Another Blow Against Equality

What's behind baseball's endless infatuation with the racist era? That's right - i said Racist Era 1900-1047. Most people don't know it but in the late 1800s, baseball was integrated. However, whites disliked being embarrassed by Blacks so it was decided not to allow anyone with 'dark skin' and 'kinky' hair to play against whites anymore. I remember when i was in fifth grade and two of my classmates, who argued all of the time about sports, were crying about whether or not Franco Harris and Rod Carew are Black (for the record, one of my classmates is white and the other is Black). They asked me what i thought and my answer was simple. Neither could have played sports in the NFL or MLB during the Racist Era. With that, my point was made. Needless to say, my white friend still disagreed.

As i grew older and watched baseball games, I realized that that the Racist Era is considered baseball's golden era (i.e. best era) and modern players will always be compared to players form the Racist Era. Many times i've heard Bob Costas downplay Hank Aaron's feats while comparing him to Babe Ruth saying "not to take anything from the Hammer, but the Babe did it in fewer at bats." He blatantly ignores that Babe Ruth played against inferior competition. I've never heard any commentator attach Racist Era to the names of Babe Ruth or Joe Dimaggio, but these same commentators act as if Barry Bonds and the Steroids Era are inseparable compound words. Why is that?

Baseball just celebrated the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color-line, and i realized how he spoke out against and confronted inequality at every opportunity, unlike Hank Aaron who simply rolls with the tide. I have never heard Hank Aaron take a stance against the media's symbolic attacks on today's players and on him. With 755 home runs, Hank Aaron is the home run king. Why are there any questions? Journalists such as Jim Rome and media outlets such as ESPN and Fox repeatedly downplay Hank Aaron and taint everything Barry Bonds does. It's obvious that all they want to do is keep the Racist Era golden.

With all of these questions and suggestions about asterisks for the so-called Steroids Era, why is there no talk about doing the same for the Racist ERa? I guess it's better to be a racist and face inferior competition than to use steroids. What integrity does baseball have to protect from steroids when it glorifies racism? Now imagine the effect if this question had been asked by Hank Aaron, Mr. Leave Me Out Of It. When he broke the racist records he was scorned by the ML commissioner and now he intends to do the same to Barry Bonds. That's why Blacks have no interest in baseball!

The Racist Era will always remind them that they are not worthy, the same way it does Barry Bonds, who was a three-time MVP, only member of the 400/400 club and a sure Hall of Famer, had he retired before 1998 (and don't forget the 8 gold gloves).

In 1996, MVP Ken Caminetti admitted that he used steroids and that so does at least 65% of all players, yet there was no steroid problem until Barry Bonds broke the single season record in 2001.

Do you honestly think Blacks do not notice that?

Push up. Push out. Push Back!