I already know that I will probably say something offensive about this topic. This will be because of a lack of complete knowledge about the subject. I am apologizing in advance.
Jason Collins of the Washington Wizards has become the first male athlete from a major sporting team to say that he is gay. No hemming and hawing; no planning on how to say it. He just said it. Now what?
When I first read the Sports Illustrated article, I said to myself, "So what?. I have always said that it is really none of my business what consenting adults do behind their closed doors. I never thought it was contagious or anything negative like that. That was their thing and their business.
My first experience with this topic was back in high school. There was this one player who came out when we graduated. We were teammates on the football team. He was the starting running back. We would hang out sometimes and I would always see him with girls and girls dug him. Never had a clue that he was gay. Him? No way. When he said it, I admit that I don't even remember my reaction. Even though I haven't seen him since graduation day, I would still consider him a friend.
My next experience (I think) is a little closer to home. One of my best friends (ever) to this day were on various athletic teams since we kids. We literally grew up (and hung out) together since the age of five and went to the same schools until we went to separate colleges. Even after college to the day he died, we remained the best of friends.
To this day, I cannot say to this day whether he was gay or not. Looking back on some things, some could make a case. I never asked him. Never thought to ask him. It didn't matter. He was one of the best friends I ever had. That's all I have to say about that.
The point that I want to make that you don't really know. And it shouldn't really matter. But it does. Especially in sports. The initial reaction that I possibly had back in high school was that of repulsiveness. In my boyz in the hood days, it was defiantly a manhood issue. But it was also clear cut. Everybody knew who was who and everyone stayed in their comfort zone. Now I wonder if my reaction prevented my friend from being honest with me, if he was. I will never know.
As for me, I got problems like ASAP Rocky.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Batting for the Brooklyn Dodgers, First Baseman...
If you watch any baseball games today, you may be confused when you see all the players wearing the same jersey number: 42.
Don't be. It's Jackie Robinson Day.
Sixty six years ago today, on April 15th 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first player of color to set foot on a major league baseball diamond. But this is only part of the story.
Robinson had a stellar athletic career, not just in baseball. While at UCLA, he was the first athlete to letter in four different sports (baseball, football, basketball and track). He won the NCAA long jump championship in 1940. While in the Army, he did his Rosa Parks impersonation when he refused to move to the back of a unsegregated bus line. Brought up on court martial charges, he was eventually acquitted by an all-white panel. He actually only played one season in the Negro Leagues, leading the league in batting with a .414 average. On that same team were future fellow Hall-of-Famers Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson.
Funny thing...that team didn't even win the championship that year.
Around 1945, GM Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers started scouring the Negro Leagues for a possible addition to his ball club. Part of the reason that he chose Robinson was not just because of his talent, but because of his temperament. Knowing the racial abuse that Robinson would have to deal with, the real question that Rickey was asking was, "...do you have the guts not to fight back?" They reached an agreement that Robinson would not retaliate for the first two years. In his one year in the minor league International League , he led the league with a .349 average and was selected the league Most Valuable Player.
Don't be. It's Jackie Robinson Day.
Sixty six years ago today, on April 15th 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first player of color to set foot on a major league baseball diamond. But this is only part of the story.
Robinson had a stellar athletic career, not just in baseball. While at UCLA, he was the first athlete to letter in four different sports (baseball, football, basketball and track). He won the NCAA long jump championship in 1940. While in the Army, he did his Rosa Parks impersonation when he refused to move to the back of a unsegregated bus line. Brought up on court martial charges, he was eventually acquitted by an all-white panel. He actually only played one season in the Negro Leagues, leading the league in batting with a .414 average. On that same team were future fellow Hall-of-Famers Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson.
Funny thing...that team didn't even win the championship that year.
Around 1945, GM Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers started scouring the Negro Leagues for a possible addition to his ball club. Part of the reason that he chose Robinson was not just because of his talent, but because of his temperament. Knowing the racial abuse that Robinson would have to deal with, the real question that Rickey was asking was, "...do you have the guts not to fight back?" They reached an agreement that Robinson would not retaliate for the first two years. In his one year in the minor league International League , he led the league with a .349 average and was selected the league Most Valuable Player.
When he got to the bigs, there were teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals, that threatened to strike if Robinson played. Think about you playing in the field and having racial epithets yelled at you, tobacco juice spit in your face and being spiked on a regular basis. Despite this, he batted .297 (175 hits), led the league with 29 stolen bases and won the inaugural Rookie of the Year award, which is now called the Jackie Robinson Award.
