(02-12-2015 03:38 PM)jmuwyhamhgawd Wrote:  I'm not sure if it's as much about seeing "your" race do well, as it is about seeing whatever the atypical race is for that sport or position. It's fun seeing black swimmers, golfers, kickers, hockey players. It's fun seeing white running backs, defensive backs, and basketball players.

This thread has become awesome, I hope it continues.

You know, that is a good thought and certainly has some merit.

(02-12-2015 02:57 PM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  ive seen some weird conversations on this board lately.

Ain't that the truth!

So glad I decided to click on the JMU @ delaware thread from 2 days ago, one last time. This is about as bizarro-world now as a thread can get.

"sportsfans born in the 30's?!?" That's the demographic we're now shooting for?!? Ahahahahahhahahaha.

Aim high! Shoot for the stars! "JMU Basketball- setting the sport back 80 years, one goofy looking white guy at a time!!!"

(02-12-2015 03:38 PM)jmuwyhamhgawd Wrote:  I'm not sure if it's as much about seeing "your" race do well, as it is about seeing whatever the atypical race is for that sport or position. It's fun seeing black swimmers, golfers, kickers, hockey players. It's fun seeing white running backs, defensive backs, and basketball players.

This thread has become awesome, I hope it continues.

Yea, tell me the Jamaican bobsled team was an international phenom cause they were good. Or the very British looking Brit ski-jumper, remember him? Lousy jumper, immediate celebrity.

(02-12-2015 03:44 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 09:33 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 08:56 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I guess we have proven that by having a team of white boys, it doesn't mean fans will show up.

Why would that need to be proven? Really weird comment. Are there people out there who just want to watch white people play basketball?

Yea, does anyone even notice anymore? We've also proven we can absolutely horrible with a roster of mainly black guys.

Can you play? Good, go play.

Color would be about 63rd on the list of stuff to pay attention to.

As a coach or a fan that studies their sport of interest, you are correct, but to the fan who is not the person who goes out and buys all things purple, I don't believe that to be true. I'm pretty sure that I have some friends who I graduated JMU along side in '82, who have no purple in their closest, but manage to make it to a game every couple of years, who "would" also get a little extra charge to see a "successful" white QB for JMU. I cannot say that for certain, but I feel it.

(02-12-2015 03:59 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 03:44 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 09:33 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 08:56 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I guess we have proven that by having a team of white boys, it doesn't mean fans will show up.

Why would that need to be proven? Really weird comment. Are there people out there who just want to watch white people play basketball?

Yea, does anyone even notice anymore? We've also proven we can absolutely horrible with a roster of mainly black guys.

Can you play? Good, go play.

Color would be about 63rd on the list of stuff to pay attention to.

As a coach or a fan that studies their sport of interest, you are correct, but to the fan who is not the person who goes out and buys all things purple, I don't believe that to be true. I'm pretty sure that I have some friends who I graduated JMU along side in '82, who have no purple in their closest, but manage to make it to a game every couple of years, who "would" also get a little extra charge to see a "successful" white QB for JMU. I cannot say that for certain, but I feel it.

Graduating JMU in 82 puts them in a different generation today. Today fans and alum just want you players to be able to play at a high level. The only difference between Rascati and Landers is a 04 defense lol.

Yes , I would love for Kent to be able to dunk , that means he has some explosiveness in his hips and can rebound and defend at a better rate. He is not even that dynamic of a shooter home or away for him to make that up. JJ Reddick was one of the best players i ever saw play at Duke.

(02-12-2015 03:59 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 03:44 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 09:33 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(02-12-2015 08:56 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I guess we have proven that by having a team of white boys, it doesn't mean fans will show up.

Why would that need to be proven? Really weird comment. Are there people out there who just want to watch white people play basketball?

Yea, does anyone even notice anymore? We've also proven we can absolutely horrible with a roster of mainly black guys.

Can you play? Good, go play.

Color would be about 63rd on the list of stuff to pay attention to.

As a coach or a fan that studies their sport of interest, you are correct, but to the fan who is not the person who goes out and buys all things purple, I don't believe that to be true. I'm pretty sure that I have some friends who I graduated JMU along side in '82, who have no purple in their closest, but manage to make it to a game every couple of years, who "would" also get a little extra charge to see a "successful" white QB for JMU. I cannot say that for certain, but I feel it.

Yea, I gotcha, not trying to be critical or judgmental. Doesn't really matter to me why someone cheers for a player or team, I guess it might bug me if it was a reason someone didn't cheer for a player or team, and you're not suggesting that.

How 'bout that JMU- Uduh game?

I think open discussions about race in athletics are fine. There is no ill will from any of the posts I have read here. Heck, sports have helped race relations immensly over the years. I do feel sports that have all races represented is good for that sport. Every young child from any race needs to know that with hard work and determination, they can gain a scholarship and perhaps have a professional career in the sport they love. While not always successful, our country's ideals are built on equality and I am pretty sure we are still working to get that right. The PC stuff drives me crazy though.

I do feel the lack of racial diversity among the players has hurt the NBA and the NHL's fan base growth. They both have niche fans rather than broad based growing fan bases. Diversity is good for everyone but coaches are going to play and recruit the best player they can get.

Since this thread has totally derailed, I will add to it.
If you want to dig in a little deeper on race and sports check out work done by Richard Lapchick. He has been an authority on the subject since the early 80's and some of his stuff is very intriguing.
I brought up his research data when Withers was hired and some posters got bent out of shape because they didn't want to acknowledge that race does matter. Whether it is the fan-player relationship, player-coach relationship, or coach-fan relationship, it matters. And it can matter in a good way.

Lapchick has some great books to go along with tons of research articles from his organizations - one of which was founded at Northeastern.