Where Are The Non-White Kids In the Little League World Series?
http://sayhey.wordpress.com/2007/08...white-kids-in-the-little-league-world-series/
If it didn’t come off so creepy in this age of To Catch A Predator, we’d confess that we really, really enjoy watching the Little League World Series. As it stands, let’s just say that it’s very entertaining and we spent a good part of weekend television time watching our nation’s best young athletes try their darndest to impress their overbearing parents while their “miked-up” coaches did their darndest not to cuss and/or threaten to beat lil’ Timmy senseless if he doesn’t lay down that bunt.
But in all seriousness, every year the LLWS is a refreshingly seminal moment in the dog days of summer. It’s a reminder of baseball’s beauty and is the perfect warm-up for the September pennant races and October playoff glory. The LLWS is always great.
But we couldn’t help but notice something this year that we never really noticed before: all the American kids are white. Watching the games casually off and on for the past week or so, we haven’t noticed any black, Hispanic or Asian kids on any of the American teams. Surely this could not be, could it? All the American teams are white?
Inspired and a little bored, it was time to do some research. And by do research, we mean check the intarnets. Here’s what we found:
US Great Lakes: Hamilton, OH: All white
US Southwest: Lubbock, TX: All white
US Mid-Atlantic: Salisbury, MD: All white
US Midwest: Coon Rapids, MN: All white. Maybe.
US New England: Walpole, MA: All white.
US Northwest: Lake Oswego, OR: All white.
US Southwest: Warner Robins, GA: All white.
US West: Chandler, AZ: One Edgar Galiz!
Now, we’re not saying that there’s some sinister plot behind the paucity of non-white kids or anything; to be sure, the dearth could be total coincidence. There are dozens of possibilities that could chalk it up to something innocuous, like the precipitous fall of baseball from pop culture.
But, out of eight teams and almost 100 kids, there’s one (maybe 1.5) non-white kid? In America? In the year that we’ve celebrated both the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut and Hank Aaron’s bravery?
We’re not sayin’, we’re just sayin’. It’s merely … curious.
Excuse us, Chris Hansen is at the door.
http://sayhey.wordpress.com/2007/08...white-kids-in-the-little-league-world-series/
If it didn’t come off so creepy in this age of To Catch A Predator, we’d confess that we really, really enjoy watching the Little League World Series. As it stands, let’s just say that it’s very entertaining and we spent a good part of weekend television time watching our nation’s best young athletes try their darndest to impress their overbearing parents while their “miked-up” coaches did their darndest not to cuss and/or threaten to beat lil’ Timmy senseless if he doesn’t lay down that bunt.
But in all seriousness, every year the LLWS is a refreshingly seminal moment in the dog days of summer. It’s a reminder of baseball’s beauty and is the perfect warm-up for the September pennant races and October playoff glory. The LLWS is always great.
But we couldn’t help but notice something this year that we never really noticed before: all the American kids are white. Watching the games casually off and on for the past week or so, we haven’t noticed any black, Hispanic or Asian kids on any of the American teams. Surely this could not be, could it? All the American teams are white?
Inspired and a little bored, it was time to do some research. And by do research, we mean check the intarnets. Here’s what we found:
US Great Lakes: Hamilton, OH: All white
US Southwest: Lubbock, TX: All white
US Mid-Atlantic: Salisbury, MD: All white
US Midwest: Coon Rapids, MN: All white. Maybe.
US New England: Walpole, MA: All white.
US Northwest: Lake Oswego, OR: All white.
US Southwest: Warner Robins, GA: All white.
US West: Chandler, AZ: One Edgar Galiz!
Now, we’re not saying that there’s some sinister plot behind the paucity of non-white kids or anything; to be sure, the dearth could be total coincidence. There are dozens of possibilities that could chalk it up to something innocuous, like the precipitous fall of baseball from pop culture.
But, out of eight teams and almost 100 kids, there’s one (maybe 1.5) non-white kid? In America? In the year that we’ve celebrated both the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut and Hank Aaron’s bravery?
We’re not sayin’, we’re just sayin’. It’s merely … curious.
Excuse us, Chris Hansen is at the door.
