MLB Player Opts Out of MLB Feeling It's Failing African Americans - Chris Brosusard & Rob Parker

[@jaycortez6770]

What baseball needs now is a Ken Griffey Jr.if they want more young Black dudes to play. Jr. got love in the hood back in my day. Dudes were even hoopin in his kicks!!!😂😂

[@9thhokagegoku671]

No they need a way to fast track guys to the big league if im from the hood nd i want to get out why would i want to spend 3 plus years in the minor league when i can play football or basketball when i go pro i can become a star right away nd make big money right off the back

[@S2pidMedia]

Chris is off base here. I played baseball at an all star level, and was one of, if not the best players in my city up until 5th grade. Then I got into basketball and football because I was big enough to play, and the action those sports afforded was more exciting, even though I was not even close to being as good at basketball and football. But to an energetic kid who loved to run around, baseball just didn't provide that energy outlet. A lot of other kids transitioned away from baseball around the same age. I still dabbled in baseball, and I was still pretty good, but the passion wasn't there, and I spent all my free time playing basketball. So even though the talent was there, I was not putting in the work to continue to be a very good baseball player, and I eventually gave it up despite the fact that I could have maybe pursued a baseball career if I kept at it. So I chose basketball even though I was never gonna be more than average at best, because it was more fun. That's just the reality of the situation for a lot of people out there.

[@0-Elias-0]

I agree with you.

[@jctslice]

LOVE this, this is REAL ACTION

[@shareofmoney]

I think that baseball is too slow to enjoy and has failed to make change, in my opinion. The economics can factor in too. Baseball sounds overall more expensive to get started with as a youth in comparison to football and basketball

[@jonsnipe5484]

Its cuz we black people are active and baseball a stand still game.. Atleaat we running up and down with bball and football

[@SmartDave60]

Baseball could use some black African American swag like it had back in the day like Reggie, Rickey Henderson, Willie Stargell, “the Hawk” Andre Dawson, Dave Parker, etc. Personalities push popularity too.

[@SmartDave60]

And baseball isn’t popular w/ kids across the board. I’m 51. Our generation was the last where we ALL played baseball organized and pickup. Baseball today is a Caribbean and middle class white sport.

[@SmartDave60]

Samuel Brown I was aware that Parker had drug issues. But I’m not aware of Reggie, Stargell, Henderson or the Hawk having any. All in the HOF. Can you enlighten me? I did a quick google search and didn’t find anything on em abusing cocaine.

[@SmartDave60]

Samuel Brown yeah again I’ve heard of Parker but not others. But whatever you wanna call it baseball needs the swagger that only the black American athlete can bring if the game is to get popular again. It’s why NFL and NBA are 1 and 2, with MLB and hockey bringing up the rear.

[@nickj4526]

“I look at David Ortiz as black. I don’t know what he considers himself.” If he doesn’t consider himself black, he’s blind. 😂😂😂

[@destinedbe4birth]

He's a black Hispanic not a black African-American. There's a difference.

[@x00p3]

Sammy Sosa became white.

[@Themostjuanderful]

Aj the only REAL difference is that he’s west African ancestors got off those ships sooner rather than later. & having Spaniards as their slave masters. Haitians who live right next door too Dominicans have no problem identifying with their blackness

[@tonyjackson175]

Chris is looking at it the wrong way Efrem is totally right on all levels.

[@tunjitube17]

For me and the high school I went to my safety coach was also the baseball coach and he tried to get us to come play but the school wasn’t going to provide us with the equipment so we didn’t play. Basketball and football are both funded by the school you don’t anything out of pocket at all so I think a lot of it is economic

[@DuckFanDane]

Rob is exactly right why as an African-American find great at multiple sports would I go to baseball it is the least popular sport between football basketball and baseball so it stands to reason that because in the African-American community it is probably basketball then football that the long way along with being not as popular is a big part of the reason why they don’t choose a career in baseball a lot of them.

[@welcometomychannelswelcome7261]

First caller is right. I see camp for 3 years old, playing soccer. Colleges have camp for kids on summer break

[@charlescooks9360]

I"m 22. I remember starting out with baseball and it was a lot of fun too and I evetually got out of it. last time I played was probably 7 or 8 years old. he's right about the baseball during school thing too. I never went to a baseball game. I barely even knew when the games were happening

[@charlescooks9360]

@Jiggy Thanos football just looks more fun. Baseball is boring to watch to me

[@tronskee32]

Jiggy Thanos spoken like a man who cant hit a baseball.

[@charlescooks9360]

@Samuel Brown i just grew out of it

[@warhawk9466]

Jiggy Thanos lol smh bro so many pro baseball players were multi sport athletes like Aaron judge, mike trout, Mookie Betts, etc. Not to mention the best athletes in Latin America play it. Such an ignorant statement

[@brandonjoseph1486]

Rob started facts... you can't complain about black ppl not playing baseball when they choose not to play

[@khalilali2450]

It’s not an economic issue it’s a trend issue. Back when Baseball was cool Blacks were all over it,but now it’s seen as slow and lame to a lot of Black people.

