(02-06-2023 05:26 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  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.

I raise you a Pistol Pete

(02-06-2023 05:28 PM)BartlettTigerFan Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 05:26 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  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.

I raise you a Pistol Pete

True dat. Pistol was one of a kind. I wouldn't though be a "Press" dad. Thankfully for the game... Pete didn't resent his dad pushing him. I resented my dad for a long time for some of the stuff he did when I was playing baseball. He was crazy when it came anything I did on a field or court.
The good lord did me a favor gave me a daughter that cared nothing about sports. I would probably have been just as bad.

(02-06-2023 12:01 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Jimmy The Greek had his own explanation.

Yeah, but its really much more about culture.

Why are there almost no African Americans in distance races?
Why are Kenyans and Ethiopians dominant in distance races?
Why are there very few world class African sprinters while American, Canadian, Carribbean and Brazilian Africans dominate sprinting?

Why is the NHL dominated by players from Canada and Minnesota?

I think the song basketball by kurtis blow just inspired the black youth to play. They’re playing bass kett balllll.

That’s got to be it.

(02-06-2023 04:29 PM)PlainTiger Wrote:  White Men Can’t Jump

I was 5ft9 in 9th grade and could dunk



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(02-06-2023 01:36 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(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...

A couple of years ago one raining evening I had parked the car and was heading across the parking lot when my foot hit something in a puddle. I looked down and noticed it was a checkbook.

I picked it up because I thought the owner might want it back. When I got home I opened it and put it on the counter to dry out.

The next day I saw that the name on the checks indicated the man was a doctor. I thumbed through the register (yeah, nosy) and saw deposit after deposit in the $14,000 to $17,000 range every week to 10 days.

I looked him up on FB... black guy.

Charles Barklay's point is well taken. More black kids would do much better for themselves if they thought about being a doctor, lawyer, etc rather than an NBA player.

(02-07-2023 01:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 12:01 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Jimmy The Greek had his own explanation.

Yeah, but its really much more about culture.

Why are there almost no African Americans in distance races?
Why are Kenyans and Ethiopians dominant in distance races?
Why are there very few world class African sprinters while American, Canadian, Carribbean and Brazilian Africans dominate sprinting?

Why is the NHL dominated by players from Canada and Minnesota?

Genetics are the answer to your first 3 questions. Kenyans and Ethiopians have a different genetic make-up from Sub-Saharan Africans. Slaves predominantly came from Sub Saharan Africa. Other than skin tone they look nothing alike. Generally speaking Sub Saharan Africans have a combination of more fast twitch muscle fibers, narrower hips, longer achilles tendons, less fatty tissues, and longer limbs relative to their bodies than other races. Google all of this if you don't believe me. That's all before the slave trade thinned out the gene pool even further. That's another sad, ugly reality at play here.

It's amazing to me that some here want to pretend they don't have a big genetic advantage. Did none of you play ball as a kid with black kids that were basically ripped? That's far more common in black children than white kids. Maybe it's fear of being called "racist" but that seems odd as I'm basically admitting whites are inferior. Maybe you don't want to admit your sons are behind the 8-ball. I have no idea but I thought this was all common knowledge.

I was honestly trying to figure out how to explain this to a child in an accurate way that wouldn't make them feel inferior at something. Kids can take things tough and it's even obvious to a child.

Yes, with enough practice other races can reach the top of the hill but there's zero denying that IN GENERAL they're going to have to overachieve relative to their genetic code.

Here's a good video a black dude made on the why's.

https://youtu.be/STbswoew30c

(02-07-2023 10:51 AM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-07-2023 01:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 12:01 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Jimmy The Greek had his own explanation.

Yeah, but its really much more about culture.

Why are there almost no African Americans in distance races?
Why are Kenyans and Ethiopians dominant in distance races?
Why are there very few world class African sprinters while American, Canadian, Carribbean and Brazilian Africans dominate sprinting?

Why is the NHL dominated by players from Canada and Minnesota?

Genetics are the answer to your first 3 questions. Kenyans and Ethiopians have a different genetic make-up from Sub-Saharan Africans. Slaves predominantly came from Sub Saharan Africa. Other than skin tone they look nothing alike. Generally speaking Sub Saharan Africans have a combination of more fast twitch muscle fibers, narrower hips, longer achilles tendons, less fatty tissues, and longer limbs relative to their bodies than other races. Google all of this if you don't believe me. That's all before the slave trade thinned out the gene pool even further. That's another sad, ugly reality at play here.

It's amazing to me that some here want to pretend they don't have a big genetic advantage. Did none of you play ball as a kid with black kids that were basically ripped? That's far more common in black children than white kids. Maybe it's fear of being called "racist" but that seems odd as I'm basically admitting whites are inferior. Maybe you don't want to admit your sons are behind the 8-ball. I have no idea but I thought this was all common knowledge.

