• Tattoo Rick

    JS I don’t care what a jury foreman says you ARE presumed INNOCENT until proven Guilty. Nowhere does it say you are presumed not guilty until proven guilty. Therefore if a case isnt proven the defendent IS innocent because the law says so. I know it makes you feel better to think otherwise but it is the foundation of our justice system. By the way the arbitrator in this case said that MLB declined the DNA test and that played a major role in his decision. Do you really believe MLB and some half assed source after the fact? Ask yourself why decline the test in the first place? Maybe because a guy kept the sample in the fridge next to a ham sandwitch for two days?

    • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

      You are presumed innocent by the government and that includes the judge and jury. It’s still a free country and we are allowed to presume whatever we want. OJ Simpson is not guilty according to 12 idiots on a jury and we have to live with that, but those 12 idiots can’t make me believe that he didn’t behead his wife.

      http://deadspin.com/5888592/

  • bald guy

    Good article. A friend of mine once told me that being black helped her get an interview. But, it never got her a job. And it never helped her keep a job. That was all performance based.

    Obama earned his party’s nomination. He earned the election. Yes, some people voted for him solely because he was black, and some people voted against him solely because he’s black. But, the vast majority of Americans voted for him or against him solely based on the issues and a belief that he would make a better (or worse) president than would McCain.

    The same is true this year. We will size up Obama against the GOP nominee and make a head-to-head decision about who would make a better president.

    Again, there will voters who will make that decision based solely on race. But like you and me, for most Americans, race will not be a factor.

    • Mike V

      Obama won the Democratic nomination because of the caucus states. Clinton kicked his butt in states where people actually went to the voting booth to vote. Obama was handed the nomination because the Democratic establishment did not want the Clintons around any longer.

      • bald guy

        Mike V., Do you mean the same caucus system that the GOP uses which allows Ron Paul to win delegates without winning any states.?

        The rules are the rules. You’re like someone who gets upset when someone wins the electoral votes even if losing the popular vote. Not that Clinton beat Obama in votes.

        Democrats voted Obama as their nominee, fair and square. And then Obama roundly beat McCain, fair and square.

        What’s your excuse for Obama beating McCain? What tricks did the Democrats play? Maybe you need to entertain the notion that the majority of voters wanted Obama to be president.

        When Obama beats the GOP nominee this year, it’ll be fair and square. Romney’s approval ratings are much lower than Obama’s. Many people who don’t like Obama like the GOP candidates even less.

        But, when Obama wins reelection, I’m sure you’ll still complain about the tricks he and the Democrats played.

        • Mike V

          How did Obama beat McCain?

          Youthful looking guy vs. Old man with skin cancer scabs all over his head.

          Not hard to figure out.

  • Deuce

    I could care less about basketball….but….

    ….I love how Mayweather says all the press Lin’s getting is “racism”. Who didn’t know that was coming from him or from someone else? And I’d really like to know why Mayweather isn’t being taken to task for what he said? Utterly amazing how blacks get a free pass when they are racist.

    I’m also glad the article pointed out the hypocrisy of Floyd’s statement stating how many BLACKS (no, NOT African-American….I, being white, have just as much in common with Africa as American Blacks) play in the NBA and the NFL. For a demographic that represents around ten to twelve percent of the population they sure are more than well represented in the NBA (77%) and the NFL (67%)…and it sure as shit ain’t because blacks are better athletes (anybody is capable of doing anything….white, black, etc., do no serve as a predisposition towards anything)….it’s because they are a cheaper source of labor who don’t make more opportunities for themselves as opposed to other ethnic groups.

    • ISteve Roissy

      Everybody is racist, including Blacks. Our elites, and the media they control, are most concerned about a non-elite white uprising so they ignore rcsim by non-whites and flip out over racism by whites.

      And Black dominance in the NFL and NBA does have a strong genetic component. Sure, anybody from any group can make the NFL or NBA theoretically. A female can be taller than a male too, and many are – doesn’t mean men aren’t generally taller than women.

      • Deuce

        I wasn’t comparing men to women….I was comparing men to men…specifically, black men to white men. They are both the same. Genetics has nothing to do with the overwhelming majority of the NFL and NBA being populated by blacks….it’s called a cheaper source of labor. Blacks do not make the same opportunities for themselves as white people do. That’s why every black guy you meet fancies himself a football or basketball player, a rapper or whatever…that’s what they put their emphasis on. And when it comes time to negotiate for contracts what other options do blacks really have? A white guy will stay in school or have other job possibilities that are more sure fire as opposed to the hit and miss of professional sports.

        • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

          You’re doing some pretty good generalizing there. I’ve known lots of black guys who never considered themselves future pro athletes or rap stars. There has to be a scientific explanation for why there is NOT ONE white cornerback in the NFL and, as far as I know, NOT ONE white cormerback playing on a top 30 college football team. It’s either genetic or one of the worst cases of racial discrimination in human history. How many white running backs (not fullbacks) will be drafted in April? How many white wide receivers? People are afraid to talk about it out of fear of being labeled a racist. I think it would be an interesting study.

          • Dan

            I think I’ve read a few studies. It’s genetic. In a lot of cases, the black male body develops earlier than the white one. Many are almost fully mature physically by 16 years old. Look at the Woodland Hills kid that got charged in the Peters basketball game. He’s 17 and he could pass for 25 easily.

            It would be an interesting study to continue for sure.

          • Mike V

            I’d like to see the study as well. I’d also like to see a study explaining why so many white Europeans are playing in the NBA. The study should forus on the socioeconomic status of the players when they were young.

            It is partly genetics and there may be some reverse discrimination going on. This would be a small part of it though.

            In the 1950s, there were a lot of whites playing positions that are mostly black in the NFL (Basketball was an urban game for Jews during that period as well). Many of those white kids were first or second generation Americans. They were hungry and wanted to get ahead in anything they did. Their parents pushed them hard. It was the only way out. Lin’s parents were not born in the US. They came over here from Taiwan. Does anyone out there think Lin’s parents didn’t push him harder than most kids get pushed?

            Black kids are like this in some respects (throw European NBA players into this group as well). They want to get ahead and do well. Many of these kids are from poor families and have little opportunity. Most go to horrible schools. They only way out for may of them is sports so they work their butts off to make it in a sport. How many white kids have that type of incentive to succeed in front of them? The truth is, white kids are soft and don’t develop what natural talents they have because they don’t need to. They have many more options in front of them. They can still succeed even taking an easier road.

            The lack of white players playing cornerback or running back in the NFL isn’t really a problem for the league. It’s a problem for racists and paranoid whites, but not a real problem. It won’t be long until kids of Mexican backgrounds start to play more in the NFL (Mark Sanchez). We are seeing the same dynamic with kids of Samoan background playing in the NFL. The Steelers have two on their team an nobody seems to care.

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            Who said it was a problem?

          • Mike V

            I’m sure there are still a number of old white guys who want the world to be like the 1950s who still want it. They are the same guys who count the number of white starters on a basketball team and then root for that team. Let’s not pretend we haven’t known a guy like that. There are fewer and fewer every day, but there are still some out there.

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            No question. The world is full of stupid people.

          • Bobzilla

            Anyone dumb enough to root for the basketball team with the most white players is usually going to end up disappointed.

          • ISteve Roissy

            OK Mike, I’l trade you zero white cornerbacks and maybe one white running back in a country that is 70% white, and where white kids are super into football in cities and towns from coast to coast, if you trade me no more whining that there are only 8 black quarterbacks and no more whining that black baseball players make up the same percentage of blacks in America overall.

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            If you are white and you think your kid is going to be a pro football player. He had better be a QB, a tight end or an offensive lineman or you’re wasting your time. Kickers don’y count. You might be better off taking the same approach if you think your son is going to get a major football scholarship.

          • Mike V

            I’ve never complained about the number of black QBs or baseball players. All I said was most whites don’t have the same incentives to be successful at sports as blacks or even a poor white kid.

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            There are no poor white people? Who are all these poor people that Republicans and conservatives are insensitive to? There are plenty of un-rich non-blacks who would have the incentive to make millions being a pro athlete.

          • Deuce

            Yes, there are poor white people…but when compared to the percentage within their own demographic there’s no comparison. Isn’t it something like over 50% of the black population lives below the poverty line when it’s around 10 or so for whites?

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            So why do 93% continue to support Democrats?

          • Mike V

            Yes, there are poor white people…They like car racing.

            Who are the poor people the Republicans don’t like? Not sure where this question is coming from. Too much wine with dinner?

            The poor white kids don’t have the athletic talent to get on the field. That’s why they like car racing.

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            You sure do make a lot of strange generalizations.

          • Deuce

            There is a scientific explanation: money. (and it has been studied…wish I remember where I could find the link at….I seen a study of it about 8 years ago) It’s the same reason why there was an explosion of Latin players in baseball starting in the 90’s…that just so happened to coincide with salaries escalating at a higher rate than before. They can pay Latin players less. Just the same in the NFL…a white guy will hold out for more money because he knows he has more options…options that are basically guaranteed….as opposed to the black guys they draft. Ever notice how the vast majority of black players in the NFL seem like they can’t even read or write despite having free access to college? What are they gonna fall back on when the crap shoot of pro sports doesn’t pan out? Nothing….they’ll take whatever is offered to them.

