Sleepytime Trio was a force to be feared. I forgot that for about 3 minutes today. I hope not to make that mistake again.
This band later formed
Engine Down
Denali
Milemarker
Bats and Mice
The Rah Brahs
and a bunch of other stuff.
They rule. You should like so that I can like you.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Oh the decadence
I just bought my first digital cameras. I feel both amazingly excited and shitty at the same time. I am not exactly sure why...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Race and Baseball
I won't do this subject justice. My opinions on it are deep and complex, but I am going to try and hit this at a very High level. For a good representation of how I feel about this subject check out Joe Sheehan's article over at Baseball Prospectus.
The other day, my least favorite number of the year was released. The number in question is the percentage of African Americans* playing baseball at the Major League Level. 8.2%. They take this number and say that is how "integrated" baseball is at the moment. By just throwing this number out there like this I think they miss some low hanging fruit.
1) The game has people from every corner of the globe playing right now. Why should we focus on just African Americans to show how "integrated" we are?
2) This number does not count any of the people from Latin America who look just as black as I do. So if this about kids looking at the TV and seeing someone who looks like them, were covered.
3) Can we pay attention to the huge influx of Asian baseball players for a minute? I mean tons of guys are coming over and playing amazing (other then Hideki Irabu).
4) Major league baseball does untold levels of pandering out of guilt they shouldn't feel in the first place. I mean I go to the Civil Rights Game every year. Not because it's the "Civil Rights Game", but because I LOVE baseball.
5) Wanna know the two main reasons baseball isn't as popular among African Americans? Ok here ya go
a) If you get to the college level at a reputable school in Basketball or Football, it's a much clearer path to the pro's then in Baseball.
b) Most of the demographic they are talking about live in very densely populated area's that do not have space for a baseball Diamond, and even if they do, you need 18 people to play a
game and tons of equipment.
In short this a phantom issue. Just like it's a phantom issue that White kids can't play basketball. If you have game, you have game. That's it. If you can play, and are willing to work for it then you can do it.
*note: I really really hate the term African American. I am Black (ok really I'm brown). I have never been to Africa, and I have no real intentions of going there. The only people I know who have been there are White. Am I really more African American then some lighter skinned fellow from Egypt? (thanks to Joe P. for the posterik idea)
The other day, my least favorite number of the year was released. The number in question is the percentage of African Americans* playing baseball at the Major League Level. 8.2%. They take this number and say that is how "integrated" baseball is at the moment. By just throwing this number out there like this I think they miss some low hanging fruit.
1) The game has people from every corner of the globe playing right now. Why should we focus on just African Americans to show how "integrated" we are?
2) This number does not count any of the people from Latin America who look just as black as I do. So if this about kids looking at the TV and seeing someone who looks like them, were covered.
3) Can we pay attention to the huge influx of Asian baseball players for a minute? I mean tons of guys are coming over and playing amazing (other then Hideki Irabu).
4) Major league baseball does untold levels of pandering out of guilt they shouldn't feel in the first place. I mean I go to the Civil Rights Game every year. Not because it's the "Civil Rights Game", but because I LOVE baseball.
5) Wanna know the two main reasons baseball isn't as popular among African Americans? Ok here ya go
a) If you get to the college level at a reputable school in Basketball or Football, it's a much clearer path to the pro's then in Baseball.
b) Most of the demographic they are talking about live in very densely populated area's that do not have space for a baseball Diamond, and even if they do, you need 18 people to play a
game and tons of equipment.
In short this a phantom issue. Just like it's a phantom issue that White kids can't play basketball. If you have game, you have game. That's it. If you can play, and are willing to work for it then you can do it.
*note: I really really hate the term African American. I am Black (ok really I'm brown). I have never been to Africa, and I have no real intentions of going there. The only people I know who have been there are White. Am I really more African American then some lighter skinned fellow from Egypt? (thanks to Joe P. for the posterik idea)
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