[@shawnthegr8]

Blaming 💪🏿fathers again .

[@terrancelewis8136]

Depends where you’re from, I’m from Texas and there’s no way baseball is more popular than football hungry Texas,, U start little league as early as 6 or 7 yrs old,, baseball won’t top football in certain areas

[@SwolHumanist]

Baseball is like watching paint dry.....kids will go to something active to play.

[@adtastic1533]

If your sport is about size, speed and power you will have a disproportionate number of black players (basketball, football) If it's more a skill and technique based sport, then the demographics will align more generally with the population (baseball, soccer, golf, tennis). At that point it comes down to what sport is most popular in the culture of that community.

[@yusefnegao]

So true but I would say also sports that requires endurance like rugby

[@quintonbell6836]

Baseball is in real trouble here

[@gbuz5789]

Baseball is a meritocracy. It is stupid to think race has anything to do with anything.

[@anthonyarrington6871]

AA players are playing. I coach h.s. in a majority minority area. Their out there playing. The issue is that lack of exposure and resources in terms of funding, equipment, and quality facilities. I will give an example; Any school district will build high school football/soccer field and basketball gym (including my district) with proper dimensions and equipment. When i'm coaching baseball games in my district there are some fields that are not NFHS miminum requirements and we have to play on them because that's all that's available. Some of the fields that are regulation are not flat baseball fields and uneven. Little things like drains on the game field, fields not dragged so you playing on hard dirt, Some teams using old equipment "and some not regulation" and the other team don't say anything because they have the same issue. These things and others are hurting the AA athlete and shows them that they don't care about the sport. The school I coach at currently doesn't have a baseball field and we play at a park. When I was first hired they were playing at a location that was a cricket field as center field was a cricket patch for cricket games and the field was uneven. It took 15 months after I was hired to change our location to the park we play at now. When we moved to the new location the students said "Thank you for our new home" and since then we been getting more kids because they saw someone cared. What I just shared happens a lot in AA and minority majority areas. As an AA male and a father. I love baseball and my son is with me at every practice and game in the dugout at 2 years old. My point is investment is needed as Rob said. You invest in these communties and show care the kids will come.

[@SmartDave60]

Excellent last point about black players not being utility players in baseball; thus keeping our numbers down. Sorta like back up QBs in the NFL. The league doesn't pay black players to hold a clipboard. We gotta earn.

[@briankawatson3676]

anyone gon mention the fact that baseball is jus not as interrsting and boring to watch

[@Jmay51]

This is also bogus if u look at ya boy Colin. Kaepernick had multiple D1 scholarships to play baseball at top schools but choose football at Nevada. Baseball just at cool to us

[@kimsonjoseph1784]

They gentrified baseball? 😲

[@hume1963]

This is not a real problem. What a bunch of whiners.

[@anthonytaylor7928]

Baseball needs to market its stars or hookup with a Kardashian or somethin i live in Toledo ohio an African American team wins the championship every year in the 7th and 8th grade but after that they dont want to play baseball all those years they go after hispanic players and asian prospects baseball and hockey needs to market the players

[@andrewbees9780]

The weird thing about baseball too is if you see the minor leagues I don’t know the percentages but it seems like AA make up at least 10-15% of minor league players just off players I see. In mlb most teams have anywhere from 1-7 AA players in minor leagues it seems to be a lot more. I wonder why that is and no I am not saying racism I legit wonder cause if you’re good you’re gonna make it no matter what . Ima go try to find what percentage of AA make up minor league baseball

[@jacobthomas1825]

lmao I started playing baseball at 3 years old 💀💀💀💀

[@yodon6867]

If you will have the Americans to play baseball again you need a Another Ken griffey junior

[@gordonramsay7854]

"We want more minorities... just the right minorites."

[@JTorr]

No, ANYBODY that can play the damn game!

[@culturehub2628]

LMAOOO THIS IS WHAT I GOT OUT OF IT 😂😂😂😂

[@tunjitube17]

Also stop with the trickledown you gotta fund children and that’s where it starts

[@anthonytaylor7928]

Plain and simple marketing marketing markrt ur players baseball and hockey

[@pigmentrich224]

I like baseball because you can wear your jewelry during the game 😁

[@pigmentrich224]

@Jiggy Thanos of course but I don't play

[@increase8944]

Yeah, necklaces and earrings really make baseball exciting

[@petepaylor5657]

Baseball lost the black players in the late 90's! They started going to DR and started giving them 💰instead of US! It was/is a conspiracy...

[@javier8015]

Wait so baseball is 7% Black and 28% Hispanic yet it needs more black gms? Shouldn't you be calling for Hispanic gms? You literally are calling to marginalized one minority group so you can elevate another minority group. Also chris names 4 players which included 3 Hispanic players. I cant wait for the calls for the NBA to increase their number of Hispanic players and gms.

[@pigmentrich224]

😂🤣😁 good point

[@javier8015]

@Jiggy Thanos that's what am saying you wont ever hear a Hispanic person talk about well the NBA needs to do something about its low Hispanic numbers. That's not our sport we will go play soccer or baseball. You cant cry about inclusion while shitting on Hispanics.

