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Frank Thomas responds to Chris Rock's baseball rant
Chicago Tribune ^ | April 25, 2015 | Ed Sherman

Posted on 04/26/2015 5:53:31 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement

White Sox Hall of Famer Frank Thomas responded to Rock’s commentary Thursday on Fox Sports 1’s “America’s Pregame.” He believes Major League Baseball has a responsibility to get young African-American players back into the game.

“Major League Baseball has got to take initiative and put academies in the inner cities across America,” Thomas said. “(They) do it in the Dominican Republic, (they) do it in Venezuela and as soon as Cuba is open, they’re going to do it in Cuba because those kids play baseball 24/7.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: baseball; blacks; chrisrock; frankthomas
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"A responsibility..."
1 posted on 04/26/2015 5:53:31 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement
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To: ConservativeStatement

What’s stopping you, Frank, you should have plenty of money to open one.


2 posted on 04/26/2015 5:54:15 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: ConservativeStatement

The most diverse sport isn’t diverse enough?


3 posted on 04/26/2015 5:57:08 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: ConservativeStatement
Yeah, we gotta do everything for African Americans.

Its all up to us because they can't. Presumably.

4 posted on 04/26/2015 6:04:35 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: ConservativeStatement

Who is Chris Rock?


5 posted on 04/26/2015 6:06:35 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: ConservativeStatement
Under the present conditions, said "academies" could be burnt down the next time there's a police shooting.
6 posted on 04/26/2015 6:11:46 PM PDT by Bratch
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To: skeeter

Most of the blacks in baseball are well educated well spoken guys who had to work to get where they are.

Baseball isn’t an easy ride to the big show. College baseball isn’t a big enough money maker for them to waste a lot of time on thugs and screw ups. Then it may be years in AA and AAA ball before getting a one game shot in the Majors only to be sent back down.


7 posted on 04/26/2015 6:12:50 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: Bratch

And a collection of bats in the hands of thugs.


8 posted on 04/26/2015 6:14:46 PM PDT by rabidralph
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To: ConservativeStatement

Africans? Sure. Americans? Sure. African-Americans? Trouble.


9 posted on 04/26/2015 6:19:00 PM PDT by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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To: skeeter

Agreed. Aside from black people in the USA, no other race of people in the history of human civilization has demanded so much and contributed so little in return (unless you consider rape, murder, rioting, twerking and ebonics as a valuable contribution).


10 posted on 04/26/2015 6:19:59 PM PDT by Roger Kaputnik (Just because I'm paranoid doesn't prove that they aren't out to get me.)
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To: ConservativeStatement

This is a great society failure.

The more the black family was destroyed by the government the less fathers were around to be little league coaches for their kids. Less fathers equal less financially prosperous family’s. Less prosperous families equals less local and community taxes paid. Less local and community taxes paid means fewer ball fields and programs in certain neighborhoods.

It started in the early 60’s so the last generation who grew up with a father would of been major league ready in the mid 80’s.

I’m sure it has declined since then.

Quit voting for democrats, problem solved.


11 posted on 04/26/2015 6:20:54 PM PDT by barmag25 (Cruz 2016)
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To: ConservativeStatement
Why, Mr. Thomas? Because midnight basketball was such a glowing success???

WDE anyway.

12 posted on 04/26/2015 6:25:05 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
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To: ConservativeStatement

How do we get more white people in basketball? Serious question. My son plays and is frequently the only white kid in the whole league. Why? Culturr. I was taking him to college games sinve he was an infant. When he was 4 he decided he was going to play and was in the street playing on a neighbor’s hoop obsessively for hours at a time in the rain, snow and sleet. Now he is 6 and dominates the inner city kids (parents and coaches get pissed). He can beat most of the neighborhood kids that are 12 years old as long as it is a 10 foot rim to neutralize thr size disadvantage. We call him white chocolate.


13 posted on 04/26/2015 6:34:01 PM PDT by wolfman23601
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To: ConservativeStatement
Unless you have a civilization where both parents and the community is involved, and will to spend some money on the kids, organized little league baseball won't happen.

It's a damn shame, but the kids in these black neighborhoods who could excel in baseball will never have a chance to develop their skills because there is no organic support system to allow them to do it. Things like a father playing catch with them in the back yard when they are 5 or 6 years old.

If a kid does not have the basic skills, including a love for the game by the time they reach high school, they will never have it.

It's not like football where a high school coach can take a big or fast freshman and train him to play in a short period of time. Baseball skills take a long time and many repetitions to master.

14 posted on 04/26/2015 6:36:33 PM PDT by Ditto
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To: ConservativeStatement

Blacks should stick to basketball and football where they excel, unless they can bat, throw, catch, run bases, pitch, and endure the down time. We’ve created the myth of the invincible black athlete, except it doesn’t apply to baseball.


15 posted on 04/26/2015 6:39:32 PM PDT by pallis
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To: ConservativeStatement

I demand the NBA recruit in rural and suburban areas.


16 posted on 04/26/2015 6:42:02 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (ANYBODY BUT FRICKING JEB AND HILLARY)
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To: Roger Kaputnik

“unless you consider rape, murder, rioting, twerking and ebonics as a valuable contribution”

you forgot baggy-pants and rap “music”.


17 posted on 04/26/2015 6:44:47 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Ditto

Willie Horton was at Comerica park yesterday to honor Lou Whitaker and it reminded me of Willie Horton during the Detroit riots.

He left Tiger stadium in his uniform and drove into the thick of the riots and stood on the roof of his car with a bullhorn begging the people to go home.


18 posted on 04/26/2015 6:55:34 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: ConservativeStatement

When the black communities want their kids to play baseball, they will play baseball. They have no problem playing basketball and football. You can’t legislate sport popularity.


19 posted on 04/26/2015 6:57:56 PM PDT by Avid Coug
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To: ConservativeStatement

Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates wrote about this as well. Baseball is the most diverse of the pro sports because in many places around the world it is the best path to riches for talented athletes. In the US, football and basketball are more lucrative so that’s where the best athletes go. Baseball in the US is mostly played by upper class kids.


20 posted on 04/26/2015 7:26:55 PM PDT by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite it's unfashionability)
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