When Gary Sheffield's interview with GQ became big news late last week, we were among the first to bumrush Sheffield as being an idiot, or at the very least being a silly guy not very good at managing his communicative output. After all, Sheffield's insinuation was that Latino players were more willing and able to be controlled, something we didn't think most Latino players would agree with. At the time, Sheff deserved what he got.But since then, the GQ storm has blown over and Sheffield has had a chance to explain himself. He's even had a little help from Latino teammate Carlos Guillen, who said he agrees with the crux of what Sheffield is saying. Essentially, Sheffield didn't meant to say Latinos had more controllable tendencies. It's more complicated than that, as Sheffield explained in an interview with the New York Times' resident race-in-sports columnist, William C. Rhoden:
"Baseball has a choice of which black faces it wants representing baseball," Sheffield said Thursday during a telephone interview. "They're choosing Latinos. What I was saying is that they're choosing them because they can sign them for $2,000 and if they don't take it, what do they have to do? They got to go back to where they're from and they got to eat hot dogs for dinner."Rhoden goes on to explain that Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB executive vice president for baseball operations, basically agrees with Sheffield. After all, it is cheaper to raise and sign international talent, something we've discussed here at the FanHouse before. That price differential hurts domestic players of all colors, but hurts black players disproportionately more because it is more common for African-Americans to lack the funds needed to pay for some portion of a collegiate baseball scholarship in the states.
Sheffield isn't wrong here; he just isn't very good at saying what he means. But a lack of tact and a lack of intelligence are far from the same thing, and it's time we awarded Sheffield the courtesy of distinguishing the two.
Previously at the FanHouse:
Gary Sheffield Responds to GQ Comments
Money To Blame For Lack of Black Baseball Players
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-09-2007 @ 11:56PM
ralmu said...
That is just damage control, and it is OK. Mr. Sheffield used very specific and racially loaded words. If he is such a "man" who deserves respect (not a latino, who would not be a match for him or those like him, then he must stand by his words. When a public figure talks, s/he must think twice, not to need the help of experts on fixing unfortunate performances.
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6-10-2007 @ 12:51PM
Sally Post said...
Just like everything else today, even Baseball is bringing in Cheaper Labor, sorry to say but that is now the way of life in the good old USA. Gary Sheffield may not have said it the right way, but the meaning was there. And certainly nothing wrong with these Latino players, Magglio, Pudge, Palanco, etc. have all done an excellent job of playing ball, setting great records, but what Sheffield means is they are not giving Blacks the chance they use to, to get into the Majors and it is all because of money. It has nothing to do with racial comments at all.
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7-14-2007 @ 1:11AM
Kevinbgood621 said...
Very nice to have " Chief " on the team . Very Nice . To think we have Ivan and Coach , MAgs , Thames , Ozzie with Bondo , V, and Kenny R .And of course the Skip to run things . Just nice to think the tiger might win it all this year . Oh , whats' that . THE SUBJECT ? Sorry , I was just thinking about the team , and not color , steroids or Cash . Gary produces plain and simple . Last time I checked Detroit is in America so he can say what he wants .
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7-15-2007 @ 11:45AM
JOSE said...
gary sheffield is an idiot, first he got ran out of New York, and secondly the reason they have more Latino players in the majors is because they are better players and they do their job and not complain as much as the black players. so get over it and start playing baseball, your comments are eventually going to hurt your team idiot!!!!!!!!
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7-16-2007 @ 2:01PM
Jacqueline Hardy said...
I would like to know what did you mean when you were talking about Derek Jeter saying he is not black enough. How dare you. I have grandchildren one of their parents is white does that mean that they are not black enough. Are you a racist making a statement like that. An Afro-American man talking down to another Afro-American man. Have you forgotten what country you are in. If he had only a drop of white blood he would be concidered black. Is that black enough for you.
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7-31-2007 @ 12:20AM
George B Vieto said...
Gary food for thought other than Doctor Debi Thomas and Surya Bonaly name any Olympic figure skaters who are Black. Reason unless the family of the skater is richer than Bill Gates they aren't going to pursue figure skating.
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