Since 17% (I think) of the population is black I think 17% of all baseball players should be black.
And, since around 80% of the population is white, I think all NBA teams should be 80% white.
Its-Thanks for the clarification- your point is well-taken 
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A couple of things as I've watched this evolve:
PG, you might be right on the basketball scholarship myth. But, as parents, before we start doing our homework and get smart, how many of us get absolute sticker shock when we look at the price of college? So we tell our kids you'd better get a full scholarship, because otherwise you've got no shot.
And there are no full scholarships in baseball, so we hear.
Hey, because of what I do, I knew the facts and figures, knew many of the ways to make it work anyway long before my oldest began worrying about college. I still got sticker shock and, going through it again with another child in another sport, I still get it.
For every parent who has ever visited these boards, there are how many that haven't? For every parent who tries to learn about the process, how many know little or nothing?
Ignorance can be bliss. But it often is costly, too.
We've also danced around another issue that plays a big part in this debate, especially as it pertains to college: EGO
There aren't many places where a spot on the basketball team doesn't pump it. And it pumps the rural country kid playing in a 200-seat gym as much as it pumps the suburban kid playing in a 3,000-seat gym as much as it pumps the inner-city kid playing in gyms big and small.
Everybody in town/school goes to the games, if only because there isn't anything better to do. A full gym is loud. Loud is good.
Not many high school baseball teams can offer anything near that, not until tournament time at best. Sure, as the weather warms up and the jackets and sweats become t-shirts and shorts, it gets good. But a crowd of 50 in a temperature of 50 doesn't do much for anyone's ego, especially a 16- or 17-year-old kid.
I know the drive to succeed has to come from within. But at that age, a little BMOC goes a long way.
PG, you might be right on the basketball scholarship myth. But, as parents, before we start doing our homework and get smart, how many of us get absolute sticker shock when we look at the price of college? So we tell our kids you'd better get a full scholarship, because otherwise you've got no shot.
And there are no full scholarships in baseball, so we hear.
Hey, because of what I do, I knew the facts and figures, knew many of the ways to make it work anyway long before my oldest began worrying about college. I still got sticker shock and, going through it again with another child in another sport, I still get it.
For every parent who has ever visited these boards, there are how many that haven't? For every parent who tries to learn about the process, how many know little or nothing?
Ignorance can be bliss. But it often is costly, too.
We've also danced around another issue that plays a big part in this debate, especially as it pertains to college: EGO
There aren't many places where a spot on the basketball team doesn't pump it. And it pumps the rural country kid playing in a 200-seat gym as much as it pumps the suburban kid playing in a 3,000-seat gym as much as it pumps the inner-city kid playing in gyms big and small.
Everybody in town/school goes to the games, if only because there isn't anything better to do. A full gym is loud. Loud is good.
Not many high school baseball teams can offer anything near that, not until tournament time at best. Sure, as the weather warms up and the jackets and sweats become t-shirts and shorts, it gets good. But a crowd of 50 in a temperature of 50 doesn't do much for anyone's ego, especially a 16- or 17-year-old kid.
I know the drive to succeed has to come from within. But at that age, a little BMOC goes a long way.
OldVaman,
You're right about that!
In most high schools and colleges around the country... The big deal with the most attention and biggest crowds is...
#1 Football
#2 Basketball
#3 Other Sports
That can be very appealing to talented young athletes.
It really doesn't change much until the professional level.
You're right about that!
In most high schools and colleges around the country... The big deal with the most attention and biggest crowds is...
#1 Football
#2 Basketball
#3 Other Sports
That can be very appealing to talented young athletes.
It really doesn't change much until the professional level.
Linear
sounds like a quata system? What is the big deal anyway. As a former coach if I had a team to pick I would want the best players. If the best players were green I would pick them. Common sense. Remember that concept.
sounds like a quata system? What is the big deal anyway. As a former coach if I had a team to pick I would want the best players. If the best players were green I would pick them. Common sense. Remember that concept.
Linears statement smacks of extreme bias
As for crowds at hs hoops forget here in many North east towns--Msany HS games start at 4 PM in the afternoon and this hardly makes for a "pump up" situation for the players
Will- I am with you-- we always want the best palyers regardless of ethnic and religious background
Just a few thoughts on why kids play hoops rather than baseball
01-- the "I wanna be like Mike" syndrome--baseball does not and has not had a spokesman like Jordan for many years
02-- all you need is two players, a ball and a hoop to play basketball
03 --I dont buy the money aspect because the kids playing hoops are wearing 150 dollar sneakers
As for crowds at hs hoops forget here in many North east towns--Msany HS games start at 4 PM in the afternoon and this hardly makes for a "pump up" situation for the players
Will- I am with you-- we always want the best palyers regardless of ethnic and religious background
Just a few thoughts on why kids play hoops rather than baseball
01-- the "I wanna be like Mike" syndrome--baseball does not and has not had a spokesman like Jordan for many years
02-- all you need is two players, a ball and a hoop to play basketball
03 --I dont buy the money aspect because the kids playing hoops are wearing 150 dollar sneakers
TR,
Your post reminded me of something in my youth. Good memories of course. I loved Basketball, football and baseball. I know times have changed but...
How many here played imaginary games of baseball all by yourself. When I couldn't find someone to play catch with or play games in the neighborhood it was just me with a rubber baseball and a wall. I could pitch (had a strike zone) and field and keep score in my head.
Throw the pitch - field the ball - make the throw - make the catch - throw one hop off the wall and make the play in the air - even umpire the game, over and over and over for hours and hours.
All that was required was one person (me), a rubber baseball (about .29 cents back then) and my glove. I became a very good defensive player because of all those hours spent alone. Also developed a strong arm and a good feel for the game. However, it took until about the 9th grade before becoming a good hitter! (for obvious reasons).
