Stereotype Threat and the White Basketball Player

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By mcamp

What Happened to the White Basketball Player?

While observing the recent NCAA basketball tournament and the recently begun NBA playoffs, I marvel at the diversity that has broken through in the game of basketball. Not too long ago (in fact, only three years after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color line), Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton became the first African-American player to sign an NBA contract. The league has been expanding in terms of diversity and global exposure ever since, so much so that for the past 20-30 years, the league has been composed of mostly African-American players; more recently, an influx of European and South American basketball players has occurred.

This booming diversity raises an important question: What has happened to the white American basketball player? Why has he become so rare? In last year’s NBA finals, the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks had a combined total of 3 American-born white basketball players. If white males make up a majority of the population, then why is it so rare to find one playing professional basketball at the highest level?

A major consideration to this inquiry concerns the stereotype of white basketball players. A stereotype is a generalized, exaggerated description of an entire group. Perhaps the most popular stereotype of white basketball players is the notion that “white men can’t jump”. Certainly that is not the case for all white basketball players: anyone who has ever watched Tom Chambers or Brent Barry or David Lee win slam dunk contests can attest to that. Why, then, does this stereotype persist?

The answer to that question is, I believe, that the game of the NBA is a game where those athletes who are most athletic have the biggest advantage towards success. However, it is interesting to note that the differences in the typical qualities associated with white basketball players as opposed to black basketball players are astounding. Black basketball players greatly tend to be characterized with descriptions such as “athletic body, can jump out of the gym, extremely fast, etc.” This is not the case, generally, with white basketball players. They are typically noted as players who have “Intelligence, craftiness, effort”, which, essentially, are antithetical to those “natural ability” characteristics. Thus, it is widely believed that black basketball players rely on natural ability for their success while white players have exert great effort and intelligence to succeed. We know that these are greatly exaggerated stereotypes. Yet they have become the norm, essentially, for dividing white and black basketball players. Very few white players have been characterized with the attributes typically associated with black players, and vice-versa. Therefore, as a consequence, aspiring white basketball players tend to pigeonhole themselves as players who are only capable of being smart, crafty and hardworking. This greatly hinders their performance, and thus very few of them rise to the level where athletic ability reigns supreme.

This is a perfect example of the stereotype threat, a theory postulated by sociologist Claude Steele. This stereotype threat is the fear that one’s behavior will confirm an existing stereotype of the group which one identifies. The white basketball player, no matter what his particular skill set is, fears that he will be grouped with other white players, because he might exhibit those characteristics commonly associated with them (perhaps a legitimate fear). According to Steele, this may greatly affect his performance. In a basketball sense, a white basketball player with just as much or more athletic ability than his black counterpart will fail to perform in many instances because he is aware of the stereotype that “white men can’t jump”.

On a big scale level, this leads to the white basketball player becoming discouraged at the fact that no matter how hard he tries, or how smart he is, the athletic black basketball player will always have an advantage over him. This has significant societal implications. Those white athletes who fail to perform at more athletically oriented events like basketball or football move to those sports that are less so, for instance baseball or hockey. This goes to great lengths in explaining the preponderant majority of whites in these particular sports. The stereotype threat also works in reverse in these sports: blacks, who fear that they will never be intelligent or hard-working enough to succeed at these “less athletic” sports because of their race, make the move to basketball and football.

Thus, like Steele observed in his experiments with white and black children taking academic tests, white basketball players will tend to do worse than black basketball players if they are conscious of the stereotypes that surround them. Furthermore, this stereotype fear could indeed propagate these negative stereotypes: white players will tend to play like everyone expects them to and black players will do them same. Yet black players will win out almost every time because they will exhibit those attributes which are most coveted at the higher levels. Unless a game-changer comes around (in the sense of a white player exhibiting exceedingly obvious athletic ability), then the white American basketball player will gradually slide into extinction.

Comments

Gus 4 years ago

so truewell written.

