Jackie Robinson Day: Urban League Academies All Over Country

http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=200...b&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

This link I provided earlier today has many great videos and inspirational moments shared by many all-time greats.

Hope you all enjoyed the show!

It's an honor to be directly involved in this worth-while mission to carry the torch on so that other less fortunate inner city urban souls will have a fighting chance to be seen by many baseball people, and most importantly, to have access to instructional facilities that will not only help the student/athlete improve athletic skills, but will also provide educational opportunities. These opportunities the Urban League Academies provides will help thousands of crying souls looking for their place in society. It is a blessing to be afforded the opportunities that so many take for granted. It is my sincere belief that this is the cross-roads of helping our communities become better places to live. The first Urban League Academy opened early last year with three more on the board as well as plans for many more including Tampa, I hope.

Ken Griffey, Reggie Williams, and Ray Shepherd working with inner-city kids in Tampa Bay Area.

God bless those who see our vision and may God be merciful to those who interfere with this God annointed mission. peace shep

Thanks Shep.
One quote from the article in particular that needs more attention.
"At the time of Robinson's death in 1972, African-Americans made up about 20 percent of Major League rosters."
"Now it has plummeted to 8 percent. The reasons that define that figure were debated at length during a panel discussion last month in Memphis, Tenn., a day before the first Civil Rights Game."


I heard George Will on a political talk show today say the reason that more black kids don't play baseball is that learning the game requires a father's active participation, and since approx. 2/3 of black kids are raised by single mothers they don't get the needed guidance. I'm paraphrasing Mr. Will here.

I don't buy that argument, and I don't believe those numbers, if correct, hold true for blacks only. I could be wrong, I'm certainly not as smart as George Will.

Yet there has to be some facts that we can agree on, and there have to be some answers that shed some light on this obviously complex problem.

Anyone have a summary of what was discussed by that panel? I have to believe that a lack of college scholarships for baseball has to be one of the topics covered.

Any other ideas?

I can tell you being from the NE, there are a many challenges to become a top player, as we all know. But there are more for the black player.

Having been involved as a coach, I can see what happens.

The black kids that play baseball in the NE (at least in my area), many times get sucked into the Bball Jones mentality or (the herd mentality) I call it. They play baseball in the spring when they are young 6-9. But instead of working on the game, they go to football in the fall, then Basketball for the winter. The next thing I know, I am looking for these (young athletes)players at 11 and 12 and I find out they do not want to play baseball any longer, because they are doing bball year round, some still play football too.

This is not about inner city kids, my town is considered middle to upper middle class by any standard and is realatively mixed, easy access to fields and a great youth program.

I am from a town that has always been a baseball town. Anyone remember Doug Glanville?

I read Will's column and it made sense to me, but more than likely all of the above figure into it.

Sizzlepop, I have two questions.

1) Why don't you accept George Will's statistic? He is known for being accurate. Also, the information he gives is public record. An easy to confirm stat which I confirmed in about 2 minutes.

2)You state that MLB having 8.4% African Americans is a "complex problem". Why should we assume there is a problem? Maybe 8.4% is completely fair and arbitrary.

I agree with his numbers, we all know about the lack of the black male presence in the family setting. I disagree with him broad stroking the reasons for the decline. To me it is the easy way out, insted of doing a deeper dive into the crux of the matter.

I do not agree that the 9% is low either. To me it is what is.

here is a question, we know there have been a drop in the black major leagures and a corresponding rise of the latino, what are the numbers on US born white males from 1972 playing major leagues compared to know.

In other words since MLB is going global if we see a decline in US born white males, should we be concerned too?

Dad,

Did you confirm the stats hold true ONLY for blacks, and not inner city white or hispanic kids? Even if it's true, does his assertion about baseball being too hard for black kids to learn without a father answer the question for you?
I see a problem in that 8.4 is under-representation. You don't, that's fine.

That is a good question, LTG.

Sizzlepop,

Yes, I did confirm George Will's stats as only applying to African Americans.

I am curious as to why you think 8.4% is "under-representation". Do you feel that African Americans are getting a raw deal from MLB? Do you feel MLB does not want a higher percentage than that and is preventing them from advancing? And, do you feel MLB should push out more qualified players who are not African American so they can artificially raise the percentage of African American players?

