Speak for yourself Sheffield

Comments made by Detroit Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield has cause something of a controversial stir in the sports world. Responding to a question about why were there more Latin players in Major League Baseball than African-Americans, Sheffield said, “Where I'm from, you can't control us. You might get a guy to do it that way for a while because he wants to benefit, but in the end, he is going to go back to being who he is. And that's a person that you're going to talk to with respect, you're going to talk to like a man.”

As I ponder Sheffield’s claim I find it somewhat difficult to debate. First, unlike Sheffield, I have not played 20 years in the Major League and do not have inside access to know what does and does not happen in the MLB. Who am I to say he's wrong especially when Sheffield's Venezuela teammate, Carlos Guillen, agrees with the 20 year veteran?

“I’m happy he said it,” Guillen told the Detroit Free Press. “I’m glad somebody spoke up.”

But despite Sheffield ascertain and Guillen’s co-sponsor, I can’t debate Sheffield’s claim because more than my lack of access is my lack of understanding; his thoughts are awful confusing to me. “You might get a guy to do it that way.” What is “that way”? I don’t understand. What benefit is Sheffield talking about, and if the guy received the benefit and it’s the end [end of what?],what does the dude need to worry about respect for at that point?

Sorry, the brother has puzzled me.

Now what I assume Sheffield to be saying is that Latin players are docile, which management prefers, oppose to signing militant Black players from the hood who won’t take shit. Is that what Sheffield means by control? If so, I say what an incredible ignorant thought.

Is this nation still in the days where one group of people controls another group? How incredibly naïve I am!

Again, I don’t know what Sheffield was attempting to say, but he threw a culture of Black folks under the bus by making African-Americans appear to be nomadic creatures that lack the ability to conform to law and order. Simultaneously, he threw Latin players under that same bus by making a broad stroke generalization suggesting that somehow they don’t mind bondage.

While I believe that management and media’s tolerance for Black athletes is located at the lowest level of the totem pole, I also know that in today’s marketplace ballplayers, whatever color they are or whatever country they come from, makes no different if they are able to perform on their respective playing field. Trust me, an owner and manager will not turn a deaf ear to a militant brother from the hood that can hit .300 with power and play Gold Glove defense.

C’mon Sheff!

Sheffield tries to offers as proof, to his claim, that Major League Baseball is instituting baseball academies in foreign countries and not in inner-city neighborhoods.

“When you see Major League Baseball putting academies in other countries, obviously that throws up a red flag,” Sheffield tells EPSN.com news service. “You wonder why they ain’t going up in our neighborhood.”

Good question Sheff, but I bet there’s more of an answer than the narrow view that you’ve taken. The majority of inner-city kids are trying to be the next LeBron James, Michael Vick or Jay-Z. This isn’t because the NBA, NFL and record labels are establishing academies in inner-cities, but because basketball, football and hip-hop have a greater appeal to African-American kids. James has been on basketball's national radar since his early high school days. Name one tenth grade baseball player of any hue who is or has been as publicized as well as James was when he was in tenth grade. Name one baseball All-Star game that has the notoriety of the McDonald’s (basketball) or Army (football) All-Star games. And while baseball has just [June 7] televised its first professional draft, basketball and football have made televising drafts a staple of their marketing mix. In addition, African-American professional basketball and football players return to their hood to host camps, play ball and serve as mentors. And lets not forget, football and basketball are more lucrative, provide greater fame and both can be accomplished without having to spend three and four years riding the bus in a minor league.

While I won’t debate Sheff, boy do I think he poorly articulated his thoughts, which were ambiguous. In addition, he made Black folks and Latin players look ignorant.

Speak for yourself Sheff. We, the African-American community, definitely do not need you as a spokesperson, and I bet Latins feel the same.