I was honestly trying to figure out how to explain this to a child in an accurate way that wouldn't make them feel inferior at something. Kids can take things tough and it's even obvious to a child.

Yes, with enough practice other races can reach the top of the hill but there's zero denying that IN GENERAL they're going to have to overachie their genetic code.

Here's a good video a black dude made on the why's.

https://youtu.be/STbswoew30c

I agree genetics accounts for most of the advantages. I had this talk with my kid a couple years ago. Told him it is what it is, no use getting upset over something you can't control. Told him hard work and practice will take one far, but genetics is the ultimate deciding factor in many sporting aspects. It's best to be truthful. Kids are tougher than we give them credit for sometimes.

(02-07-2023 10:39 AM)maximus Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 04:29 PM)PlainTiger Wrote:  White Men Can’t Jump

I was 5ft9 in 9th grade and could dunk



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I was the same size & about 145lb, I could high jump really well but couldn't dunk.
Genetics plays a big role regardless of area of origin, I'm still a faster sprinter @ 61 than all of my kids (27-35), their mother was just not very athletic, I was just avg.

(02-07-2023 10:39 AM)maximus Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 04:29 PM)PlainTiger Wrote:  White Men Can’t Jump

I was 5ft9 in 9th grade and could dunk

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And you'd be a genetic freak for the most part. Either that or you completely worked your butt off to accomplish that feat.

(02-07-2023 12:50 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-07-2023 10:39 AM)maximus Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 04:29 PM)PlainTiger Wrote:  White Men Can’t Jump

I was 5ft9 in 9th grade and could dunk

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And you'd be a genetic freak for the most part. Either that or you completely worked your butt off to accomplish that feat.

I was a good athlete but also worked my butt off.

The goal attached to my garage started at 8ft when I was little, old school hand made goal my dad made. Once I could dunk on it, he moved it to 9ft as I grew, ended up ripping that one off the garage. He made another moved it to 10 feet and I was outside every day working on my game.

Also had keys to my school gym. I would be up there super late on the weekends and eventually on weeknights when I was able to drive. My self-imposed mark to allow me to lock the gym to go home was 30 consecutive made free throws and 20 consecutive 3's. I never left that gym until that was accomplished.

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(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.

I may be wrong here but in the days of slavery weren't the slave owners interbreeding them for better results? I think I read about that once. You know those slave owners didn't have scruples and it was all about the money and they figured why not.

Plus, I think many Blacks came from tribes like the Watusis who are taller and made for basketball.

I don't know I'm just remembering my history lessons.

Just as Latinos are better at baseball and soccer. We'un used to wield a mean bat for battering your head and better at baseball and the phrase, "we'll kick your butt" originated from us thus better suited for soccer. LOL

(02-07-2023 10:51 AM)b2b Wrote:  

(02-07-2023 01:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 12:01 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Jimmy The Greek had his own explanation.

Yeah, but its really much more about culture.

Why are there almost no African Americans in distance races?
Why are Kenyans and Ethiopians dominant in distance races?
Why are there very few world class African sprinters while American, Canadian, Carribbean and Brazilian Africans dominate sprinting?

Why is the NHL dominated by players from Canada and Minnesota?

Genetics are the answer to your first 3 questions. Kenyans and Ethiopians have a different genetic make-up from Sub-Saharan Africans. Slaves predominantly came from Sub Saharan Africa. Other than skin tone they look nothing alike. Generally speaking Sub Saharan Africans have a combination of more fast twitch muscle fibers, narrower hips, longer achilles tendons, less fatty tissues, and longer limbs relative to their bodies than other races. Google all of this if you don't believe me. That's all before the slave trade thinned out the gene pool even further. That's another sad, ugly reality at play here.

It's amazing to me that some here want to pretend they don't have a big genetic advantage. Did none of you play ball as a kid with black kids that were basically ripped? That's far more common in black children than white kids. Maybe it's fear of being called "racist" but that seems odd as I'm basically admitting whites are inferior. Maybe you don't want to admit your sons are behind the 8-ball. I have no idea but I thought this was all common knowledge.

I was honestly trying to figure out how to explain this to a child in an accurate way that wouldn't make them feel inferior at something. Kids can take things tough and it's even obvious to a child.

Yes, with enough practice other races can reach the top of the hill but there's zero denying that IN GENERAL they're going to have to overachieve relative to their genetic code.

Here's a good video a black dude made on the why's.

https://youtu.be/STbswoew30c

Ethiopans have a culture of long distance running. I think the Kenyans got it from being motivated by Kip Keino.

African Americans typically are 25-30% European. So any "selective" breeding has been diluted. if there is a genetic component, it is minor. Its culture and poverty.

How many upper middle class athletes are there in the NBA or NFL? Probably very, very few. Hungry people achieve.