For his ten year career, he had a career batting average of .311, was a six time All-Star and was a first ballot Hall-of-Fame selection in 1962. His #42 is the only number that has been retired by the entire league.
For his ten year career, he had a career batting average of .311, was a six time All-Star and was a first ballot Hall-of-Fame selection in 1962. His #42 is the only number that has been retired by the entire league.
The only other athlete with that type of juice is hockey player Wayne Gretzky.
Robinson has also been recognized outside of baseball. In December 1956, the NAACP recognized him with the Spingarn Medal, which it awards annually for the highest achievement by an African-American. President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom on March 26, 1984, and on March 2, 2005, President George Bush gave Robinson's widow the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress. Robinson was only the second baseball player to receive the award.
Jackie Robinson just didn't make Black History. He made American History. All by having the guts not to fight back. Dr. King would be proud.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Swag
Back in the day, my generation called it confidence. You went into a athletic competition with the confidence that you would win the contest. Wasn't no doubt.
This generation calls this same confidence having swag, short for swagger. The Free Dictionary.com definition actually gives a much harsher definition: To walk or conduct oneself with an insolent or arrogant air; strut. Visually, it's identified by a swaggering movement or gait. This type of walk and attitude goes all the way back to the "Detroit Red" zoot suit days.
The issue I have with this generation's usage of this attitude is that sometimes it's used but not earned. Back in my "Bill Cosby" days when I was a more athletic guy in college, I was a member on the top flag football team of the day. For my colleagues who know better, this was when flag football was every bit as intense (and physical) as it's distance varsity cousin.
The point I simply want to make is that when we hit the field, we had a (young) Mike Tyson air about us. The question was not were we going to win, but by how much. The difference with us was we had a a 30+ undefeated streak and won two titles in three championship games appearances.
Having said all that, tonight's championship game between Michigan and Louisville is actually a step away from all that. Michigan has been a personal favorite of mine in part because it was my favorite Final Four pick. In part because they have old school "swagger". They knew they belonged and proved it by just playing ball. This maybe comes from their legacy laced squad, which includes the sons of former NBA ballers Tim Hardway, Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson and Tito Horford. Tito's brother, Al, won back to back collegiate titles at Florida (who Michigan beat in the regional's to get to the Final Four this year) and currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks.
While I really have enjoyed the Wolverines and their run, I have to stay true to my roots. Ever since the Big East was created in 1979 by Dave Gavitt (R.I.P.), I've enjoyed their type of play. From Hoya Motion to the year when they had three teams in the Final Four, the Big East has always had a grass roots kind of feel to it. I look for the Cardinals of Louisville to give Rick Pitino his second title in tonight's championship game.
This generation calls this same confidence having swag, short for swagger. The Free Dictionary.com definition actually gives a much harsher definition: To walk or conduct oneself with an insolent or arrogant air; strut. Visually, it's identified by a swaggering movement or gait. This type of walk and attitude goes all the way back to the "Detroit Red" zoot suit days.
The issue I have with this generation's usage of this attitude is that sometimes it's used but not earned. Back in my "Bill Cosby" days when I was a more athletic guy in college, I was a member on the top flag football team of the day. For my colleagues who know better, this was when flag football was every bit as intense (and physical) as it's distance varsity cousin.
The point I simply want to make is that when we hit the field, we had a (young) Mike Tyson air about us. The question was not were we going to win, but by how much. The difference with us was we had a a 30+ undefeated streak and won two titles in three championship games appearances.
Having said all that, tonight's championship game between Michigan and Louisville is actually a step away from all that. Michigan has been a personal favorite of mine in part because it was my favorite Final Four pick. In part because they have old school "swagger". They knew they belonged and proved it by just playing ball. This maybe comes from their legacy laced squad, which includes the sons of former NBA ballers Tim Hardway, Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson and Tito Horford. Tito's brother, Al, won back to back collegiate titles at Florida (who Michigan beat in the regional's to get to the Final Four this year) and currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks.
While I really have enjoyed the Wolverines and their run, I have to stay true to my roots. Ever since the Big East was created in 1979 by Dave Gavitt (R.I.P.), I've enjoyed their type of play. From Hoya Motion to the year when they had three teams in the Final Four, the Big East has always had a grass roots kind of feel to it. I look for the Cardinals of Louisville to give Rick Pitino his second title in tonight's championship game.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)