First off I have to congratulate the Duke Blue Devils on a fine season. As a team they got the maximum out of their group. I'm far from a Duke or Coach K fan, but I give him credit for the coaching job he did with a group that was not loaded with great talent. I tip my hat to the players that went out and got it done. As a former NCAA player myself, I respect what it takes to win a national championship.
Now that that's out of the way, it's time to weigh-in on what happened during this NCAA tournament.
During this tournament I read a number of articles about white players being stereotyped and disrespected because they are white. The media took advantage of predominantly white teams having great success in this year's tournament. Once Duke won the title it dawned on me how bad Duke winning is for college basketball.
Let's clear up some things. Coach K has always tried to win with as many white players as he can get away with. If you don't believe me, then go check the records and look at the rosters. Don't think for one second that this is not done by design. Coach K knows what he's doing and he makes sure his staff recruits accordingly.
I'll admit that the main reason I wrote Duke off at the beginning of the season was because I did not believe them or any other team that was predominantly white could win the national championship. Is it because of the stereotypes? Not at all. But let's be real. The University of North Carolina won the 2008-2009 title with a black team with the exception of Tyler Hansborough. Here's a question for you true NCAA fans. When was the last time a predominantly white team won the national championship before this year? What do you want to bet it was a Duke team?
I'm all for the small schools beating up on the big schools. In my opinion, that's what make the NCAA Men's Tournament the best sporting event in sports. It does not matter whether the team is predominantly white or black. It's just nice to see the little guy beat the big guy. The problems comes in when the big guy wins with white players because it causes us to have to address the subject of white verses black. All that does is take away from the job that the players do to get to that level.
It's irresponsible for members of the media to ask a kid, who's having the time of his life, about being a white player on a white team. The questions should strictly apply to the game and the tournament itself. I highly doubt that players want to address such matters while they are focused on their tournament success. There's a time and place for everything.
There is already a lot of controversy and bad press out there about black players verses white players. There has been a big deal made of graduation rates of black athletes and white athletes. I will say that black athletes, on a wide scale, need to take their education more seriously and graduate at a higher rate. As far as predominantly white teams being stereotyped and disrespected, it's a trivial subject. Duke got it done this year, but I would like to see them do it again next year.
The question is will this change the landscape of recruiting. Will coaches at other programs start trying to recruit more white players? Makes you scratch your head a bit.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm back on a regular basis now so stay close to your computer for the latest.
Until next time, have a good one.
You can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/bhendrix5.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
IT'S NOT THE COLOR OF THE SKIN IT IS THE WAY THE GAME IS PLAYED. OVERALL, ANYONE PLAYING THE GAME SHOULD STEP UP ACADEMICALLY AND IT SHOULDN'T BE BASED ON HOOPING SKILLS THAT A SCHOOL PICKS YOU TO GO TO THEIR COLLEGE. IF YOU ARE THE BLACKSHEEP IN ANYTHING YOU WILL BE NOTICED. LIKE A WHITE PERSON GOING TO AN ALL BLACK SCHOOL. THE FACT BEING THAT RACE IS BEING DISCUSSED SHOWS THAT THERE IS STILL DISCRIMINATION AND IT IS MORE PREVELANT AND SPOKEN ALOUD DAILY AMONGST OUR GENERATION AND OUR CHILDREN AND ITS SCARY FOR OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.SOCIETY IS GOING BACKWARDS WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE LEADERS BUT THERE ARE TO MANY FOLLOWERS.
ReplyDeleteSkin color does matter because the media and society make it matter. You can't ignore or dispute the fact that this subject came up more an more as prodominately white teams moved on in the tournament. It comes down to the white athletes being the ones going to stay in school and stay out of trouble while the black athletes are going to try and go to school for one year and jump to the NBA. Now that Duke has done it with this team it's going to open up consideration for more white basketball players.
ReplyDeleteI am proud that there has been an opening for more white players. However the game has always been the game, Just maybe White players were intimidated and didn't find a place for themselves in the game. Now, "White men can jump and they are not scared to show it. Just maybe some white boys grew up in houses that stressed education and frowned on sports. Now, the minority is the majority and the Caucasians are the Minority... We are living in a melting pot, and there are more colors more than ever that are broadening out and embarking new horizons.Who'd ever think that there would be Asians in B ball, or even have a undefeated lightweight champ. More Emphasis should be in education period, Color has nothing to do with it, that's home upbringing. The schools are passing kids along and there should be a rule about getting scholarships they are handing those out like candy, and children are not working for them like they should. Heck, let me get paid to recreate. Sports is important, but knowledge and life skills are more important. After the game what do some have without education.Winning the game is not based in color it is based on how you hoop. If you can't jump, if you can't shoot or make a 3 pointer the basketball and the hoop cannot tell you apart, from if you were a black player and can't help you score.So, in that aspect yes, congrats to Duke for pulling a all white team through but, I be damned its all the technique and taking heed. A good coach, and a good team.It's about the hunger to win and the teamwork, if you want to break it all the way down you can say "egos" and showboating...I just think winning can only come if you are humbled by loosing first. in conclusion, you are more likely to step your game up if you are considered "different". Remember Cool Runnings the Jamaicans that won bobsledding.. and you know in Jamaica there's no snow.
ReplyDelete@Iccyremy
ReplyDeleteI get the point you are trying to make. Color shouldn't matter in anything we do. But this is America and color does matter. A lot of the things you are saying let me know you don't know much about sports and what it takes to get an athletic scholarship. They aren't just giving them away. Earning a college basketball scholaership isn't an easy thing to do at all.
Duke got it done this year with a mostly white team, but the reason there's even this discussion is because it doesn't happen often these days. So when it does happen it becomes a big deal.
The academics are a whole different matter in itself.
So true, Enough said, there is alot of foot work that needs to be done to get acknowledged, much props for their success and endeavor, Hopefully they can pull it off again.
ReplyDelete