A few years ago the Texas Rangers built two really nice youth ballparks for the black community in Dallas no one plays there now. You can hardly tell there is a field there now except for the light poles.

Dad,
No matter what the stats are, there seems to be an overall problem in that black youths aren't playing baseball like they used to. Whether it's 65% single (female) parents like Will asserts (I believe those numbers are for unmarried rather than single), or 50% according to others, the numbers don't tell the whole story.

Look pal, I have no agenda for pushing "more qualified" players out of any organization, and besides you know MLB won’t have any of that. My agenda is to further the great game of baseball, and to promote the game I love to ALL kids regardless of race and SES. I am happy to see that MLB is working proactively to promote baseball to under privileged youth. They sure have been promoting hard for years in the Caribbean haven't they? But that's another topic.

I'm saying that under-representation is a fact, with over 12% of the US pop. listed as Black in the last census. There seems to be over-representation in other sports such as basketball, and the trend away from baseball seems to be getting bigger. It's really sad to me that kids in Dallas aren't even using their fields. The decline in Black MLB players from 20% in 1972 to 8% in 2007 is not, in my eyes, a good thing for baseball overall. You would seem to disagree.

Exactly you can not force these kids to play.

Hey peer pressure and the the surrounding environmnet is everything. In the hood Bball and (to a lesser extent football)is everything, baseball means nothing to most of these kids growing up.

I am just wondering...is it sad to you that the number of white kids in the NBA has declined?
This is a melting pot...numbers grow and numbers decline in all areas...

From my perspective, I would rather use the cliche salad bowl rather than melting pot.

Longtime Player now Longtime Observer

quote:

Originally posted by CatSureMom:
I am just wondering...is it sad to you that the number of white kids in the NBA has declined?
This is a melting pot...numbers grow and numbers decline in all areas...

Yes it does Cat. But there's an important difference between the two. White kids haven't stopped playing basketball. Here's an interesting read if you have a moment. http://www.blackathlete.net/Blackbox/blackbox013006.html

Thank you for the link.
I am curious, why have they stopped playing?
My first thought when I read posts was that each athlete must have a passion for what they pursue.
Are you saying maybe we should be more proactive in inspiring them? It appears (from previous post) that MLB has tried to provide fields and I know they hold free clinics for inner city kids)that they just are not interested.
I do not know the answer to the basketball situation either.
It does sometimes feel like baseball is hardly the great AMERICAN game anymore. I am not saying anyone should be excluded, but it does appear MLB might need a re-think.

Baseball, perhaps because it is meant to be The American Game, does seem to discuss this question at least annually. I've heard no such wringing of hands that African Americans/Blacks are over-represented in the NFL or NBA. And I'm old enough to remember such discussion in the '60's about how Blacks were over-represented in the MLB; and that discussion was by Black leaders and academicians, concerned that young Black men saw their race over-represented in professional sports and in entertainment, and were therefore being provided with primarily unrealistic role models.

I've heard the 8% and 3% figures quoted before, but I don't know what basis is used for the distinction. Is Edgar Rentaria, for example, only Latin, or is he Black as well? How can one be designated by heritage, ignoring race? (If that's the case, my son isn't white, he's British.) Aren't there really more Black players than the narrow definition is computing? Is the distinction because the term is African American, and not African Dominican?

We've got a guy in our office who immigrated from South Afica. White guy, known to use the k-word. As far as the US government is concerned, he's an African American.

Robinson, and those that followed, quite rightly want to see that their struggle wasn't for the short term and they want to see their race represented in the sport they love. But their struggle far exceeded the white lines. Dr. King spoke of how Robinson's actions paved the way for the Civil Rights movement. That Black players were already important in MLB meant that the integration of the NBA and professional football leagues was more assumed than a fight. Their accomplishment shouldn't be diminished by associating it solely with the MLB.


As with any social question, all sorts of answers might be postulated:

Single Moms? Yup, those single Moms are known to sit down with their boys and tell football and basketball stories to impart a love of the game; I know I've had to stop myself.

Not enough space? Football requires a significant expanse of green.

Money for equipment? Again, football requires a significant amount of equipment per player.



Perhaps the pendulum has swung, and the number of Black kids who want to play are playing.

Unless somebody can come up with some evidence that the kids are being dissuaded or prevented from playing baseball, it may just be as simple as that.

