As I gathered myself this morning, pour a cup of coffee and started my daily read I cam across this article on ESPN. The article is titled Survey shows split on racial opportunity by Mark Fainaru-Wada. As I read this article many thoughts ran through my mind. As the first African American Athletic Director in Anne Arundel County, these figures and thought rang so true. As we approach Martin Luther king's birthday and I have a dream speech, the question still remains are we all judged by the content of our character rather than the color of our skin.
This article suggests that although progress has been made a significant gap still exists and in my opinion widening. The first part of the article deals with coaches salaries on the Professional and Collegiate levels. Here there is a delta of a million dollars or more. I would like to see were the delta tulle is if you include perks such as TV shows, speaking engagements, athletic and commercial sponsorships, etc. Secondly, the article articulates the number of jobs held by African Americans. How is it that a supply of approximately 80% African American scholarship athletes equate to less than 10% of the coaching fraternity? And even less in Administration and ownership.
Just as important as opportunity, media positioning of athletes has one scratching his head. From Roethisberger to Vick, Clemens to Bonds, Labron's Decision to Danny Ainge's genius and the questioning of the Rooney Rule, there clearly is Brainwashing going on.
The last two college football games were a great representation of media brainwashing. Try and wrap your mind around the twists of the Ohio State football situation. NCAA knows about violations before
Bowl game. Players identified, I believe are all African American. Student-athletes are allowed to play and win the game but are placed on probation for five games. Media Coverage does not hold Ohio State directly accountable nor does it criticize the NCAA for making a business decision on Money. Auburn and Mississippi State and Cameron Newton is a dog chasing it tale that is being sold that Cameron Newton and his family are the only ones with questionable ethics. I wonder if he had stayed at Mississippi State would we have ever heard of this? What will the numbers say about Cameron Newton and the National Title for Auburn University. Increase in enrollment, booster support, advertisements and endorsements, TV contract, Under Armour, etc for $180,000. Hum
Was this what Martin Luther King saw when he went to The Mountain Top or I Have a Dream? I would say not. As our country's diversity has changed significantly, greater access, fair pay and positive media coverage is needed now more than ever.
Survey: Fans see sports as racially progressive
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