Chapter 17 (LeUnes):Chapter 17 (LeUnes):Minority AthletesMinority Athletes

Psychology of SportPsychology of Sport

Oct 21-23, 2009Oct 21-23, 2009

Classes #23-24Classes #23-24

At the turn of the 20At the turn of the 20thth century, Rube Foster, a star pitcher century, Rube Foster, a star pitcher for several African American teams, envisioned a baseball for several African American teams, envisioned a baseball league for blacks that would rival the white major league, league for blacks that would rival the white major league, eventually forcing full recognition and inclusion of African eventually forcing full recognition and inclusion of African American ballplayers. With partner John Schorling, Foster American ballplayers. With partner John Schorling, Foster formed in 1911 the Chicago American Giants, setting the formed in 1911 the Chicago American Giants, setting the foundation for the creation of a black baseball league. foundation for the creation of a black baseball league.

The African-American The African-American AthleteAthlete

Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson

Other black athletes who broke Other black athletes who broke barriers...barriers...

African American African American Participation in Sport Participation in Sport (2000)(2000)

78% of NBA 78% of NBA 67% of NFL67% of NFL 13% of MLB13% of MLB 2% in NHL2% in NHL

– African-Americans make African-Americans make up about 14% of the US up about 14% of the US populationpopulation

Why is this occurring?Why is this occurring?– Race/genetic differences?Race/genetic differences?– Cultural differences?Cultural differences?– Social differences?Social differences?

Boxing has been dominated by Boxing has been dominated by blacks...blacks...

Success of African-American Success of African-American AthletesAthletes

Kane (1971)Kane (1971)– An assessment of “Black is Best”An assessment of “Black is Best”– Survival of the fittestSurvival of the fittest

Coakley (1982)Coakley (1982)– Better physical attributes to be an athleteBetter physical attributes to be an athlete

Holden (2004)Holden (2004)– More of certain enzymesMore of certain enzymes– Different types of muscle fibersDifferent types of muscle fibers

There appear to be limitations to these There appear to be limitations to these studiesstudies

Explanations for Elevated Numbers of Explanations for Elevated Numbers of

Blacks in SportBlacks in Sport

Genetic ReasonsGenetic Reasons::– Race in US has been joinedRace in US has been joined– Only six genes are linked to colorOnly six genes are linked to color– Can we really eliminate social Can we really eliminate social

and cultural differences?and cultural differences? Kenyans are excellent Kenyans are excellent

distance runner, Nigerians are distance runner, Nigerians are better sprintersbetter sprinters

– Making success seem natural, Making success seem natural, takes away from efforttakes away from effort

Perpetuates social beliefs Perpetuates social beliefs (e.g., work habits, intelligence, (e.g., work habits, intelligence, physically superior)physically superior)

Cultural Reasons:Cultural Reasons:– Physical skills are more Physical skills are more

highly valued in AA culturehighly valued in AA culture– Little evidence supports Little evidence supports

thisthis– Greater emphasis is Greater emphasis is

placed on different placed on different activities between cultures activities between cultures (not just between races) (not just between races) (i.e., more variability (i.e., more variability between culture than between culture than race).race).

Social Structural Social Structural ConstraintsConstraints

Occupational ConstraintsOccupational Constraints– African Americans may view sport as African Americans may view sport as

being one of the few avenues to be being one of the few avenues to be successful in US societysuccessful in US society

– Many athletic role modelsMany athletic role models

Racial Discrimination Racial Discrimination in Sportin Sport

Stacking Stacking (Loy and McElvogue, 1970)(Loy and McElvogue, 1970)

– Whites found in thinking and outcome control Whites found in thinking and outcome control positionspositions

– Whites found in central positionsWhites found in central positions– Blacks found in speed positionsBlacks found in speed positions– Blacks found in reacting positions (defense)Blacks found in reacting positions (defense)

Requirements for participation are higher for Requirements for participation are higher for BlacksBlacks

