Posted on 05/18/2007 6:56:22 AM PDT by T.Smith
ATLANTA (AP) - In his new role with the Atlanta Braves, Hank Aaron wants to increase the number of blacks in baseball by promoting the game to youngsters.
"Somehow, we lose them between the ages of 6 to 12," Aaron said Thursday. "But baseball is something that has longevity. If Bo Jackson would have played only baseball, he would've played a lot longer."
After the Braves were sold by Time Warner Inc. to Liberty Media Group, Aaron met with commissioner Bud Selig in New York this week about his enhanced position.
Selig has been close to Aaron since the slugger played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1954-65, and Aaron spent two seasons with Selig's Milwaukee Brewers before retiring as a player following the 1976 season.
Even though he won't have a formal job title, Aaron's task is forming programs through Major League Baseball that will encourage the influx of minorities into baseball.
"The commissioner wanted me to come back," Aaron said. "Making baseball a more diverse sport is something we both agreed on and felt it was a need for the future."
Aaron said baseball has become less popular in the black community because it isn't talked about as much as football and basketball. He said he wants to restore the image of blacks being a big part of baseball.
"It's become universal and we have slackened in looking for talent," Aaron said. "Blacks have played an important role in baseball. The decline is a problem and I feel like I can make the difference."
On Thursday, the Braves became a self-governed subsidiary of Liberty Media, with Terry McGuirk reporting to the team's board in his capacity as chairman and president. John Schuerholz remains as general manager and Bobby Cox as manager.
"I've had the good fortune to know him for over 17 years," Schuerholz said of Aaron. "Any idea he might have will be accepted with open arms. He will be very helpful in whatever he does."
Aaron won't be a new face in the Braves' front office. After setting the career home run record with 755 and retiring as a player. He became a Braves vice president and the director of player development in October 1976 and held that role for 13 years.
He became a senior vice president in 1989 and currently is on the club's board of directors. Asked if he'll be involved when Barry Bonds breaks his home run record, Aaron answered: "I don't have a comment. I don't want to be a part of that discussion."
McGuirk said Aaron's wisdom will be an asset in leading the Braves toward more championships. He believes that since Aaron garners so much respect, he will have an immediate impact in his new role.
"Hank is an icon not only in Atlanta, but nationally," McGuirk said. "It's great that he has been around the organization already, but it will be a lot better to see more of him."
And there are few too whites in the NBA.
Hmmm...a major influx of Asian and Carribbean players in the last 15 years and the sport isn't "diverse" enough?
we must celebrate diversity, even if it means diluting the final product../s
Because they all think they will be the next Michael Jordan, Hank my man. Just look in the hood. You don’t see black kids playing baseball. Even six year olds are bouncing a basketball between their legs, doing tricks with the ball, all planning, against unbelieveable odds that they will be the next Michael or LeBron. They all think they are it. No school, no problem. I am going to be the next LeBron. Who cares if I can read, write, spell, whatever. That is what I will pay my agent to do for me. I.E. Mike Tyson. Can’t spell his name, but can name the last four winners of Dancing with the Stars!
I’m worried about the lack of japanese in pro basketball and the lack of pygmies in the NFL.
Any white guy who said: “Whites have played an important role in basketball. The decline is a problem and I feel like I can make the difference.” would be pilloried. Sharpton and the media would go ballistic.
>>>And there are few too whites in the NBA.
I was going to say something along those lines myself...same is true for the NFL...
...and, only three Asians, I've read. Where's the out cry?
Why isn’t the race baiter worried about the NHL?
There all too busy playing Gangsta-ball.
You nailed it!
And no Indians at all!!
It’s tpo much of a hassle to play baseball. All you need to play basketball is a ball, and one other guy. Baseball? you need a bat, a ball, gloves, and at least 12 guys. And you stand around most of the time doing nothing.
It is ironic that the sport in which the color barrier was broken now has almost no black guys playing. It’s all white and Hispanic guys, although I bet there will be a very large number of Asians playing in 15 years.
Aaron’s full of garbage. There are more “ballpayers of color” than ever before in the history of the game. He only refers to so-called Afro-Americans and does not include those of hispanic culture.
Gotta love how having a Spanish surname automatically makes you non-black, even if you are Sammy Sosa, Albert Pujols, Mariano Rivera, etc.
I dream of a day when we will judge a man on the contents of his batting, and not the color of his skin. I HAVE A DREAM!
Can’t make a horse drink from the stream (whatever that saying is). You can give everyone the opportunity to begin playing baseball at a young age, but you can’t force anyone. It appears there might not be enough interest. Try another sport and see how it is going.
I wonder how Hammerin’ Hank would feel if say, Whitey Honkeyboy, a slugger for the St. Louis Cardinals were about to break his record as opposed to a member of his self-defined tribe.
If Aaron truly wants to do “his” race some good he should speak longly and loudly about the FUNDAMENTAL importance of a stable nuclear family. Brothas need to stop actin’ like Tomcats and sistas need to stop acting like Ho’s.
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