geronimo |
11-24-2009 05:30 PM |
Interesting topic. Nice way to break away from work for a minute. My experience is that leadership among youth is more likely to show up earlier in families where the father is present and involved. Well many (certainly not all) black kids grow up without. Aside from physical attributes, the QB of note is the one who has leadership skills. Secondly, most coaches are white and are probably more prone to select a QB with whom they relate. On the physical side, learning how to throw a football is more difficult than learning how to catch one (at least for me-- still can't throw worth a damn). So more white kids end up being selected or targeted to play QB because of parental involvement/pressure and cause most coaches are white and end up investing/catering to their preference, ie their son, son's friend or someone who looks like them. These subtleties play a large part in our decisions than we realize. On my highschool team, the varsity QB was black. His dad was a lawyer and was in stands since the kid was 9 y/o forward. He (the QB) was a pretty good leader if not that talented. (WE SUCKED). He was also my best friend. In this day and age of uber competition in youth sports once you're pegged for a certain sport or position it typically follows you throughout your career. The other obvious explanation is stereotyping or "self fulfilling prophecy" young kids who play see that the QB is typically white, they then decide either that's who i want to be like or it isn't. I never wanted to be QB so I never tried. I loved Staubach and Stabler (white guys) the Harris dude who played for the Rams and Vince Evans ...not so much. I wanted to be OJ Simpson or Ronnie Lott. Lastly, I think blacks excell at positions which require a certain level of aggression vs. analysis which may explain the Offensive lineman v. Defensive linemen anomoly as well. I'm rambling now but I will never forget goin into my sophomore year the varsity FB coach asked me how tall my dad was. I was abt 5/10 (my father's height). When I responded it almost seemed like a light bulb (in his head) went off. In hindsight I think he was/is a good guy but i wasn't the kid sitting around after two-a-days shooting the shit with him.
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