Players should learn from others' sacrifice

[mark414]

by Eugene Kane
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

I wonder if Ron Artest knows much about Jackie Robinson.

If he doesn't, maybe he could use his new free time boning up on the guy.

You shouldn't wait until Black History Month to re-teach the lesson about the first African-American allowed to play major league baseball, breaking down the door for generations of future black athletes to enjoy the fruits of his sacrifice.

And sacrifice is a good word to use when considering Robinson's legacy. Basically, he surrendered his pride in order to ensure he wouldn't be the first and only black to play professional sports.

These days, you can only wonder how he did it.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/nov04/277725.asp

I thought this part was especially interesting, and should be taken into account before anyone gets out here and demonizes Artest or any of the other players (but please note that if you read the whole column he's not excusing Artest's behavior):

"It's 2004, not 1947. Today's young African-American men don't want any part of turning the other cheek or accepting "disrespect" from a predominantly white fan base, mainly because these are largely young men from the inner cities of America where your self-respect or "heart" can be a perishable quality that's hard to get back once it's lost.

Some of them are also the children of single mothers with no men in their lives to show them the true meaning of being a man. As recent visitor Bill Cosby told a Milwaukee audience, much of the violence found in these young men is the result of the hole in their souls that has never been filled.

They're not allowed to tell anyone they are hurting, so instead, they turn their anger outward, often with disastrous results."


just some food for thought

[mark414]

1. eh what the hell, kick for kane