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May 09, 2007
Attention Braves: You Need More African-American Players
Members of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition recently met with Atlanta Braves GM John Schuerholz to discuss the lack of African-American players on the their roster. The recent addition of Willie Harris to the roster brings the number of African-Americans on the Braves' roster to one. Reacting to the addition of Harris to the roster, Joe Beasley, Southern Regional Director for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said:
"You slipped down to nothing, now you've got one, we expect it to start going up higher," Beasley said was the sentiment he voiced in the meeting. "We want to see incrementally it move back up, rather than moving down. There was an openness on [Schuerholz's] part to talk and to be in dialogue and hopefully be in partnership in trying to make sure that it happens. He was very nice, a gentleman. I'm going to hold him to his word to work with us and move those numbers back up to a respectable level."
My thoughts on this story:
1. Rainbow/PUSH's offer to "work with" Schuerholz to "move those numbers back up to a respectable level" was sweet. I didn't know Rainbow/PUSH was in the player development business.
2. You know, after reading this story, I immediately remembered something I heard during a Braves broadcast a few weeks back:
Annoncer 1: "Well, Carlos Delgado is coming up."
Announcer 2: "Yep. He's a tough left-handed hitter."
Announcer 1: "In situations like these, you just know that Bobby Cox wishes he had an African-American lefty he could bring in to face him."
Announcer 2: "How right you are. Carlos Delgado is only hitting .087 lifetime against African-American lefties."
So, yes, Rainbow/PUSH has a point.
2. I expect Rainbow/PUSH to also become outraged about the lack of African-Americans in the NHL.
3. Inspired by Rainbow/PUSH's actions, I am announcing the formation of an organization -- Sunshine/FORCE -- which will put pressure on NBA teams to add more slow, short honkies to their rosters. Once the honky level reaches a "respectable level," I will withdraw all threats of lawsuits and public hintings of racism. Come to think of it, Sunshine/FORCE will also lean on all collegiate and professional teams of all sports to add more honkies to their rosters -- regardless of skill. Or honky interest in those sports. Or levels of available honkies for those sports.
4. This country is dying a slow, embarrassing death.
Political Pronouncements | By colrus | 01:12 AM
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