Cameron 3 years ago

Very well written and you make some great points. I don't think the white basketball player will slip into extinction but he's certainly under represented. May I submit that comments by Larry Bird that basketball is a "black man's game" and that he was insulted when white players tried to guard him don't help.

Indra 3 years ago

You might enjoy my new blog, which celebrates White basketball players and explores the challenges and discriminations they face. whitebasketball.blogspot.com

cumsucker 3 years ago

bullshit david lee bombed the slam dunk contest he took like 23 trys to put down one dunk

tommy the tit 3 years ago

Great job. It's clear you put a great deal of thought and research into this. To be perfectly honest, I want to ask, do you think the average black basketball player can jump higher than the average whitey player? Most bball players are relatively in shape, so body types are pretty much equal, but how much more often doe you see a 6ft black man dunk that a white guy. I am 5'11 and white, and never played much basketball, but when I throw down a 2-handed dunk, people always ask me what I do or react with a lot of shock. Just noting what I have observed in my experiences playing basketball. I was never affected by the "white stereotype" in bball because I stopped playing before highschool and I could always jump.

tbart4 3 years ago

Well written, but the one observation that should bi BLARING out at all of us is this. Pro basketball is a BUSINESS, period. Owners must field the best players they are able to. If they are all black Americans, so be it. Why then, should a non-sports related business owner not be allowed to "field" the best "team" that they are able to, even if that means they end up being all white????? Quotas are not a good idea for the NBA, and they are not fair either for companies that are either majority white, or all white.

XD 2 years ago

What you have to remember is that most white people aren't tall enough. The average hight of an adult white male is 177 cm and the average hight of a black male is 178 cm. Sure, they aren't very compelling numbers, but it's the same reason the NBA isn't overun with Chinese.

Ontop of that, the NBA is an escape from poverty, and minority ethnic groups tend to have a higher poverty rate that the majority ethnic group. In America, that majority is (currently) held by whites.

2 years ago

The phrase "White men can't jump" came out due to 2 movies:

1. Soul Man.

2. Obviously. White men can't jump.

I'm a 6'7" AA Male who has played collegiate and semi-pro basketball. I can honestly tell you that those who believe the sentiment (even mutter it) have NEVER played competition sports. I've always carried around a 30-33" vert. I can tell you of several white guys I've played with/against who's verts were higher than mine. I'm from the Chicagoland area and have played all over.

For the record, the Tom Chambers dunk on Mark Jackson is 2nd to Vince Carter in the Olympics!!!!

2 years ago

I'm a white guy who played at the highest levels of basketball. The Unvarnished Truth: With the exception of hand-eye coordination, white people do not have the natural athletic ability of black people. White players are not as quick, not as agile, cannot jump as high, and are slower in speed than black players. I (a point guard) used to love it when going against a fellow white guy. I was one of the very rare white guys who had the AA of a black guy. That my friend is the Unvarnished Truth. The arguments above re: the psychology of stereotyping are rubbish my friend. All that gets thrown out the window in the heat of competition and it's hand to hand combat. You naturally use whatever it is you've got, regardless. Psychology plays almost zero role - except when you're a white guy and you know you've got to go against a highly athletic black guy and you know it will be hell, or if you're a black guy licking your chops in anticipation of going against a slow white guy. Sorry my fellow white guys.

Jason Roatan 2 years ago

Wow this is crazy. Let's just all player together guys.

bullrider 2 years ago

the black players are no better than the white players, the stupid idea came from the movies and you idiot liberals went with it. there are few white players cause they were weeded out useing minority preferences. so get off that crap and quit acting so dumb.

Basketball Nets Fans 2 years ago

It's unfortuante that things link this have to ruine the game.

