. I’d like to see the sport become more a part of our urban areas, which, by the way, tend to have a large population of African Americans.
If there is a problem, that seems to be the solution. Not crying "Fire" when there really isn’t one. You know, like Gary Sheffield in GQ.

Random thoughts

- I am not sure how the Rasheed Wallace situation is going to play out. He has become the symbol of all that went wrong with the Pistons. And he definitely brought it upon himself with the way he just quit on his team when the issue still was a long way from being decided in Cleveland. Too much crying. No doubt. But there is flipside. He is a very good player. He is a player who has come through for the Pistons in the past. Generally, he does have the respect of his teammates and those within the Pistons organization. I don’t see that as necessarily the issue. But will he still have the respect of the fans? Seems like they have turned on him. And once that happens in this town, that player is usually done.

- Good for Michigan in advancing to the Super Regionals in the NCAA Tournament. It wasn’t that long ago when Michigan reaching the College World Series was anything but unusual. Eastern Michigan got there, too. Lake Orion’s Nate Recknagel is making quite name for himself as big-time hitter for the Wolverines.

- It will be interesting to see how the Spurs defend LeBron James in the NBA Finals. Bruce Bowen is more than aggressive player. He is often a dirty one. So is Big Shot Bob.Wonder if those tactics will work with LeBron. They sure did with Steve Nash and the Suns.