GetOverIt said:
<font size="-1">A lie left unchallenged eventually becomes the truth. And why make an attack at me? Why not discuss the issue?</font>
You answered your own question. The lie that white players (or non-black athletes in general) cannot compete at running back or defensive back has been unchallenged for so long that it has become the "truth" of the NFL. And, when you look at what some of the powers that be have to say about white running backs, it's not hard to see why:
-Matt Millen, GM of the Detroit Lions, called a white running back something from the "Land of Misfit Toys."
-Lovie Smith, head coach of the Chicago Bears, said that he mistook Brock Forsey, the only white running back in the league last year, for a "team manager."
-Bobby Bowden, head coach of the Florida St. Seminoles, burst out laughing when asked by reporters about the possibility of a white running back.
And THESE are things that were stated for public consumption! Imagine what's said behind closed doors.
Now, I don't believe there's a grand conspiracy to keep whites out of these positions -- I simply believe that years of this kind of thinking, from the top down, have led to an environment where the powers that be, the fans, and even the players themselves, have been conditioned to believe that whites need not apply for certain positions. They believe -- consciously or subconsciously -- that white skill position players are less likely to help them win. And coaches, GMs, and owners are under tremendous pressure to win. With their livelihood on the line, do you think they're going to take a chance on a "social experiment" like Brock Forsey, Luke Staley, Chance Kretschmer, Kevin McDougal, or Jesse Lumsden? Coaches and GMs in any sport always love to go with the "proven commodity" -- the safe bet. The safe bet means that they're more likely to succeed, which means they have a better chance of keeping their job. A white guy hasn't run for 1,000 yards in the NFL in 20 years (of course, that's also because a white guy hasn't been given a CHANCE to rush for 1,000 yards in 20 years!)! Why on earth would a coach take a chance on an unproven commodity? He wants to keep his job, so of course he's going to go with the "proven commodity" -- a black running back.
Think about it in terms of a regular job, and not in terms of a "grand conspiracy" by the NFL. Imagine if you said to your boss, "Look, I know that our current system has worked out pretty well for 20 years, but I'm going to try something a little different and see if it works." He would think you were crazy! Why would you try to change something that, in your boss' eyes, has worked perfectly well for 20 years? That's exactly where the NFL is at, and that's why we haven't seen a white running back of significance in 20 years.