Basketball Nets Fans 2 years ago

It's unfortuante that things link this have to ruine the game.

mekus milkdud 2 years ago

The biggest problem is the NBA has not been worth watching for years and now college is following right along with it. In the NBA it is almost impossible to stop a team defenceivlly because all the rules are slanted toward offence. they let the bllacks play like they are on a playgruound. they stop and then hop 8 to ten feet after stoping the drible , how can you guard that. and they drible over their hear. they put the ball on thier hip and run with it. for the most part white players are not trained or play that way. and for god sake dont foul one of the superstars, which are all black. if your are a superstar do you need the game to be called in your favor ? it makes it impossible for the other players to guard them and have a chance to win. so most of it comes down to how they have change the game to favor a street gang mentality. and thugery

Paul 2 years ago

No question there is a phenomenon taking place here, but Americans have become too PC to opine. It is amazing, the only white players are from Europe anymore.

I watched a college game and all the announcers were black as well as all of the players.

Of course this has demoralizing implications - white boys feel they don't even have a chance. So they Facebook and do drugs instead. Certainly not the America I grew up in.

I never thought I would ever say this, but a whites only basketball league is a great idea.

What, you have always had the NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus, American Negro College Fund, Black History Month, MLK this and that....La Razza...this ethnic organization and that, on and on and on. Are white people supposed to roll over and die, because these overblown myths of the KKK will be labelled on them?

In a word, it's genocide, plain and simple.

So there.

Mojo 2 years ago

Just a tidbit to add. I was white player that could jump.

Lucky if I was 6'0", but could hit my elboe on the rim.

Small hands that had to cup the ball, and get it over the rim, and then jam it. I have two very good ballplaying boys. One is substantially taller than me, but can barely

jam, if at all, and the other is much too small to come close. I think that some of this is due to the majority of

whites probably can't jump too well, although there are exceptions. The fact that when you mix a white non jumping

male/female with a jumping white, you may end up with something that is a poor mixture of the two in regards to jumping, and speed. I think blacks typically jump better, and they breed with others that do. I also believe many of

the thoughts regarding doubt of the athletes, so they steer ttowards more possitive sports. None of this is wrong, probably just matter of fact.

Mojo 2 years ago

One other comment. I do believe that whites are also being stereotyped. There are those that can jump, and are fast, but at an early age, a similiar black player is probably getting the benefit of the doubt that he is somehow faster, and more athletic. The similiar white player gets left behind. That is my belief based on how I could play with the blacks. If they were better it was because they had a better game, not because of speed or jumping. Even then, many wouldn't see it, and it may be a safer bet for a scout to cover his butt, and go with the black athlete.

anonymous 2 years ago

Why doesn't the NBA have a program to encourage more white americans to play? Major League Baseball has something like this for blacks. Political Correctness is my guess. Under-representation of blacks in MLB is a problem. Under-representation of whites in NBA is not. interesting double standard.

chris 2 years ago

black people can jump higher and run faster. they have more fast twitch mudcle fibres. its scientifically proven why black people are more athletic. its got nothing to do with psychology or stereotypes. the reason the white american player is disseapearing is because the game has a wider group of talent to pick from and lots of whites just aren't good enough. you all just have to accept that average black person is more athletic. you're all just making pathetic excuses.

jade buchanan 2 years ago

white people are smarter and black people are more athletic--the only difference is that affirmative action applies to companies but apparently not the nba--i want to be the token white boy getting paid millions of dollars to sit on the bench

uradouche 23 months ago

douchebag u sed hockey isnt athletic...

23 months ago

The NBA , and all the basketball related companies that make products, make money from selling items like shoes to black youth and black adults. At this point , if alot of great white players play in the NBA , then they risk loosing all the black business for thier products because many blacks may loose interest in the game if good white players show up in large numbers. They want to hold on to the niche market that they currently have and if the game changes racially , they cannot depend on whites for the same profits because whites have too many other sports that interest them as well. The blacks only have basketball and the related businesses that make money off them like it that way because it gives more assurance of steady and consistent revenues from one group of people.

John 18 months ago

The NBA has a dick criteria, you have to be over six inches.That eliminates 99% of whites.On the other hand NHL has a dick limit,you have to be under six inches,that eliminates 99% of blacks.