Spizzlepop,(got your name right this time)

The one thing I seem to be getting from your posts is that you wish there were more blacks in MLB. You don't give a reason, you just want more blacks. But what can you do if they choose not to participate? How much time and money should go into the recruitment of African Americans when there are so many other players in the world who actually want to be there?

Where I live in N.J., there is a very large Indian population. I see cricket games all the time. Why isn't MLB setting up shop here in N.J. to introduce the great American game of baseball to the people from India? Indians are actually more interested in playing baseball than blacks. The Little League where my son used to play has over 1,000 kids and more Patel's than any other surname. So where is MLB?

You say "under-representation is a fact". You brought up the fact that blacks are 12% of the American population but only 8% of MLB. How is that relevant? Should we have exactly 12% of African Americans in every field of endeavor. That would certainly trim the average NBA roster.

The bottom line here is that MLB continues to take heat for something it has no control over. So they start up these inner city programs, make a big deal about Jackie Robinson Day and promise to keep doing more for African Americans. MLB does not do this to keep its African American fan base. That is practically non-existent. Anyone here want to be the one to say why they do it?

Orlando, what you are saying makes sense to me.

I stand corrected...salad bowl it is.

The urban trend toward basketball seems unmistakeable and G. Will may be right regarding one of the causes. However, there are, undoubtedly, other factors which could contribute to making basketball a more attractive alternative sport in an urban setting, even leaving aside cultural notions/differences.

Just some thoughts (IMHO):

Baseball is a "skill sport" with a very long learning curve (high-levels of hitting/pitching skills are partcularly difficult/time-consuming to develop). Baseball "game conditions" are hard to duplicate in a pick-up/play-ground game in that baseball generally requires a vastly larger space to play, a decently groomed field, more people, and is largely averse to bad weather (sometimes, fields can be rendered unplayable for weeks).

Contrast to basketball, also largely a skill sport (though, not entirely...a large athletic man who can't shoot/dribble can still be a valuable player) where many game conditions can be readily duplicated in a pick-up/play-ground game, even "one-on-one." Basketball requires less space and fewer people to play a competitive game; can be played indoors, or out and, if outdoors, uses all-weather surfaces (concrete/asphalt) not so averse to inclement weather.

Even the basketball equipment is cheaper/easier to set-up/maintain (a hard surface is all that's necessary for a court "floor") AND more portable (good ball<$40; good shoes<$80; semi-portable hoop-backstop<$150)...all of which is less than the price of a good aluminum bat.

It would seem that baseball can be more readily played...on a higher level...in a suburban environment (more green space, more expenive, better-maintained fields/equipment), whereas basketball doesn't require such "niceties" to survive. Moreover, in the urban setting one is always w/in walking distance to numerous city playgrounds/schools/courts...decent baseball fields are far farther apart, thereby requiring transportation to reach.

Orlando, I have been making the same point for a long time.
If D Ortiz, Pujols and Bonds were seen by a person for the firts time, and the person didn't know the game, would the person know whether they were african american, or latin-african american. Would it matter. Hispanic, Asian and African americans in baseball now equal 45-50 percent.
The game is just becoming more international.
Shep, great job and a great organization.

Any of you who are professional basketball or football fans might well be able to shoot down this theory easily enough, but was there another game in town in the '60's other than baseball? I was raised a St. Louisan (we did have the Hawks and the Football Cardinals for a time in there someplace, not that many people noticed). But I mean a real, publicized, with fans and everything major national professional team sport other than baseball?

Didn't football & basketball start to emerge more as Important Sports midish-70's? I remember the football players demanding MLB-like salaries at some point in the '70's, with the baseball players replying, "Uh, we do this every day, not just once a week".

So how can we compare percentages '60's to the present without encompassing all professional team sports?

Poverty, fields and lack of proper equipment is far worse in the latin countries, but yet some of our best players come from there.
MLB does fund the RBI program in most major cities in the US.

njbb

The RBI program funded by MLB is not enough. Bud Selig, Jimmie Lee Solomon and several others in the MLB front office realize that facilities are in desperate need in these inner city areas and a walk to a playground to a hostile area with nothing but run down fields with no funds for maintenance is just not getting the job done for helping the communities. These urban areas need buildings, as well as fields, so the participants will feel like this is a safe place to go. These players also need to be taught how to act in professional environments coming out of neighborhoods with a different set of values and rules. They need much more than a few dollars for baseballs, bats and equipment.

