Joe Pa

I am really happy that John Saunders gave Joe Paterno a chance to clearify his statements on the black athlete. Fisher Deberry opened a can of worms that had been closed since John Entines book "Tabboo", both of these gentlemen believe that there are physiological differences between white athletes and black atheletes. When Joe Pa made his comments, they were lumped in with these two until his interview with John Saunders. Joe Paterno stated that he didn't believe that there are physiological differences between white and black athletes rather there is a sociological tangent to this equation. Paterno, as do I, believes that the reason that there has been an influx of black athletes into college and professional sports is due to the fact that is a way out of the situation that many of these athletes come from. Athletics has been used as a way out for the poor and working class since their inception. Do you beleive that the gladiators who faught in Rome came from the ruling class? Why was the NBA made up of mainly Jewish players during it's early years? Same could be asked about football both college and pro in the 20's and 30's? Just as it was then it is today athletics is a way to a better future for many kids growing up below the poverty line. Is it right? No but that is the way things have always been. Many coaches will tell you that the ideal situation, to coach in high school, is either in a rural community or the inner city because the kids playing in these areas want out. Clear and simple, these areas are dying and there are no jobs left. Farming communities are being taken over by mega farms and the jobs that were once availible to people who live in the inner city, light industry and telemarketing, are now being outsourced to countries such as India and Mexico. This same discussion is being had about baseball and the number of Hispanic players now playing here in the US. I heard Reggie Jackson talking about the need for the RBI (Returning Baseball to the Inner City) because there isn't much interest in baseball amoung young African American kids. Why is this? Why are there so many Hispanic players now in MLB? Could it be because they are superior athletes? Or does it have to do with the fact that is the only way that many of them have to get out of the situation that they live in. We are talking about guys who grew up playing baseball using card board for gloves. Look at MLB and it's teams baseball academies in places like the Dominican Republic, it is unbeleivible. They like the poor kids, who grow up in the US, know that sports is there way out. It is not because they have physiological differences that make them better athletes it is because it is their way out and they want it more.