There was a great article today in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. It was about David Sutton, who’s trying to make it as an undrafted rookie wide receiver with the Dolphins. Sutton’s in camp with Miami despite having a less-than-stellar college career. In two years at UTEP, Sutton caught just six passes for 30 yards and one touchdown. Makes you wonder how he even got invited to camp. But once you learn a little bit about Sutton’s background, you’ll come to realize there’s a reason why he wasn’t an accomplished collegiate athlete. His story also makes you appreciate the likes of Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby. From the Sun-Sentinel:
As the lone black player on his Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School volleyball team, Dolphins undrafted rookie receiver David Sutton was subject to racial taunts at visiting gymnasiums. It was so hurtful, that he ignored a potential volleyball scholarship to Penn State and decided to give football a try in junior college.
Sutton bounced from Lincoln (Mo.) University to Compton (Calif.) Community College before ending up at Texas-El Paso, where he barely played for coach Mike Price.
…
“There weren’t a lot of brothers in volleyball, and I learned that the hard way,” Sutton said in between practices this week. “People would say racial things toward me and after that I just couldn’t deal with it too much more so I ended up going to football.”
Man, now tell me that doesn’t suck. That has to be part of what’s going on in baseball these days — not that there’s racial taunts in the game, just that black athletes must feel more comfortable playing in leagues where they’re in the majority. I think it’s great to have all sports be integrated through all cultures and races, and I’m saddened when I read stories like this. The story also serves as an excellent reminder about the hardships men like Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby endured. Clearly, it’s not easy to be in the minority in any situation, much less on an athletic playing field. It’s really unfortunate to read a story like this.
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I feel sorry for this young man, but he is not alone.
It may not be politically correct, but this issue cuts both ways. For years, American white basketball players have been subjected to taunts and/or have been “frozen out” (not passed to) by black players. Many of those athletes wind up playing volleyball for the exact same reason, only in reverse.
It is not by chance that most white players in the NBA are foreign, where they grow up without the constant hazing and taunting.
You don’t read articles about that, because if blacks do it to whites, the liberal press finds a way to rationalize their behavior.
I don’t believe MLK’s dream will be realized until all people of all races are held equally responsible for their actions.
I dunno, Gene. I played junior high b-ball, then ran track in high school. I played pick-up ball all through college until a few years ago. So let’s say at least 30 years experience. I heard plenty of good natured ribbing about how the white boy couldn’t jump, and brothers taunting the guy who was guarding me if I scored: “don’t let that white boy do you like that!” But if I was good enough to play on the court, I was never frozen out, and I never saw that happen. Sometimes better players wouldn’t pass me the ball, but that was because I wasn’t good to get the ball in shooting position on offense, even if I could help out with defense and passing.