Black kickers?

Many kickers come from a soccer background and I think it is illegal or immoral or unethical or something for black American kids to play soccer. So they don't. I honestly can't believe we still have black American baseball players.

 

And on that note:

Now that black quarterbacks are no longer talked about as being a big deal (and that's progress I think, racially speaking), can we find some black punters or kickers? I loved watching Reggie Roby growing up, and he was one of the best for a long time. Why aren't there more? There have to be plenty of black kids who can kick a ball far. Are white high-school and college coaches racist? Or are black kids just not trying out for that position? -- Michael D., Troy, Ala.

Great call, Michael. It's like trying to name five white tailbacks in football or five black starting lefthanders in baseball - go ahead and try. It's not a racist challenge, I don't think. Go back 30 years even if you want. You can't use Brock Forsey, though, who was cut by the Bears and Dolphins, until he signs with someone else. For bonus points, try doing it without Craig James, the last white 1,000-yard rusher. I went to college at Mizzou with a pretty darned good running back named Brock Olivo, who shared a major and a few classes with me. He and I became acquaintances in school, and I once asked him: Why aren't there more white running backs? Certainly, they are rare in the NFL. He kind of shrugged and probably hoped I didn't jinx his future pro career. Olivo hooked on with the Lions for a few seasons and became a decent special-teams player before retiring young.

For the baseball side of the question, I'll spot you Dontrelle Willis, Vida Blue, Darren Oliver and C.C. Sabathia - if you still get your five then, I'll be impressed. And by starting pitcher, I mean a guy who started at least 60 percent of the games he pitched in.

There may never be another Roby, Michael, because most black kids just don't punt. I have no reasonable answer for this, especially because we had a black punter (and kicker and safety and wide receiver, who played the latter at Wisconsin) at our high school who made a cannon-like sound when he hit the ball.

http://www.hbo.com/infl/columns/articles/easye/012805easye.shtml

 

There's been a sharp decline in American black baseballers (b/c most want to play basketball, I guess). MLB has started trying to recruit inner city black kids, at least in LA by starting programs. The rationale I heard is a basketball doesn't cost much compared to baseball gear, and that it'd easy to hang up a hoop just about anywhere but not so easy to find a place for a ballfield. Anyhow, most of the "black" MLB players are hispanic (know of any hispanic basketballers?).

 

Randall Cunningham could punt too.

Black kickers are even more rare than white cornerbacks.

 

There a lots of good black soccer players. I wonder why they do not become kickers. Certainly many hispanics have.

 

Brandon Monroe is black and punts for Miami

 

Travel & Showcase Ball

Great points Strato--
Due to the ever increasing pressure on kids to play travel ball and showcase tournaments, it may be that most black kids can't afford the expense of travel ball. So for the most past, the black kids aren't playing at the level the white kids are and that probably leads to fewer black kids having the talent to compete in college or the pros.

In a way, it may be somewhat similar to why there are so few black golfers. Either they just can't afford it or the facilities aren't close by. Compare how many rec centers (basketball courts available) in the black or poorer areas of towns as compared to golf courses and baseball/softball complexes and soccer fields in the white/middle class or more affluent areas.