As I was watching a basketball game on Saturday my 6 y.o. daughter asked "Why do all the basketball players have brown skin?" This is the 2nd of my children who noticed this phenomena. My 9 y.o. son noticed the same thing around the same age I think. The best answer that I was able to give was that people from Africa tend to be taller and that's a big advantage in basketball. Then we watched some of the NHL all star game after basketball and 99% of the players were white.... while some of them are tall they're all white. My answer there was that hockey is played in cold environments where white folks originated. It essentially came down to different groups of people are good at different things. I suppose some would consider me and my kids racists for even noticing.

In reality the real answers are much more complex than that especially for basketball and track and field.

Easy

"Basketball is much more popular in predominantly black communities and culture. Basketball hoops are everywhere... and it doesn't take much money or real estate to play. Everyone on that court is there because they've worked hard for it from a very young age."

Of course my son played basketball as his top sport until he was 10. He is smart and talented... but at the level he was playing at he was the only white boy on his teams. Wasn't a big deal until around 9-10 years old and at that point, the black kids stopped passing him the ball and he began to hate it and quit. So he eventually had to learn that lesson, but not at 6.

(02-06-2023 11:40 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Easy

"Basketball is much more popular in predominantly black communities and culture. Basketball hoops are everywhere... and it doesn't take much money or real estate to play. Everyone on that court is there because they've worked hard for it from a very young age."

Of course my son played basketball as his top sport until he was 10. He is smart and talented... but at the level he was playing at he was the only white boy on his teams. Wasn't a big deal until around 9-10 years old and at that point, the black kids stopped passing him the ball and he began to hate it and quit. So he eventually had to learn that lesson, but not at 6.

Now do track and field, boxing and football. Even in the EPL blacks are disproportionately represented. The real answers lie in genetics.
It doesn't take long for kids to figure these things out but society has taught us that it's not OK to talk about.

Just have her tune in to a Wisconsin v. Iowa game.

Jimmy The Greek had his own explanation.

(02-06-2023 11:44 AM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 11:40 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Easy

"Basketball is much more popular in predominantly black communities and culture. Basketball hoops are everywhere... and it doesn't take much money or real estate to play. Everyone on that court is there because they've worked hard for it from a very young age."

Of course my son played basketball as his top sport until he was 10. He is smart and talented... but at the level he was playing at he was the only white boy on his teams. Wasn't a big deal until around 9-10 years old and at that point, the black kids stopped passing him the ball and he began to hate it and quit. So he eventually had to learn that lesson, but not at 6.

Now do track and field, boxing and football. Even in the EPL blacks are disproportionately represented. The real answers lie in genetics.
It doesn't take long for kids to figure these things out but society has taught us that it's not OK to talk about.

Genetics play a role for sure, but it is also culture (you mentioned hockey but also golf, tennis, and soccer). Drive around town and any basketball court is full of black kids, even in "white" areas. You are lucky to see a white kid outside at all, much less playing a sport without being organized and helicoptered by adults. Black kids are playing 20-30 hours per week while white kids are attending a 1-hour practice at a church every week with an Upward league and singing "Kumbaya". White kids simply aren't playing basketball in most of the country. If they were, they would be represented in larger numbers. There are plenty of white people big or athletic enough to compete at the highest levels if they put the work in. I wouldn't tell my kid anything different.

It isn't genetics, it's the selective breeding of the Southern slavery era. The biggest and strongest were bred.

If that sounds rassist don't blame the messenger.

(02-06-2023 01:06 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  EverRespect's answer is the most correct.

Genetics can play a role, but attributing things to genetics simplifies complex sociological and economic trends and doesn't tend be accurate.

For example, South Asian and East Asians often perform better in math, but families have children spend a great deal more time learning math than is common for children in most other cultures. If you take two average children of any race, a child who studies math three hours a day will eclipse the child who studies one hour a day.

The African continent is also the most genetically diverse continent on Earth. With regards to track, the best in the world come from a very specific section of Africa. With the EPL, soccer only needs a ball and the lack of other opportunities allows a large pool of African kids to continually practice the game. The proximity (and colonial history) of Africa/Europe also allows for easier recruitment, which is similar to why we have many Central and South American players in the MLB and MLS.

I'd also throw in... Charles Barkley noted that when he spoke to white high school kids, most of them wanted to be doctors or lawyers or business owners... but when he spoke with black high school kids, most of them wanted to be in the NBA or NFL. Now that was anecdotal to be sure, but I believe the 'subtle bigotry of reduced expectations' also plays a part... where athletic or musical talent (or even drugs) is 'their only way out'.

For the longest time Hockey was dominated by the Canadians & Russians.

