Growing up in the Southwest part of Baltimore, Sports was a major part of my life. Most of my friends were Protestant, and we spent many days playing baseball and football at the elementary school, when school was not in session. The Catholic kids in the neighborhood had the C.Y.O., also known as the Catholic Youth league, which consisted of teams based out of various Catholic schools in the area.
Although both groups were rather clanish, we did get together to play sports at our elementary school. The teams were largely segregated among Catholics and Protestants. There were a few crossovers who would play for either side, but they were the exception. Usually it was a player who felt comfortable with either group, or the player was extremely talented, and either side would be happy to have them on their team, since that player oftentimes meant the difference between winning or losing. I sometimes noticed an air of superiority among some of the Catholic youths, but that may have been because of my childhood inferiority complex.
In any event, it seemed that sports allowed us to get to know the other kids a bit, and sometimes led to friendship among the different groups.
A Real Sports Hero
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Football, Baseball, but no Ice Hockey
Growing up in the city of Baltimore, I was an avid sports fan. I enjoyed watching the Baltimore Colts, the Orioles, Bullets(this was before political correctness turned them into the Washington Wizards)and especially the Baltimore Clippers. The Clippers were a minor league Ice Hockey team. Even though Baltimore could support major league teams in Baseball, Football, and Basketball there just wasn't enough interest and support to have a National Hockey League team. Even though I played just about all sports, there just wasn't that many people interested in Ice Hockey. It's been a Canadian and European thing. Still is for the most part. I would have loved to have played the sport growing up, but there wasn't the 'culture' for it.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Sports..How Culture and Environment Shape Sports
I remember a teacher telling me years ago in a Statistics class that "there is always an exception to the rule, but that doesn't necessarily change the rule". I was thinking about this recently after receiving an email which read, "you know things are messed up when the tallest player in the NBA is Chinese, the best golfer is Black, and the best Rapper is White". While I don't know about the 'Rapping' part, it is true that 'Ming' is the tallest player in the NBA at almost 8 feet tall, and 'Tiger' is one, if not the best golfer in the world. But just like exceptions in other areas of life, do these exceptions in sports really change the rules, or is culture and environment the deciding factors in which sports we participate in.
Growing up in Baltimore, sports was a major part of my life. The sports of choice for me and the other kids in the neighborhood back then were baseball and football, with basketball being a distant third. We usually played baseball from April till the end of Summer and then picked up with football in the Fall. Sports such as tennis, golf, lacrosse, and swimming were virtually non existent. Poor kids as a 'rule' didn't play those kinds of games, they were for the rich kids. Golf clubs cost money, much more than a baseball and bat. And besides none of us would be caught dead in the clothes you have to wear on the course.
Over the years, the neighborhood produced quite a few exceptional athletes. A few went on to play professionally in baseball and football. There were many others who would have probably made the grade if they hadn't succumbed to some of the neighborhood influences such as drugs and alcohol. But of all the great athletes I played with growing up, I don't remember any exceptional golfer, swimmer, tennis or lacrosse players. In fact, I don't remember anyone ever having played those sports. Are things really any different today?
It's no coincidence that the majority of the players who make up the NBA and NFL are Black. It's a combination of skill and access. Growing up in the inner city, there's not a lot of room or facilities for sports. Basketball is the game of choice for inner city kids. Basketball courts don't require a lot of space and makeshift baskets can be set up anywhere. Hours spent honing skills on neighborhood courts turn out some fantastic players. High schools in the cities also put a lot of emphasis on basketball and football. And unlike other sports, basketball and football are 'cool'.
Baseball on the other hand has evolved from years ago. At one time, it was an American sport. Today, baseball is international. In fact, look at the roster of just about any Major League Baseball team, and you'll find many of the most talented players coming from Latin American countries. Again, it's no coincidence that baseball has grown in popularity in these countries. It's a sport that can be played by just about anyone with a ball, bat, glove and an open field. No fancy equipment or facilities needed. And with the weather permitting the game to played virtually year round, it's no wonder that these countries are producing so many players for the major leagues.
The 'other' sports like tennis, golf, swimming and things like figure skating, and ballet will continue to be sports participated in largely by people with means and access. You just won't find many ice rinks or swimming clubs in poor neighborhoods and while there may be an occasional golf course here or there, the equipment and fees put it out of the reach of most people of modest means.
Culture and environment will continue to shape the world of sports. While there be the occasional Larry Bird, or Tiger Woods, the games will most likely continue to be dominated by the people who have access to them. I was thinking just now; if Michael Jordan had grown up in Canada, and Wayne Grektze in the U.S., would they have achieved the same greatness in the sport that chose them?
NCAA Football...Why the Same Teams Win After Year
Growing up in Baltimore, sports was a major part of my life. The sports of choice for me and the other kids in the neighborhood back then were baseball and football, with basketball being a distant third. We usually played baseball from April till the end of Summer and then picked up with football in the Fall. Sports such as tennis, golf, lacrosse, and swimming were virtually non existent. Poor kids as a 'rule' didn't play those kinds of games, they were for the rich kids. Golf clubs cost money, much more than a baseball and bat. And besides none of us would be caught dead in the clothes you have to wear on the course.
Over the years, the neighborhood produced quite a few exceptional athletes. A few went on to play professionally in baseball and football. There were many others who would have probably made the grade if they hadn't succumbed to some of the neighborhood influences such as drugs and alcohol. But of all the great athletes I played with growing up, I don't remember any exceptional golfer, swimmer, tennis or lacrosse players. In fact, I don't remember anyone ever having played those sports. Are things really any different today?
It's no coincidence that the majority of the players who make up the NBA and NFL are Black. It's a combination of skill and access. Growing up in the inner city, there's not a lot of room or facilities for sports. Basketball is the game of choice for inner city kids. Basketball courts don't require a lot of space and makeshift baskets can be set up anywhere. Hours spent honing skills on neighborhood courts turn out some fantastic players. High schools in the cities also put a lot of emphasis on basketball and football. And unlike other sports, basketball and football are 'cool'.
Baseball on the other hand has evolved from years ago. At one time, it was an American sport. Today, baseball is international. In fact, look at the roster of just about any Major League Baseball team, and you'll find many of the most talented players coming from Latin American countries. Again, it's no coincidence that baseball has grown in popularity in these countries. It's a sport that can be played by just about anyone with a ball, bat, glove and an open field. No fancy equipment or facilities needed. And with the weather permitting the game to played virtually year round, it's no wonder that these countries are producing so many players for the major leagues.
The 'other' sports like tennis, golf, swimming and things like figure skating, and ballet will continue to be sports participated in largely by people with means and access. You just won't find many ice rinks or swimming clubs in poor neighborhoods and while there may be an occasional golf course here or there, the equipment and fees put it out of the reach of most people of modest means.
Culture and environment will continue to shape the world of sports. While there be the occasional Larry Bird, or Tiger Woods, the games will most likely continue to be dominated by the people who have access to them. I was thinking just now; if Michael Jordan had grown up in Canada, and Wayne Grektze in the U.S., would they have achieved the same greatness in the sport that chose them?
NCAA Football...Why the Same Teams Win After Year
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