Last week it was a study about racial bias in NBA refereeing. This week it's a poll suggesting a black and white divide in support for Barry Bonds that's stirring up controversy and discussions of race in America.
The results:
Do you think Bonds did or did not knowingly use steroids?
Blacks: 37 percent yes
Whites: 76 percent yesAre you rooting for Bonds to break the home run record, or do you hope Bonds falls short of it?
Blacks: 74 percent rooting, 18 percent falls short
Whites: 28 percent rooting, 60 percent falls shortDo you think Bonds should or should not be elected to the baseball Hall of Fame?
Blacks: 85 percent should, 10 percent should not
Whites: 53 percent should, 37 percent should not
It's hard to say based on the results if whites are less likely to support Bonds because of his race or blacks are more likely to support him because of his race. But it's clear, as the author states, that "this is America, and race always matters."
I've never really liked Bonds because of his attitude and how he handles the media attention. But this study highlights a question I've often wondered: Would there be so much animosity and resentment about a steroid-user breaking Hank Aaron's home run record if it were Mark McGuire, rather than Bonds, doing it?
The answer probably depends on who you ask: 27% of blacks think Bonds has been treated unfairly because of race, but only 1% of whites agree with that statement.
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Comments (4)
you really are digging deep, now arent you.....ridiculous....it's always race isnt it.
Posted by Chung Ming Chow | May 7, 2007 11:12 PM
I rooted like crazy for Hammering Hank to beat the Babe's record. Hank did it honestly and without steroids. Hank was black. Hank is one of the 18% black that hopes Bonds falls short.
Posted by TJG | May 7, 2007 11:15 PM
Hell fucking yes there would be. In case you didn't realize it, Hank Aaron is black too.
And in case you didn't remember it, Raffy Palmeiro--who is not black--was caught cheating just a little bit ago, and was booed out of Baltimore. And in case you didn't remember it, Mark McGwire, who certainly has the numbers of an HoFer, didn't come close to making the cut last election.
In fact, I'd say if it were a white man, there'd be even more animosity. It isn't so much that whites are hatin' on Barry without cause; the dude obviously juiced. It's that blacks are making excuses for a black man. If it were a white man chasing Aaron's record, he'd have both the whites and the blacks on his ass.
Posted by Lone Pawn | May 7, 2007 11:25 PM
The hipocracy of Barry Bonds haters is so ridiculous to me. You'll have guys ragging on Barry Bonds and then they root for the Yankees who celebrate a guy like Roger Clemens who has just as much CIRCUMSTANTIAL evidence against him as Bonds does. And Giambi who is an admitted steroids abuser seems to be given a free pass now. And he should be. They all should be. Who cares? That's my personal opinion. But what I hate is the idea that you choose just some guys to rag on and make a big fuss about and other guys you let go without an issue. It's BS. MOST mlb players have used some sort of PED. That is obvious. But guess what? None of them are as good as Barry Bonds. I don't care how much cream you rub into your leg or shots you take in your ass you still have to hit the ball. And why is it that people usually say that steroids abusers fall apart old age but in Bonds case it's what helps him do so well at an older age? Hmm? It's all complete BS. Bonds is the greatest hitter of all time regardless of what he did or did not do and to not appreciate him for his greatness is incredibly lame. You can weep and talk about Hank Aaron all you want but Aaron wasn't even CLOSE to the hitter that Bonds is. Look at the #s. Bonds is there with Ted Williams and Babe Ruth - Aaron is a footnote in comparison. It's great that a truly great hitter will finally hold this record.
Posted by Big Show Baseball | May 8, 2007 2:07 AM