Anti-Retard 17 months ago

"Those white athletes who fail to perform at more athletically oriented events like basketball..."

Basketball? Oh, I forgot. All those neglected discus throwers play basketball!

"The average hight of an adult white male is 177 cm and the average hight of a black male is 178 cm."

Your source is probably the latest survey of NHANES, because all previous NHANES surveys claim exactly the opposite.

You are a pitiful nation of brainwashed retards.

JimC 16 months ago

The article is baloney. White basketball players don't "fear being grouped with other white players". The problem is recruiters and coaches. They have developed the attitude that only black players have "game". So they won't take an honest look at white players and what they can bring to the game.

If people are so eager to endorse the opinion that blacks are superior physically, in strength, speed, and jumping ability, then these same people will need to concede that whites (who seem more successful in business, science and industry) have better mental faculties.

You want to get into that discussion? I don't.

The Syracuse women's basketball team has been all black for the past two years, perhaps longer. Yet they regularly get beaten by UCONN squads that put white players on the starting squad. You tell me it's not reverse discrimination!

White Flight 15 months ago

Check out Matt Citron, nicknamed "White Flight" in the Atlanta Slam Dunk Contest. He is the only white boy to be included in the contest in the 4 years it has been held. First, see some game footage, (Matt is number 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8YBUA9X79k&hd=1

Then go to the contest/voting page. Matt has a very long jump, almost from the free throw line. If he makes it to round two, you will see either his 360 dunk, or a dunk where he gets so high he hits his shoulder on the backboard and then hangs onto the rim, smiling and giving a thumbs up! Here is the contest page:

http://ajc.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contest

Vote for Matt, especially next week during Round Two. Give him a chance to show the world what he can do, dunking and playing at the next level. He is such a good player, but isn't even in the Rivals database...what's up with that?

rjohnston lynch 15 months ago

WHITE MEN CANT JUMP,NEGROES CANT SHOOT,ESPECIALLY FOUL SHOTS-ITS AS SIMPLE AS THAT!WHEN A NBA BLACK ,OR AN NFL QUATERBACK CANT SHOOT ,OR PASS,HE IS CALLED ATHLETIC-SHORTHAND FOR SOMEONE BLACK WHO CAN RUN AND JUMP,BUT LACKS THE HAND-EYE COORDINATION,FOR THE FINER,RARER ATHLETIC SKILLS OF SHOOTING AND THROWING-PITCHING,MORE COMMONLY POSSESSED BY CAUCASIANS AND MIXED BLOOD MULATTOES-SEE THE DOMINICANS,WHO ARE TODAY THE FINEST ALL-AROUND BASEBALL PLAYERS IN THE WORLD-LOTS OF DARK FACES PLAYING BASEBALL,BUT PRECIUOS FEW SPEAKING ENGLISH!A REAL SHAME THAT BLACK URBAN KIDS DONT PLAY BASEBALL ANYMORE,DESPITE THE VALIANT EFFORTS OF EX-CIN REDS STARS JOE MORGAN AND ERIC DAVIS,AND THE GREAT DARRYK STRAWBERRY!IN NBA AND TOP COLLEGE BASKETBALL,US BLACKS HAVE A VIRTUAL MONOPOLY-WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO DIVERSITY-DOESNT COUNT WHEN ONLY BLACK FACES ARE SEEN?-THE BLACKS PLAY A STREET BALL ONLY MARGINALLY RELATED TO REAL BASKETBALL,IN WHICH WALKS,PALMS,AND DOUBLE DRIBBLES ARE NEVER CALLED-WATCH LEBRON THE NEXT TIME HE GOES 18 FT FOR A DUNK,WITHOUT BENEFIT OF EVEN ONE DRIBBLE!FANCY DRIBBLING AND JUMPING AND DUNKING,AGAIN,ONLY MARGINALLY RELATED TO REAL BASKETBALL,WHICH EMPASIZES PASSING ,SHOOTING AND REAL PLANNED,DISCIPLINED OFFENSE AND DEFENSE!THIS 'WHITE',REAL BASKETBALL ,IN WHICH THE DUNK IS A MERETRICIOUS DISTRACTION-A LAYUP GETS YOU THE SAME 2 POINTS,W/O A RIDICULOUS HANG ON THE RIM BY A PITUTIARY GIANT WHO CANT SHOOT FROM OVER 8 FT-THE FANS ,USUALLY WHITE-IRONICALLY,POOR BLACK KIDS JUST CANT AFFORD THE RIDICULOUSLY HIGH NBA PRICES TO SUPPORT THE SALARIES OF THE HEROES,THE BLACK SUPERSTARS!ALSSO VERY IRONIC-THE BEST ALL AROUND PLAYERS-NOT THE HIGH-FLYING BLACKS OR THE NON-JUMPING,SHARP-SHOOTING AMERICAN WHITES,BUT EUROPEAN CAUCASIANS LIKE DIRK NOWITSKI,WHO CAN DO IT ALL!