            Everybody of any race is capable of doing the same thing as another race…there’s no genetic predisposition. The only uneven or predisposed condition is background and that’s always going to dictate entry level salaries and decisions whether or not to sign or ask for more. 9 times out of 10 that black guy, even with a low-ball offer, is going to see an offer of more money then he’s ever dreamed of or seen or can imagine making in any other endeavor.

            Why do you think the NFL, the most powerful sports league that makes the most money, has absolutely the weakest most pathetic union without guaranteed contracts unlike the other sports? It’s the makeup of that union….they come from crap with no options so what are they really gonna complain about?

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            Sorry. I’m just not buying your theory.

          • Bobzilla

            Ever notice how the vast majority of black players SEEM like they can’t even read or write… Wow!!! That’s quite an observation. Nothing bigotted about that statement…
            I worked with a young black kid, who was a non athlete. He was about 6-1 and a lean 190 pounds. I watched him everyday vertical leap about four feet … without even giving it any thought. From a standstill, he’d just leap effortlessly about 48 inches into the air and onto a conveyor belt. Never saw anything like it. He was athletic even though he wasn’t nor ever had been an athlete.
            What made that black kid more athletic or agile than the white kids his same age?

          • Deuce

            I’m able to jump the same height now and my sports playing days have been done for over 10 years.

            And tell me I’m wrong about what I said the next time you see an interview after an NFL or NBA game. And for a comparison watch an interview of a black NHL player….it’s not even the same universe. Better yet, watch an interview of a black NFL player in the 60’s or 70’s….it’s not even funny how remotely different it is. The player from the 60’s and 70’s is far more intelligent and well-spoken as opposed to the mono-syllabic idiot cliches of current black NFL players. And what happened since then? The black community, as a whole, severely regressed and the NFL went from a more diverse group to almost a completely black league. Translation….Cause: no more opportunities made for themselves in the black community and much more of an emphasis on sports instead of an education…..Effect: cheap, cheap labor for the NFL.

          • Deuce

            Of course you don’t…because you didn’t think of it first or some conservative didn’t write to you or tell you about it….so you just naturally think it’s not true. And speaking of conservatives….Rush Limbaugh stated something very similar around 2002 or 2003 which caused him to lose his job at ESPN

          • Mike V

            Is everyone capable? Yes.

            Are some people more genetically predispositioned? Yes. I don’t know the answer, but almost every sprinter in the Olympics is black. Either you can run fast and win races, or you can’t.

          • Deuce

            White people could give a shit less about track and field….black men put almost all of their effort into sports. That’s why there isn’t white sprinters.

            Why aren’t there that many black hockey players of black athletes in the Winter Olympics or NASCAR or golf (save for Tiger Woods)? They don’t care for them…plain and simple. How many blacks get a free education (which many don’t even take advantage of) in regards to football or basketball? They put all of their effort into that….that’s the only reason why there’s an overwhelming majority of NBA and NFL players.

            Why isn’t there any black starting pitchers in MLB? There used to be a good deal but the number of blacks playing baseball is dwindling….are they not good at baseball when they once were before? No…they just don’t care for it anymore…especially when considering how long after the draft it takes to get to the majors and get real money as opposed to the NFL and NBA.

            When a demographic puts almost it’s entire effort into one or two endeavors then it’s obviously going to look like they are somehow predisposed to that.

            There isn’t many CEO’s or scientists that are black….if you’re going to say that blacks are better athlete’s than whites then can I say from the facts and numbers at hand that blacks are not as smart as whites? You’d be labeling me a racist at the drop of a hat….because, of course, I’d be wrong. But you guys are all saying the exact same thing from a different angle.

            Blacks are not better athletes…whites are not smarter….it’s whatever a particular group of people put an emphasis on that dictates what they will gravitate to.

          • http://justwatchthegame.com John Steigerwald

            That would explain a higher percentage of black cornerbacks than white cornerbacks. It doesn’t explain 100% to zero.

          • Mike V

            It takes more money to play hockey, car racing and golf. Basketball only takes a basketball and a city park. A kid can play basketball all day as long as there is someone willing to play a game of at least one-on-one. White kids tend to have more money and their parents can afford pay for them to play hockey, or race cars or golf. Black kids tend to not have those opportunities placed in front of them as children.

  • Matt

    People fail to realize that he didn’t just play well he had a 5 game run that was better than anyone else ever. Is he one of the better players in the NBA? Not by a long shot, but those 5 games were amazing and warranted the attention.

  • Kay

    Thank you for the link, an interesting story. But I really enjoyed Mike Novak’s ‘Why my critics are wrong” I would have missed it otherwise. Thanks