(02-07-2023 10:39 AM)maximus Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 04:29 PM)PlainTiger Wrote:  White Men Can’t Jump

I was 5ft9 in 9th grade and could dunk



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Dang, I was 6'2 in high school and for the life of me I could never jump high enough to dunk. I didn't need to though, unlike UTEP basketball players I almost always made my layups and I was also good in free throws. I was tall for a Hispanic.

There's a ton of upper middle class (and higher) in myriad sports and leagues around the world. American baseball and soccer players tend to be wealthy. Hockey is mostly a wealthy sport worldwide. Rugby has a long history of affluency, as does lacrosse (despite its origins). Besides, the number 1 predictor for becoming a professional in any sport is having parent(s) that were pros, and they are often rich. It's a lot more than "hungry people achieve".

(02-07-2023 03:34 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  There's a ton of upper middle class (and higher) in myriad sports and leagues around the world. American baseball and soccer players tend to be wealthy. Hockey is mostly a wealthy sport worldwide. Rugby has a long history of affluency, as does lacrosse (despite its origins). Besides, the number 1 predictor for becoming a professional in any sport is having parent(s) that were pros, and they are often rich. It's a lot more than "hungry people achieve".

Note: I didn't say how many rich people were in the pros.

The wealthy have the time and resources to train their kids.
The poor are hungry.

Middle class are mostly comfortable but without the advantages of the wealthy.

If you look at CEOs and top politicians, those who grew up rich and poor are probably heavily over-represented.

(02-07-2023 03:34 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  There's a ton of upper middle class (and higher) in myriad sports and leagues around the world. American baseball and soccer players tend to be wealthy. Hockey is mostly a wealthy sport worldwide. Rugby has a long history of affluency, as does lacrosse (despite its origins). Besides, the number 1 predictor for becoming a professional in any sport is having parent(s) that were pros, and they are often rich. It's a lot more than "hungry people achieve".

Nobody is saying genetics isn't a factor. A Manning is going to have a good shot in football because of genetics. Napoleon Dynamite and Steve Urcle have no chance no matter how hard they work. My only point was white people can also benefit from genetics. They can choose to play basketball as well... they just don't in large numbers in most of the more heavily populated areas of this country. In other words, genetics can determine whether you are a potential NBA player, but it doesn't solely explain why 10/10 players on the court in a given game are black.

(02-07-2023 12:39 PM)Bill83 Wrote:  

(02-07-2023 10:39 AM)maximus Wrote:  

(02-06-2023 04:29 PM)PlainTiger Wrote:  White Men Can’t Jump

I was 5ft9 in 9th grade and could dunk



Sent from my SM-F721U using Tapatalk

I was the same size & about 145lb, I could high jump really well but couldn't dunk.
Genetics plays a big role regardless of area of origin, I'm still a faster sprinter @ 61 than all of my kids (27-35), their mother was just not very athletic, I was just avg.

Maybe you were doing it wrong. Maybe if you dunked it horizontally instead of vertically you would have been able to dunk.

To answer your question in the OP

I have had similar discussions with my kids over the years (not just regarding sports and not just regarding skin color) and I usually boil it down to something like this....

There are certain things in life that attract different kinds of people...and that's ok...its normal that people group together to partake in certain activities. There isn't anything wrong with it, it's human nature and perfectly normal. I encourage you to jump right in and if certain things interest you, dont be intimidated by the groups you see or the failure you might experience because you can't hack it. Experience and experiment with those groups and vice versa... invite people of opposite likeness into your groups to do the same. In the end it's about growing and experimenting as humans.

I usually back it up with a personal example so they can relate.

In this case I was exposed to being one of two white kids on a team of black boys at a very young age. My father coached and we would picked up the same black boys up in Binghampton for years to play ball. He had a passion and love for those kids and that was passed on to me to this day. Didn't matter to me what color they were, they were my best friends.

I grew up a street over from Gaisman Park in Memphis and anyone who knew that park back in the day knew there were some legendary pickup games on that court. I started playing there when I was 13. I was literally the only white person there most of the time. Once I finally got on the court and showed those grown men what I could do I rarely left the court. Great memories and times learning on that court.

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(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.

6-year olds won't understand (or care) about the genetics versus culture debate.

Instead, this is a great opportunity to manfully guide your child's thought process towards positive morals.

The correct answer for a six year old is twofold:

1) Those individuals worked the hardest to be great at basketball.
2) The fact that a large percentage of those individuals have dark skin is irrelevant. It doesn't matter in the least little tiny bit.

If they press with the "Why? Why? Why?," use the strategy I always use: "What do you think the answer is?"

Solicit answers from them. Discuss their answers, and award insightful or deepthinking ideas with praise (to encourage them to think of answers for themselves). But in the end, direct the conversation back to the main points: skin color is a trivial thing that is much less important than how hard a person works.