[@jackwhite3107]

Great point. I agree it’s hypocritical. It’s funny they are offended and bitching when the career stats leaders are black men.

[@perryanderson4971]

First you have to have height. So that explains why you won’t hear that ever. Secondly, interest in the sport. Hispanic players can play basketball I the us anywhere. Harder in the inner city. Most Hispanic players in baseball aren’t even American. They’re cheaper to have in the league to start for example. Not apples to oranges in this comparison and not even a competition like you seem to take it.

[@javier8015]

@@perryanderson4971 so there is a height requirement to be a gm? Because I've never heard anyone talk about needing an increase of Hispanic gm in the NBA or the NFL.

[@Yank33B0y13]

Sorry but baseball I feel more than others is represented based on skill. The best talented players make it. That’s why like 70% of the league is Dominican or Puerto Rican. There’s not a lot of black players because it’s not very popular among black people. Almost all of my black friends think baseball is boring and prefer basketball or football.

[@yusefnegao]

Black Americans not black because there are plenty of black players they just aren’t black American

[@97NikeSb]

Yo he’s not wrong about playing baseball at 3 because I played it at 3 lmao I begged my mom to sign me up cause my brother played it and I wanted to play it. She lied about my age and I played T-ball

[@increase8944]

People can barely remember being 3 years old.

[@bartier861]

Ha

[@1000percent]

Chris is on point.. it starts with coaches and half the dads are gone or stuck at work for long hours

[@mrbigrzl]

Excuses

[@xxxxrossxxxx9235]

I was In high school. All these things play a role, but for the most part they would just rather play basketball and football. These are the sports that typically get the most shine.

[@culturehub2628]

Ross Kool thank you.

[@Yourfavoritehomie]

Why are there not more Hispanics and Asians in the NBA? The NBA has a diversity problem

[@perryanderson4971]

Lol first you have to be interested in the sport. Second you need height. Easy answer to that obviously rhetorical question.

[@ccae07]

Lmaoo really bro, cmon now u kno damn well it’s because black people are far better basketball players. In sports u can’t really sugar coat race it’s about who is the best. If a black guy is better than a white guy , the black guy is playing and vice versa for if the white guy was better

[@dark_knight_3304]

@@perryanderson4971 you need height???? Ever heard of spud web and nate Robinson I'm taller then both those guys and I'm 5'9 and the were great players so you dont need height to play basketball basketball is a game of skill if you dont have skills you end up with players like ryan Hollins good for nothing other then height

[@quintonbell6836]

Idk anyone who would wanna watch 3 year old play baseball

[@samhopkins3610]

The 3 year olds dats

[@culturehub2628]

Another broad claim that can easily be argued if so called “oppressed” players were more specific.

[@soda8736]

We got stop all this complaing as black people. The mlb dont have to do nothing, its very simple and it about ecnomoincs or any of those other reasons rob and chris said , its simple Black people dont play baseball like they used to.. Thats facts! Stop trying to make everything a racial issue.

[@blackurustrikes2328]

Yeah. But look at the popularity of the MLB. It's no where near it was 20 or so years ago when there were more African American players. Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Reggie Jackson, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Ricky Henderson, etc. weren't just great players, they had a style and flair that's missing with so many of the best players being foreign-born. Maybe the current system works in some ways but it has also contributed to the sport being less popular. And if they want to regain some popularity, maybe the MLB should make some investments in poorer, but talent-laden America communities.

[@soda8736]

@@blackurustrikes2328 Thats true but the latin players have style and are some of the best players. Baseball is just not connecting with the black youth , so its going to be hard have an abundance of black players . I just dont think its the mlb fault.

[@blackurustrikes2328]

@@soda8736 - I wouldn't say its anyone's fault. But it's not a coincidence that the most popular American sports, football and basketball, are dominated by African Americans. AA's bring presence and attention to those sports in ways that don't exist when they are not there. But maybe the MLBA owners and managers are okay with the status quo. Kinda makes me wish AA's had held on to the Negro Leagues...

[@laviticusatenra8418]

Chris talks to much...

[@landonic81]

I wonder what his thoughts are on the lack of white or Hispanic guys in the NBA?

[@terronisaac2098]

exactly. this is ridiculous

[@JTorr]

That's exactly what I was thinking. People are always complaining or on some trip.

[@johnnytactical3054]

Probably doesn’t even think about it.

[@deontaylor1547]

Some of the greatest players in history are black. Mays, Robinson, Winfield, Smith, Belle, Aaron, Henderson, Puckett, etc . The greatest players in the history of the NBA are mainly black. BTW I love Bird one of my all time favorite players. Hispanics mostly are big enough to play in the NBA and we've never had a truly great Hispanic. Although we've had a few really good players from Spain. That aside blacks have and can Excel at Baseball while others haven't been able to compete in the NBA the most athletic league in the world.

[@user-nb3et4ve9o]

Jiggy Thanos lol I agree, now apply that logic to everything whites dominate