Thanks for the memory, If only possible, I would do it all over again. Who else played these solo games?
Your post reminded me of something in my youth. Good memories of course. I loved Basketball, football and baseball. I know times have changed but...
How many here played imaginary games of baseball all by yourself. When I couldn't find someone to play catch with or play games in the neighborhood it was just me with a rubber baseball and a wall. I could pitch (had a strike zone) and field and keep score in my head.
Throw the pitch - field the ball - make the throw - make the catch - throw one hop off the wall and make the play in the air - even umpire the game, over and over and over for hours and hours.
All that was required was one person (me), a rubber baseball (about .29 cents back then) and my glove. I became a very good defensive player because of all those hours spent alone. Also developed a strong arm and a good feel for the game. However, it took until about the 9th grade before becoming a good hitter! (for obvious reasons).
Thanks for the memory, If only possible, I would do it all over again. Who else played these solo games?
quote:Who else played these solo games?
Guilty as charged. Only difference was I had to use tennis balls. Many fond memories of getting the last strikeout to win the WS. Drew the stike zone on a retaining wall and threw and fielded all day. I'm sure I went over my pitch count which probably cost me my shot at the bigs.
...no $200 bat for you during T-Ball, PGStaff.
That was the problem.
That was the problem.
...house ball made of newspaper and masking tape, plastic bat.
Pitch from down the hall had to break through the door into strike zone of big chair in the living room.
Batter did not see delivery only sound and breaking ball coming through the door.
And then from far back in the house, "YOU BOYS GET OUTSIDE WITH THAT GAME........"
Pitch from down the hall had to break through the door into strike zone of big chair in the living room.
Batter did not see delivery only sound and breaking ball coming through the door.
And then from far back in the house, "YOU BOYS GET OUTSIDE WITH THAT GAME........"
PG
If there was a wall I was throwing against
Did you ever play "stoop ball"
I even created my own "baseball league" complete with stats and radio broadcasts of the games in my room
If there was a wall I was throwing against
Did you ever play "stoop ball"
I even created my own "baseball league" complete with stats and radio broadcasts of the games in my room
FO,
The solo games did not include hitting,,, just throwing and fielding. I never played T-Ball in my life, not sure it existed back then. For $200 I could have bouight a life time supply of "Willie Mays" model Adirondacks. My mom 
would not allow "house ball". 
However the basement was used all winter for dribbling a basketball and making "great" passes off the concrete walls. Lots of yelling coming from up above.
Frank,
Pitch counts had to go into the thousands! That last out was big, talk about pressure!
The solo games did not include hitting,,, just throwing and fielding. I never played T-Ball in my life, not sure it existed back then. For $200 I could have bouight a life time supply of "Willie Mays" model Adirondacks.
My mom would not allow "house ball". However the basement was used all winter for dribbling a basketball and making "great" passes off the concrete walls. Lots of yelling coming from up above. Frank,
Pitch counts had to go into the thousands! That last out was big, talk about pressure!
TR,
You keep bringing back memories.
We had this older kid in the neighborhood who would do the play by play as we played basketball. He was good at it and us younger kids felt like the game was actually being broadcast live.
I can still remember it... Ford fakes left and goes base line... Stops and pops a jumper... it's goooood. Somehow, it made the games much more fun and funny!
You keep bringing back memories.
We had this older kid in the neighborhood who would do the play by play as we played basketball. He was good at it and us younger kids felt like the game was actually being broadcast live.
I can still remember it... Ford fakes left and goes base line... Stops and pops a jumper... it's goooood. Somehow, it made the games much more fun and funny!
PG
I can take it even further into a "never never land"
We had a young man in the nieghborhood who was severely retarded as they called it (he was 40ish with a 10 year olds mind) back then but not to the point he did not know his baseball. He played stickball every day in season and was the Brooklyn Dodgers--he knew every player and as he played each game he knew the current batting average etc and pitching stats of every Dodger--he played the full 154 game season against anyone he could and even did the play by play--now stepping to the plate................
I can still see him and on top of it all he showed at every HS game to cheer for us
Amazing the things we recall once we press the recall button
I can take it even further into a "never never land"
We had a young man in the nieghborhood who was severely retarded as they called it (he was 40ish with a 10 year olds mind) back then but not to the point he did not know his baseball. He played stickball every day in season and was the Brooklyn Dodgers--he knew every player and as he played each game he knew the current batting average etc and pitching stats of every Dodger--he played the full 154 game season against anyone he could and even did the play by play--now stepping to the plate................
I can still see him and on top of it all he showed at every HS game to cheer for us
Amazing the things we recall once we press the recall button
Not sure how many times I want to press that recall button, but so far so good! 
PG
Sometimes it is fun especially at my age--it is nice to know that the memory still functions to some small degree
Sometimes it is fun especially at my age--it is nice to know that the memory still functions to some small degree
Long term memory is fine. Remember things clearly.
I worry much more about remembering what happened an hour ago!
I worry much more about remembering what happened an hour ago!
Duh
What did I have for breakfast today??
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What did I have for breakfast today??
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]quote:
These kids play ball morning, noon and night...and the MLB scouts are signing them for peanuts...compared to our kids.
I wouldnt say their signing for peanuts, we had 2 16 year olds and a 17 year old for our team in instructional ball one got about 400K other 2 around 200K, then the rest of them are still getting decent amount of money. There are agents down there too now, so not as many of them are signing for as cheap as you would think.
Any in depth study would find a huge differential in the cost of signing foreign born players compared to African American players. That is 1 of many reasons for the percentage disparity.