tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24847601.post1075996100088409404..comments2024-01-11T04:26:33.475-05:00Comments on Drifting Through The Grift: Innocence Lost, Part IIIgriftdrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04509712527908530572noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24847601.post-1789274282790328922007-05-10T09:48:00.000-04:002007-05-10T09:48:00.000-04:00It's not like all the young black players in the l...<I><BR/>It's not like all the young black players in the league come from poorer families. There are PLENTY of African-American doctors, lawyers and businessmen with children in the league.</I><BR/><BR/>Yes, there are, and progress is being made.<BR/><BR/>But we should not ignore the relationship between class and race.Amber Rheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02109708537597646450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24847601.post-38058146976551060092007-05-09T12:04:00.000-04:002007-05-09T12:04:00.000-04:00I've been thinking about what I wrote, and I have ...I've been thinking about what I wrote, and I have one more thing to clarify...<BR/><BR/>It's not like all the young black players in the league come from poorer families. There are PLENTY of African-American doctors, lawyers and businessmen with children in the league. I think probably in 10-15 years there will be a resurgence of talented young black players whose parents did pay for all the extra training for their young stars.<BR/><BR/>Innocence lost, indeed.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02643680645016745588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24847601.post-59868909191460055102007-05-09T11:57:00.000-04:002007-05-09T11:57:00.000-04:00Thanks everyone for the feedback. Trackboy I take ...Thanks everyone for the feedback. Trackboy I take that as a very high complement. As far as a book, I've had one in my head for about a year but you are right. It's hard.<BR/><BR/>CLG, thanks for the story. It's shocking to me how "professional" young baseball has become. <BR/><BR/>If any of you have HBO be sure to catch this month's Real Sports. There is a story about Tommy John surgery being performed on pre-teens. It saddens.griftdrifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509712527908530572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24847601.post-83602642114803820682007-05-09T10:22:00.000-04:002007-05-09T10:22:00.000-04:00As the mother of a 6-year old boy obsessed...and I...As the mother of a 6-year old boy obsessed...and I do mean <I>obsessed</I> with baseball, I have to say that Dave Winfield is exactly right.<BR/><BR/>There are very few black children in the league my son plays, and it's not because of some great racial divide. The league itself offers scholarships to those who need it, and everyone is welcome to play. <BR/><BR/>But regardless of color, the kids to excel in baseball are the kids whose parents PAY: for equipment, private batting coaches and cage time, and the traveling tournament teams.<BR/><BR/>Did I mention my son was 6? We have easily spent $500 - 700 just this season for him to play baseball, and will probably spend another $200 on his summer tournament team (mostly travel and registration expenses).<BR/><BR/>Even at a young age, any sport is not fun unless you are winning. You are not going to win unless you have top players on your team - the ones who can afford to be top players.<BR/><BR/>Why do we crazed parents do this? Because our son loves, loves, loves baseball. He wants to play for Rice University. He wants to play for the Astros. But he isn't even going to make the intermural team in Middle School unless we provide the training that ALL THE OTHER KIDS are getting.<BR/><BR/>Even at their young ages, my children want to know why there are so many black players in basketball. You can buy a good ball for $6, and courts and pick-up games are free. Summer leagues cost virtually nothing (or are underwritten by the NBA or private sponsors).<BR/><BR/>With excellent young players in the league like Willie Taveras, there are still icons for young children to admire. Whether their parents can afford to get those children from point A to point B is another story.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02643680645016745588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24847601.post-78416937625594138802007-05-09T01:33:00.000-04:002007-05-09T01:33:00.000-04:00Grift, your writing is rising above this blog stuf...Grift, your writing is rising above this blog stuff. Time to write a book. It might mean less time at Moe's & Joe's, but you seriously have the chops to write a book (and it's hard, hard work, and I tried and couldn't, but you can). Go 4 it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24847601.post-746606097279342672007-05-08T17:09:00.000-04:002007-05-08T17:09:00.000-04:00Lemme interject my 2-cents... somethings ARE best ...Lemme interject my 2-cents... somethings ARE best read in print. This "epic" is one of them. Send immediately to Rebecca Burns at Atlanta Magazine:<BR/>rburns at atlantamag.emmis dot comGrayson: Atlanta, GAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04063253721956158654noreply@blogger.com