It would seem to me that in the clubhouse, between players, there should be [for the most part] less racism than elsewhere in the country. I agree with David's numbers...that 12% of American born players being African-American is a fair representation of the population...what's interesting about it is that clubhouses are therefore [for the most part] integrated in a way that the rest of the country generally is not. It's integration that tends to result in people learning to accept, appreciate and develop friendships with other races and cultures.

All that doesn't necessarily translate to the front office, though...or scouts, or the media. But I'd guess that players, coaches, and managers at least are [for the most part] rather a bit more colorblind than the most of rest of the country.

Milton Bradley loves to hear himself talk. Remember when he was in Cleveland and he was pulled over for speeding? He tore up the ticket or something and drove off. He thinks he is above reproach.

Jeff Kent obviously lectured him about hustle. Or rather, Bradley's LACK of hustle. The only person making this about race is Bradley. I honestly think HE is the racist.

Also, 50.9% of the U.S. population is female, so where are the chicks in baseball??? I can't believe that not even one woman has the ability/desire to crack the low minor leagues.

I think part of the thing with American blacks in baseball is that there was a period around the 70s or so when many of the prominent names in baseball were black. I don't have the figures, but I understand that the number of American blacks in baseball reached a peak then --- yes, they were overrepresented --- but now they've declined to a figure more in line with their representation in the population. (Technically, to compare like with like, we should look at what portion of the native-born US population is black, not just the population as a whole.)

Anyway, I like Bradley, though he is a hothead. I think he's shown a lot of growth since last year when he threw a big tantrum and then issued what looked like the most sincere apology I've seen an athlete give about going to counseling for his anger management issues.

I Like MB too...he's an excellent player, and I also think he showed a lot of maturity in his apology last year. [I think David is referring to native born percentages.]

I also have a bit more tolerance for African-Americans who are overly sensitive to what they perceive to be race issues. I've been with African-American friends and seen some pretty outrageous treatment of them by whites...the kind of stuff that you can't really believe. For example, I went to a restaurant with a friend of mine, and the waiter first "forgot" his drink, then his food came out well after everyone else's AND they got his order wrong. Then the waiter told him not to be so "uppity" when my friend politely asked for the correct order. I was slack-jawed in astonishment, but my friend assured me that it was pretty commonplace for him. [We would have left, except it was a corporate function, and I'm pretty sure I'm the only person other than my friend who saw it happen. I still can't really believe it.]

That said, MB's ire is probably misplaced...Kent may generally be an a**, but I don't think he's a racist, certainly based on his relationships with the likes of Baker, Carter and Winfield. I'd imagine that there's just a lot of frustration in the Dodger clubhouse these days, and that MB is lashing out because of a chip he has [maybe justifiably] on his shoulder about being African-American.

I guess not "justifiably" but rather understandably.

I believe there was one woman who pitched for an independent league team not too long ago.

You're not going to see a woman pitch for an MLB-club affiliated league because those teams are all about grooming prospects. It's possible a woman could do a LOOGY role, or a one inning middle-relief/closer role, but baseball is highly traditional and she'd have to be extremely exceptional to even get a look-see.

"I guess not "justifiably" but rather understandably"

BULL- HONKEY.

It's not understandable to accuse someone else of racism. Kent questioned his lack of hustle. Watch the game tapes, Bradley was not giving his all. MB took offense that someone called him out.

Kent could have made the shot in the Media, instead he went MAN TO MAN. MB is the one playing games in the media, and now he has all but stapled a white hood onto Kent's locker.

it's more BS from MB.

Your mistake on the groups is comparing them to present day populations the real comparison is percent of those aged 0-15 20 years ago. Due to Blacks lower fertility rate you expect the numbers to go down.

YEAH

where are all the chicks in baseball???!!!

i see these 6'2" 240 lb chicks playing basketball

they should be out there hitting HR!!!!!!

and pitching 95MPH FB!!!

GO GO CHICKS!!!!