Hockey struggles outside cold Northern environments. It’s foreign to those outside the North & Midwest, no matter your race. I hate to say it as a hockey fan, but I frequently encounter hockey fans who think hockey should remain a North & Midwest sport because ‘they don’t have ice in the south' (but then southerners say 'we don't have ice in the south, why should we care about hockey', so I guess there's a mutual understanding between the 2 regions)


Basketball is more popular nationally so Blacks were able to latch onto it easier.

I have no idea how I’d explain it to kids other than different people like different things.

JFC .... over analysis.

People do what people do

People are good at whatever they are good at. There is a natural tendency even at a young age for people to do what they are good at more often and avoid things they are simply not as good at.

A lot of it is opportunity based ($$$) for sure.

None of those above can really be "fixed" without a complete society overhaul - which ain't happening.





I hate the NBA but it has nothing to do with pigment. It is all hero ball, 2 step travelling has evolved into 5 steps, they cry and whine and flop too much, and Lebron.....

(02-06-2023 01:25 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 01:06 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  EverRespect's answer is the most correct.

Genetics can play a role, but attributing things to genetics simplifies complex sociological and economic trends and doesn't tend be accurate.

For example, South Asian and East Asians often perform better in math, but families have children spend a great deal more time learning math than is common for children in most other cultures. If you take two average children of any race, a child who studies math three hours a day will eclipse the child who studies one hour a day.

The African continent is also the most genetically diverse continent on Earth. With regards to track, the best in the world come from a very specific section of Africa. With the EPL, soccer only needs a ball and the lack of other opportunities allows a large pool of African kids to continually practice the game. The proximity (and colonial history) of Africa/Europe also allows for easier recruitment, which is similar to why we have many Central and South American players in the MLB and MLS.

I'd also throw in... Charles Barkley noted that when he spoke to white high school kids, most of them wanted to be doctors or lawyers or business owners... but when he spoke with black high school kids, most of them wanted to be in the NBA or NFL. Now that was anecdotal to be sure, but I believe the 'subtle bigotry of reduced expectations' also plays a part... where athletic or musical talent (or even drugs) is 'their only way out'.

Give me any kid any race for 18 years and as a dad I'll make him a Doctor if he wants to be one...skin and race don't matter one flippin' bit to anyone but slaveowners...see: The Left, Democrats, Communists, "progressives", et cetera...

(02-06-2023 12:36 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 11:44 AM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 11:40 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Easy

"Basketball is much more popular in predominantly black communities and culture. Basketball hoops are everywhere... and it doesn't take much money or real estate to play. Everyone on that court is there because they've worked hard for it from a very young age."

Of course my son played basketball as his top sport until he was 10. He is smart and talented... but at the level he was playing at he was the only white boy on his teams. Wasn't a big deal until around 9-10 years old and at that point, the black kids stopped passing him the ball and he began to hate it and quit. So he eventually had to learn that lesson, but not at 6.

Now do track and field, boxing and football. Even in the EPL blacks are disproportionately represented. The real answers lie in genetics.
It doesn't take long for kids to figure these things out but society has taught us that it's not OK to talk about.

Genetics play a role for sure, but it is also culture (you mentioned hockey but also golf, tennis, and soccer). Drive around town and any basketball court is full of black kids, even in "white" areas. You are lucky to see a white kid outside at all, much less playing a sport without being organized and helicoptered by adults. Black kids are playing 20-30 hours per week while white kids are attending a 1-hour practice at a church every week with an Upward league and singing "Kumbaya". White kids simply aren't playing basketball in most of the country. If they were, they would be represented in larger numbers. There are plenty of white people big or athletic enough to compete at the highest levels if they put the work in. I wouldn't tell my kid anything different.

There's over-representation across most sports where quick muscle response and bursts of speed is required. Boxing, track, football, basketball, soccer.... pretty much across the board except in the "skill" type of sports which require more muscle memory (baseball, golf) or where cost of entry is very high (hockey, golf, lacrosse). This is all happening they only make up 13% of the population.

There's a lot more to it than just time actually playing the sport. How many times do you see kids practicing track or boxing outside? LOL. The racial makeup of sports changed practically overnight when blacks were allowed to participate with whites. They made up an even smaller % of the population back then than they do now.... and white kids were playing outside much more than they do now. To act like there's not a significant genetic advantage is just delusional. There have been serious scientific studies on the topic. Higher lung capacity, more fast twitch muscle fibers, etc all make it easier.

Culture and price is probably the main thing.

Basketball is a cheap game, high school basketball doesn't cost much and you can still advance your game and get college schollies etc. just playing high school ball. AAU is huge and helps a lot, but high end players tend to be on sponsored teams that don't cost much (before getting into the money changing hands under the table).

Football is generally played at the (subsidized) high school level and recruiting camps are fairly accessible as they take place across the country. Colleges travel on their own dime to see recruits or pay their way to campus.