Jared  15 months ago

The NBA plays a thuggish and retarded game that is made for thugs of any race who are not smart but just really athletic. Duke University gets the best players out of the really smart bunch that plays.

smac 14 months ago

boy are these black commentators bad on the ncaa hoop shows.i mean what is that idiot ch. barkley doing? they can play it but cant decribe it.

Big Al 12 months ago

On an international level no white person has run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds. Intelligence, craftiness, and effort are secondary to speed when the goal is getting past your opponent.

Karl 12 months ago

Wow this is seriously racist thread, guy with the dick criteria prick, i know the scientific facts and when it comes to things like this i'll throw in some things, the smartest man in the world is Black, the strongest man competition usually dominated by white men the best fighter in the world is Asian now make sense of that, every race is as capable as the other and the differing strengths still adds to the same potential to do any sport or other regardless of race

Relevation(not one) 12 months ago

Ah, Hello...The dunking champion is white, Love, of the Timberwolves is white, Beasley(second pick behind this years MVP(Rose is white)However, you probably will not agree if you don't think the President is white. This is inherited, in the Jim Crow days a person with 1/10 (i believe this stat is accurate of black (DNA) was condimmed as black. Therefore, if you see in black and white you probably will never see the answer to you query.

mike 11 months ago

Stereotype threat is a bullshit theory invented to cover up the fact that blacks are genetically intelligent than whites. I guess it's only fair that someone would use it to cover up the fact that whites are genetically less proficient at running and jumping than blacks.

Dirk 11 months ago

lol @ above (1st statement)

jeremytorres profile image

jeremytorres 8 months ago

Great information here. Thanks for sharing.

andrew 6 months ago

The whole stereotypes unconsciously limiting someone's athletic ability seems pretty far-fetched to me.

Why is it that blacks dominate basketball? Well, first we need to acknowledge that most of the black population lives in poorer communities than whites. Now, why are sports more popular among kids in these poorer communities? I think it's because there are less recreational options for kids because of low economic means in poorer communities, so you're likely to see a higher concentration of kids involved in sports. Also, sports tend to be a very popular form of entertainment regardless of economic status. Actually, I would guess that it becomes more popular the poorer a population is.

Also, there is going to be a greater need for recreation in poorer communities because there is more likely to be a less stable home life (parent(s) are going to have less available time to watch over their kids because they'll need to work more), and because threats of their kids getting involved in crime and drugs are greater.

There's also going to be less sports available in poorer communities because there won't be enough money to get less popular or more expensive sports going in community leagues, school programs, and parks. Basketball is naturally going to be popular in poorer communities because it's less expensive and it doesn't take many people to get a game going. Football? A little more expensive and harder to organize than basketball, but it's so damn popular in general that it brings in a lot of money. So there is going to be a higher concentration in these particular sports because they have a corner on the market, so to speak.

