This is one of the more pernicious myths that definitely needs debunking. You know, the one where people say, "Sports is a business. If they don't get the best athletes, they'll lose. It's a free market. Meritocracy. Blah blah blah."
Obviously the problem with this is that if nobody wants the white athletes, how can it be a disadvantage for any particular team? This is particularly true for running back and cornerback in football. Nobody wants them, so it's not a disadvantage for anybody. Hypothetically, if one team decided to round up all the best white RB's, CB's, and WR's, then we'd have something. But the vast majority of these players are marginalized and the negative effects of not treating them fairly are not readily apparent (except to us.)
And funny how sports is a "meritocracy" but nothing else is. This must be because minorities are successful. And when minorities are not successful in a certain endeavor, then suddenly it's not a meritocracy. Education isn't a meritocracy because blacks and Hispanics ain't doing too well. So universities' admissions policies that favor certain groups are okay. Most other businesses, besides sports, apparently aren't meritocratic either, so affirmative action is necessary there, as well. Somehow, whenever whites succeed, it's unfair, but when non-whites succeed, it's totally based on merit. Interesting.
Americans have done a great job with creating an illusion that sports is a totally level playing field, with no discrimination- oh wait, except when blacks don't do well, like college football head coaching and baseball. And then, all of a sudden, the sports establishment is not meritocratic. Edited by: JD074
Obviously the problem with this is that if nobody wants the white athletes, how can it be a disadvantage for any particular team? This is particularly true for running back and cornerback in football. Nobody wants them, so it's not a disadvantage for anybody. Hypothetically, if one team decided to round up all the best white RB's, CB's, and WR's, then we'd have something. But the vast majority of these players are marginalized and the negative effects of not treating them fairly are not readily apparent (except to us.)
And funny how sports is a "meritocracy" but nothing else is. This must be because minorities are successful. And when minorities are not successful in a certain endeavor, then suddenly it's not a meritocracy. Education isn't a meritocracy because blacks and Hispanics ain't doing too well. So universities' admissions policies that favor certain groups are okay. Most other businesses, besides sports, apparently aren't meritocratic either, so affirmative action is necessary there, as well. Somehow, whenever whites succeed, it's unfair, but when non-whites succeed, it's totally based on merit. Interesting.
Americans have done a great job with creating an illusion that sports is a totally level playing field, with no discrimination- oh wait, except when blacks don't do well, like college football head coaching and baseball. And then, all of a sudden, the sports establishment is not meritocratic. Edited by: JD074