Compare that to soccer, for example. It's getting much better lately with MLS academies etc. but for years you didn't see a whole lot of black kids excelling in American soccer. Given the socioeconomic truths, the ever growing price of travel soccer (which has much higher levels of coaching and competition than high school soccer) priced a ton of poorer families out. Equipment costs aren't bad, but other things got in the way. Big reason the game's growth has been stunted despite kids playing from a young age. Certainly it prices out kids of all races, but it's disproportionate.

Complex question and there are a ton of other factors but those are some obvious ones to me.

How about “ask your mother.”


Probably, “there are more black guys playing basketball than white guys, apparently.”

(02-06-2023 01:49 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 12:36 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 11:44 AM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 11:40 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  Easy

"Basketball is much more popular in predominantly black communities and culture. Basketball hoops are everywhere... and it doesn't take much money or real estate to play. Everyone on that court is there because they've worked hard for it from a very young age."

Of course my son played basketball as his top sport until he was 10. He is smart and talented... but at the level he was playing at he was the only white boy on his teams. Wasn't a big deal until around 9-10 years old and at that point, the black kids stopped passing him the ball and he began to hate it and quit. So he eventually had to learn that lesson, but not at 6.

Now do track and field, boxing and football. Even in the EPL blacks are disproportionately represented. The real answers lie in genetics.
It doesn't take long for kids to figure these things out but society has taught us that it's not OK to talk about.

Genetics play a role for sure, but it is also culture (you mentioned hockey but also golf, tennis, and soccer). Drive around town and any basketball court is full of black kids, even in "white" areas. You are lucky to see a white kid outside at all, much less playing a sport without being organized and helicoptered by adults. Black kids are playing 20-30 hours per week while white kids are attending a 1-hour practice at a church every week with an Upward league and singing "Kumbaya". White kids simply aren't playing basketball in most of the country. If they were, they would be represented in larger numbers. There are plenty of white people big or athletic enough to compete at the highest levels if they put the work in. I wouldn't tell my kid anything different.

There's over-representation across most sports where quick muscle response and bursts of speed is required. Boxing, track, football, basketball, soccer.... pretty much across the board except in the "skill" type of sports which require more muscle memory (baseball, golf) or where cost of entry is very high (hockey, golf, lacrosse). This is all happening they only make up 13% of the population.

There's a lot more to it than just time actually playing the sport. How many times do you see kids practicing track or boxing outside? LOL. The racial makeup of sports changed practically overnight when blacks were allowed to participate with whites. They made up an even smaller % of the population back then than they do now.... and white kids were playing outside much more than they do now. To act like there's not a significant genetic advantage is just delusional. There have been serious scientific studies on the topic. Higher lung capacity, more fast twitch muscle fibers, etc all make it easier.

Blacks make up well over 13% in metropolitan areas and are in fact a majority in many of them. These are the areas are where the resources along with the top facilities and coaching are with the development processes in place. They don't set up shop in West Virginia, Wyoming, and New Hampshire. They set up shop where most blacks grow up and where the corporations are jumping in line to fund woke initiatives like athletic pipelines for minorities. Further, most whites in these areas are well protected and grow up with silver spoons. City folks are the physically weakest of the whites. They and their ancestors couldn't make it ranching, farming, or traveling the frontier so they settled in cities and studied to be lawyers and accountants. The blue collar types also exist but they can't afford it for their kids... all the free and corporate funded training is strictly for minorities. So there are some genetics there, but there are also a ton of people with the freak athlete gene that are white as well. They just aren't playing basketball or running track in large numbers. They do just fine in football across the rural South and Texas.

As an aside, you also mention soccer... the most popular sport in the world right now. It is very well represented by white people... probably overrepresented. Basketball is also popular in many portions of Europe. Those players often come to the NBA and NCAA and do very well.

EverRespect, 43% of EPL players are black. Again this is a massive over-representation. You're 100% correct about urban whites though.

(02-06-2023 11:24 AM)b2b Wrote:  As I was watching a basketball game on Saturday my 6 y.o. daughter asked "Why do all the basketball players have brown skin?" This is the 2nd of my children who noticed this phenomena. My 9 y.o. son noticed the same thing around the same age I think. The best answer that I was able to give was that people from Africa tend to be taller and that's a big advantage in basketball. Then we watched some of the NHL all star game after basketball and 99% of the players were white.... while some of them are tall they're all white. My answer there was that hockey is played in cold environments where white folks originated. It essentially came down to different groups of people are good at different things. I suppose some would consider me and my kids racists for even noticing.

In reality the real answers are much more complex than that especially for basketball and track and field.

Answer: Because they aren't poor white kids from Indiana and Kentucky.

White Men Can’t Jump

One word....Culture. It's just their thing. Nothing however is keeping you from being good at it if you choose to dedicate yourself to the game...ie..Larry Bird.