Star Tribune baseball writer La Velle E. Neal III wrote a controversial column for his Sunday Insider this week. The column addressed the declining number of African-Americans playing major league baseball and included this quote from Twins African-American second baseman and South Carolina native Orlando Hudson: “I know back home, they say that ain’t nothing but a white man’s game you’re playing,” Hudson said. “It’s all a bunch of white guys. They say you should be playing in the NBA or the NFL.” https://www.startribune.com/sports/91054289.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
That column generated a couple of comments from readers on the Star Tribune’s Website about reverse racism. One reader wondered what the reaction of black political leaders would be if a white pro basketball player said there aren’t enough Caucasians in the NBA.
The quote from Hudson about his fans back home can be perceived as saying there’s something wrong with a sport where the majority of participants are white. That’s not fair unless there is a conscious effort and policy to exclude others.
Major League Baseball isn’t trying to discourage participation by African-Americans, who according to Neal’s article made up 9.5 percent of opening day rosters. Just the opposite is true about MLB, but critics must recognize that African-Americans and others are free to make choices. For more than 20 years many young African-American males have preferred basketball and football.
This isn’t the first time the Star Tribune and others have fretted about the decline of African-Americans in the majors. It’s a legitimate topic but baseball has African-American heroes to celebrate, and also heroes who are white and of African descent from the Caribbean. And, honestly, at least some readers are probably thinking that some of this fixation on baseball’s ethnic makeup is energy better applied to improving the academic performances of young students regardless of race, particularly in the nation’s inner cities where they aren’t making the most of their educational opportunities.
Sports Illustrated likes the Twins on the links and the diamond. The March 29 issue of the magazine listed the best major league golfers at each position and included three Twins players, more than any other franchise. Making the team were catcher Joe Mauer, relief pitcher Joe Nathan and shortstop Nick Punto. Their respective handicaps, according to the magazine, are seven, 10 and 0.5.
The Twins are 10-4 after last night’s win over Cleveland. They didn’t win their 10th game last season until April 28, game No. 21 on the schedule.
Mauer was 0-4 last night and didn’t reach base for the first time since September 10 of last year.
Twins vice president of marketing Patrick Klinger said that last week when temps were in the 50’s ticket holders who belong to the Champion’s Club received blankets to keep them warm. Club members hold 400 seats behind home plate and pay either $175 or $275 per game. Some of the seats are closer to the plate than the pitcher’s mound.
The Wild, who will be celebrating their 10th year in the NHL next season, will hold three voting contests for fans on www.wild.com. The first contest is the greatest games in team history and voting takes place through May 2. The second contest is the top 10 moments in franchise history (May 3-16) and the third contest selects the 10th anniversary team (May 17-30).