Posted on 11/23/2016 2:43:47 PM PST by jazusamo
This is a football story with both political and legal implications.
It was fourth down in a National Football League game, and the punting team came onto the field. The other team went into their formation to defend against the punt. Then somebody noticed that the man set to kick the punt was black.
"Fake!" one of the defenders cried out. That cry was immediately echoed by others, and the defending team changed their formation, to guard against the kicker either running with the ball or throwing it. But in fact he punted.
Why did anyone think he was not going to punt the ball? Because chances are no one on that field had ever seen a black football player kick a punt. As someone who has watched NFL games for half a century, I have never seen a black player either punt the ball, or kick a field goal or a point after touchdown.
I have seen hundreds of black players score touchdowns, but not one kick the point afterwards. I have seen a black President of the United States before I have seen a black kicker in the NFL.
Politicians, the intelligentsia and even the Supreme Court of the United States have been saying for decades that statistical disparities between racial groups indicate discrimination. If so, then the racial disparities among kickers in professional football exceed that in virtually any other job anywhere.
But is it discrimination? The very same people who employ blacks at every other position on a football team are the people who hire kickers. Why would they be willing to hire black players in other positions that pay a lot more money than most kickers get, but draw the line at hiring black kickers?
(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...
Reggie Roby
I remember a game circa 1979 between EKU and Jackson State, which today would be described as a “historically black university”. I looked across the field to the JSU sideline and every single player was black, except one - the punter.
Yea, he could boot it 70 plus yds,im pretty sure one of those against the Bills.
Sad he died so young
The Dolphins also had a kicker back in the 80s named Igwebuike. He was from Nigeria, I think. They may have had both a black punter AND a black kicker at the same time.
Bump for Sowell
America’s greatest living intellectual. I am currently reading his book, “Wealth, Poverty, and Politics: An International Perspective”. It summarizes a lot of his earlier work on geographic and cultural influences on prosperity, while incorporating new information from the last few years.
Says here kicker Donald Igwebuike was a Buccaneer: http://www.nfl.com/player/donaldigwebuike/2517146/profile
I had the right state, at least. LOL!
Thanks; now on my Christmas list
I got it at the public library. Dr. Sowell has the FACTS about things.
I stopped reading Sowell after his National Review anti-Trump rant. I’ve read most of his books, but I’ve removed them from my library shelf. Sowell does not exist for me anymore. Very sad, very sad. I’ve still got Milton Friedman.
Great article about Igwebuike thanks for posting.
First Clemson career FG from 52 yards, talk about being put to the test early, and killing it.
Reggie was unreal in college for Iowa. Alas he was too good for rest of team and coaches weren’t good enough to get him to sacrifice distance for hang time there. Our cover guys were slow so once the return men learned to start 20 yards further back they got good return coverage instead watching the ball sail WAY over their head. His senior year he set the then NCAA record with 49.8 yard season average. His average was over 50 until his final kick on a bitterly cold day dropped it below. He also kicked FGs early at Iowa but wasn’t accurate enough to keep that job. He certainly died too young. I also miss his line of excellent cookies!
Aw.
Reggie Roby was one of the best. Ray Guy was another.
Thomas has Sowell wisdom. A precious commodity for America.
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