Also, you have to consider the lower quality of education in poorer communities, as well as less stable families to help them with their schoolwork. This leads to a perception among kids that blacks can't compete in the regular job market, and they see many blacks in the entertainment industry (sports, tv, music) succeeding, so they figure they have to be involved in these things as well in order to become successful.

Now, those are the reasons for the natural attraction to sports in poorer communities, but that attraction is going to lead to it being adopted by the cultures that primarily inhabit those communities i.e. blacks. So it now becomes something that spawns out of economic status, into culture, and that keeps it prominent throughout the generations.

Now once this disparity between ethnic groups becomes established, it starts to create stereotypes that blacks are better at basketball than whites, which will affect how people view them.

I think the athleticism disparity is exaggerated, there are plenty of athletic whites, but we just don't see as many of them in the NBA because they don't have enough game to go along with it. Why? Well, a.) because there is simply less whites overall, and b.) I think that racial stereotypes affect how coaches, mentors, recruiters, etc. view young athletes. If they look at a big athletic white guy, they think well he doesn't know how to play basketball. They look at a big athletic black guy, and they think, he's raw but he has a great upside, all he needs to do is learn x, y, and z. This may be oversimplifying it, but essentially what I'm saying is if these people view whites as inferior athletically (whether consciously or unconsciously), that's going to affect how/whether they develop them as basketball players, both with their basketball skills and athletic traits.

Truth 3 months ago

The proposed self-fulling stereotype hypothesis is a weak explanation. The above poster alluded to a more accurate characterization of a "sociological explanation" having to do with socio-economic and demographic factors.

Still, we are missing the blatantly obvious point that our overly politically correct society is unprepared to accept. Why are there less white people in basketball? The same reason there are less white people in the 100 M dash at the Olympics (see "none") and the same reason there are less white backs and receivers in football. Is this because white people are scared they might not run as fast as the white man? Are they too scared they might not be as good receivers as the black man? Wow, the whole system is engaged in a psychological assault on the white man's athletic ego.

The reason black people dominate these areas of athletics are because they are superior fast-twitch athletes. Plain and simple. Many in the scientific community know this but are unwilling to acknowledge it publicly for fear of being lambasted as racists and eugenecists. Stereotypes are always perpetuated to some extent, but they do not account for the absolute dominance of the black athlete in fast-twitch athletics. There is a reason you do not see a white Lebron James, a white Usain Bolt, or a white Adrian Peterson and it has nothing to do with stereotypes.

heatfan01 3 months ago

The NBA really needs to recruit more white European players to the league. They play phenomenally out there and they'd be a great asset to the sport. More white players would also generate more attendance. How? There are lots of basketball fans out there like me who just can't relate to the players of the NBA, and don't see much reason to actually pay money to see a game. If they have someone to relate to, it would change their perception of the game. I'm a Heat fan and its very disappointing to only see Mike Miller out there. I wanted Miami to win the championship, but it was good to see the white guys of Dallas win a championship for once.

Anti-Retard 3 months ago

"Why are there less white people in basketball? The same reason there are less white people in the 100 M dash at the Olympics (see "none") and the same reason there are less white backs and receivers in football...The reason black people dominate these areas of athletics are because they are superior fast-twitch athletes. Plain and simple."

And I thought that the most important physical prerequisite for basketball is height... Oh, no. That's not correct! If 180 cm tall guys with excellent vertical jumps and 100 m speed were interested in basketball at the same rate like 200 cm tall guys, they would certainly take over the game!

Matthew Davis 3 months ago

"The reason black people dominate these areas of athletics are because they are superior fast-twitch athletes. Plain and simple. Many in the scientific community know this but are unwilling to acknowledge it publicly for fear of being lambasted as racists and eugenecists"

Let's ask the black scientists to do it. Oh wait there aren't any. I apologize if that comment sounds racist and eugenecist.