Stacking in the NFL % of White Players % of Black Players

1983 1990 1991 1992 1993 1990 1991 1992OFFENCE Quarterback 99 92 92 94 1 8 8 6 Running Back 12 7 8 7 88 90 90 92 Wide Receivers 23 14 10 11 77 86 89 88 Center 97 87 89 76 3 13 10 19 Guard 77 76 67 62 2 24 31 35 Tight End 52 49 49 39 48 51 51 59 Tackle 68 71 60 50 32 29 31 46 Kicker 98 97 88 83 2 0 0 7DEFENCE Cornerback 8 4 4 2 92 96 96 98 Safety 43 17 20 12 57 83 80 88 Linebacker 53 31 29 28 47 66 68 71 Defensive End 31 28 28 26 69 72 70 73 Defensive Tackle 47 50 44 30 53 50 54 67 Defensive Back 0 0 6 5 0 0 94 95 Nose Tackle 0 0 42 35 0 0 49 60 Punter 0 0 92 85 0 0 3 10

58% of all players in the NFL are Black30% of all players in NFL are White

Results of StackingResults of Stacking

– Promote belief of white supremacyPromote belief of white supremacy– Longer careers for whitesLonger careers for whites– Decreases coaching opportunities Decreases coaching opportunities – Blacks make less moneyBlacks make less money– Blacks moved from central positions in Blacks moved from central positions in

H.S. and CollegeH.S. and College

Stereotypes still Stereotypes still exist...exist... Dodgers’ GM resigned over Dodgers’ GM resigned over

intelligence commentintelligence comment

In the media as well... In the media as well...

Radio personality Don Imus was Radio personality Don Imus was fired for calling the players of fired for calling the players of Rutgers University's women's Rutgers University's women's basketball team "nappy-headed basketball team "nappy-headed hos." hos."

Hopefully, one day we won’t have Hopefully, one day we won’t have any stacking or other race-related any stacking or other race-related issues...issues...

1/4 African 1/4 African AmericanAmerican

1/4 Thai1/4 Thai 1/4 Chinese1/4 Chinese 1/8 Native 1/8 Native

AmericanAmerican 1/8 White 1/8 White

EuropeanEuropean

                  

The Hispanic AthleteThe Hispanic Athlete

This ethnic group is This ethnic group is making impact in major making impact in major sportssports

Florida Marlins usually Florida Marlins usually around 50% Hispanicaround 50% Hispanic

First baseball, next First baseball, next football?football?

The Asian–American The Asian–American AthleteAthlete

MLB and the NBA MLB and the NBA seem to be seem to be especially especially interested in interested in looking to recruit looking to recruit these individualsthese individuals

Bobby Valentine wants a Bobby Valentine wants a true World Series...true World Series...

Former Mets’ manager has now Former Mets’ manager has now managed several years in Japanmanaged several years in Japan

The Native–American The Native–American AthleteAthlete

Not much impact yet...Not much impact yet...

Team MascotsTeam Mascots

The Gay AthleteThe Gay Athlete

No active male role modelsNo active male role models

"I'm not gay. I’m "I'm not gay. I’m heterosexual.”heterosexual.”

Rumors of Piazza’s being gay Rumors of Piazza’s being gay prompted him to call a press prompted him to call a press conferenceconference

Females do have role Females do have role models...models...

Why the difference?Why the difference?

Gay AthletesGay Athletes

More research needed in this areaMore research needed in this area

CreditsCredits

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~tdhargis/Jackiehttp://www.public.iastate.edu/~tdhargis/Jackie%20Robinson.ppt#266,12,Overcoming Adversities%20Robinson.ppt#266,12,Overcoming Adversities

http://www.wvu.edu/~physed/sportpsych/watson/SEPhttp://www.wvu.edu/~physed/sportpsych/watson/SEP%20271-Race%20in%20Sport%2012-26-02.ppt#270,5,What %20271-Race%20in%20Sport%2012-26-02.ppt#270,5,What race am I…hum….?race am I…hum….?