Long Time Player Now Longtime Observer

quote:

by spizzelpop:
My agenda is to further the great game of baseball, and to promote the game I love to ALL kids regardless of race ... in 1972 african americans made up about 20 percent of Major League rosters, now it has plummeted to 8 percent.
I'm saying that under-representation is a fact, with over 12% of the US pop. listed as Black in the last census

spzp, your enthusiasm is admirable but you may be overlooking some obvious conclusions ..
re: your interpretation of facts

assume your 12% is correct, ya seem to have overlooked another kinda significant stat ...
roughly half are female - so w/black males at 6% ...
your facts now show they are over-represented


where do you go from there?



btw, I'm not as smart as G. Will either

Theres more involved with rbi program than donating some money.
The rbi phillies have front office people like Rob Holiday working with people like Steve Bandura working and teaching life lessons as well as baseball. One of the teams is the Anderson Monarchs.
In 1989 there were 200 kids in rbi program in phila, now there are 7,500

An interesting perspective.

http://sportsreviewmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=577

Good points, this article backs my previous posts.

The bottom line is $$$$...until a safe haven is provided in all major cities for these kids to have opportunities to learn in these numerous inner cities, seperate from crime and peer pressure, they will continue to seek out gyms and football fields in the suburbs outside of the bubble of these extremely rough urban areas or fall through the woodwork because of lack of accessable programs geared towards the needs of these less fortunate areas and individuals.

Don't get me wrong, some education has occured in the RBI program and we are thankful for that assistance, however, this isn't nearly enough to accommodate the goal of many Urban League Academies all over the country. Not even close to comparable to what the academies will need on a much larger scale. The current RBI program is good, but only a token and must be enhanced on a huge scale in order to become a part of a much larger goal. Each facility will need a staff as the facility in California has to meet the needs of individuals who are seeking to become well-rounded students and athletes ready for college life, professions or maybe even pro baseball careers for the ones who are ready.

These facilities will bring back a large baseball playing population that, if given a chance to channel their efforts toward baseball, when the opportunities are presented, will do just that. In my humble opinion, from the observations of one who travels and interacts all over the United States of America in these types of neighborhoods, I say this is an excellent alternative and option to the lack of opportunities and can help to reverse the swing in the percentages which are clearly unbalanced no matter how you spin it.

Long Time Player Now Longtime Observer

quote:

by H'62: The bottom line is $$$$...These facilities will bring back a large baseball playing population

so throwing more $$ at it will achieve YOUR balance point??

the idea that money = interest ... is clearly disputed by latin success

observations - MLB is a piker by comparison to NFL/NBA in marketing their game to youngsters


a young urban hoops guy prolly spends $500+ per yr on just shoes endorsed by his hero ... does any MLB guy endorse spikes & can a kid use 3 pr/yr & wear them to school?

an urban hoops guy prolly has a closet full of NCAA or NBA gear for casual wear ... is there comparable MLB wear suitable for everyday use?

a young urban guy styles his hair after his NBA hero ... where is Oscar Gamble when ya need him?

jmo

quote:

an urban hoops guy prolly has a closet full of NCAA or NBA gear for casual wear ... is there comparable MLB wear suitable for everyday use?

yeah, I think they're called hats and jerseys.

quote:

by szpp: yeah, I think they're called hats and jerseys

well, if their closets are indeed full of 'em & they still choose otherwise .. where's the problem?

I had to re-think a bit as I'd not catagorized x-teamates & opponents by color, but a few black guys do come to mind .. one accepted a DI football scholly & played DI baseball on the side
& there was Lebron ... well, he chose wisely too

Noticed the other day that not only Miami has an Urban League Academy on the drawing board, but also several other major inner cities with a long-term plan for many more.

Longtime Player now Long time Observer

I think it is mostly financial - my son played with some inner city HS black kids one summer and there were some phenomenal players on that team, particularly the shortstop, who was absolutely amazing. Probably the best HS player I have ever seen. I was sure some college or even major league team would have picked him up but when I asked him what he was doing after HS he said that he had to go to work to support his family. Eldest son of a single parent family. I think this happens all too often - very sad.

These Players Will get their chance to play MLB