Tom 3 months ago

White athletes are discriminated against--plain and simple. If white men can't jump, then why do they dominate the high jump? (2004 Olyympics--whites took Gold, Silver, and Bronze)

John Webb 3 months ago

It's a black man's game because white men have made it that way -- check and see what goes on with recruiting ( outstanding ) white players out of high school and drafting by the NBA . Most of the highly proficient white high school basketball players will never (except maybe at Duke ) play on a college court , much less in the NBA .

Joe boy 2 months ago

To revelations. Derrik Rose is not white. Blake Griffin is half.

nignoglips 2 months ago

The reason blacks are better at running and jumping is because they had years of expierence running from cops and jumping over fences from said cops.

mom who is pissed 2 months ago

My son has been trying to continue in college basketball but the coach is black and made. a point to tell his recruiting coach that he is to recruit black players only. Our white kids that are great white players do not have a chance in hell. I just watched march madness and I caught myself looking at how many black players were on a team compared to whites rather than watching the game. I think the whole situation sucks, white kids can play the sport just as good as the black man.

nanpre 2 months ago

look in the audience..white folks are paying the salaries..stay home and we might see some white players out there

Dick 7 weeks ago

Blacks dominate the game of basketball because they work hard to achieve success, have the athletic ability to play the game better than whites.That does not mean all whites can't be great basketball players. Larry Bird, jerry west, Billy Cunningham (the kangaroo kid) Pete Maravich, who even magic Johnson was in awe of, were all great players.If you have the talent and develop your skills you can play. As a fan i want my team to put the best players on the floor.there is no coach who would be stupid enough to play only white players or only black players a coach players PLAYS HIS BEST PLAYERS BLACK OR WHITE !!!!!!!

Sean Carpenter 6 weeks ago

Black people have a lot of athletic ability, demographics play no role in this it is irrelevant and just does not account. As far as savy goes, that is also false. It does seem strange that positions in sports where smarts are required, there's a certain difference but the fact you're a good athlete and smart seem incomparable, there's a discrepancy. It is arguable. The fact someone is smart seems more of an influenced thing. than God- Given like your athletic ability. In football you have the QB for instance. We all know who the greatest QB's are and setting aside smarts and athletic ability, it seems that longevity plays a role. That's the one glaring fact. Look at the numbers. The best QB's play longer. Name the best QB's? Thats a more neutral argument.

Now everyone, let's not forget who the greatest athlete is of all time. He played football and basball- hope everybody knows who that is.

Go Yankees

jim 4 weeks ago

made some good socio/cultural observations but really displayed ignorance with that comment about white guys moving to hockey because it's not as athletic as basketball.

of the sports mentioned it's likely the most brutal and challenging in terms of physical demands... but you only really get a feel for it if you start skating and stick handling very young. so, it's also likely more specialized in terms of skill.

incidentally, basketball was invented by a Canadian.

go Canada!!!!

lachlan 3 weeks ago

Yeah african americans have a marginal advantage , but not as great as people think. watch the FIBA champs and you will see a whole lot of top white players,yes you fellas(yanks)win it but the margins are not that great one extra basket only out of every 10 equals a 10 point gap in a 100 point game.

Shedroof 3 weeks ago

Pretty good discussion, racial differences are a fact of life, and though there are also social and economic considerations, certain evidences are hard to ignore. Numbers matter, access to playing facilities, scouts and coaches, and so on, but when around 10 percent of a population dominates around 90 percent of a sport, how can you argue with that? It's not a racist position, I am black and my favorite NBA player after Michael Jordan is still Larry Bird. I watch a lot of soccer, and black players tend to run faster than whites in a sprint to a long ball, and a white player with natural speed is always a revelation. Not all black players are faster, but it is more often than not. We must learn to accept diversity, God may have created people, but men created these various sports. Even diseases affects different races differently. As for academic and business performance, this is more likely to be impacted subjectively than is athletic performance. If you are choosing a CEO, you call the shots, but two guys running to a tape, it is first across the line and ain't nothing you can do to alter the result!!!

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