The Vick case and Barry bonds shows that race is a factor.?

Question

Anyone who cant see the dividing line in the vick case is just crazy. When an african american person of promenence has issues many whites tend to preconvick (lol) while some african americans tend to rally to thier own (sometimes foolishly i might add). Everyone hates Barry Bonds because of the suspicion of taking performance enhancers but Lance Armstorong isnt even on the map and the sercumstances are the same. ESPN OTL FIRST REPORT did a story on this issue in which they looked at both sides of the issue. Remember.....inocent until proven guilty.

Answer 1

You can put any kind of a slant on the issues you want and that doesn't make you right. I am a white that happens to side with Bonds and I am not a fan of his or the Giants. When you start using phrases like "Anyone who can't see" or "Everyone hates Barry Bonds because" you are starting from a very poor point of reference. I respectfully disagree with your entire premise.

Answer 2

And exactly how many African Americans rallied around the Duke lacrosse players? And how many of the supposed "leaders" in the Black community have apologized to those young men about what they said about them ? Yes, race probably is a factor in people assuming guilt or innocence. Look at the O.J. Simpson case as a great example. Somehow his acquittal (which, I hate to say, was based on race and the fact that one stupid cop used the N word) became a victory for the black community and a defeat for the white community. I think both races need to take a long hard look at the types of behavior they accept. Yes, these men are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but that does not mean that the same holds true of public opinion. I think the innocent until proven guilty defense means absolutely nothing because it has been overused. People on both sides of any issue have a right to their opinion before a trial is held. The fact that these issues have been turned into merely an issue of race is simply a reflection on the sad state of people in general (both black and white) in this country when it comes to making a clear and intelligent decision based on the facts of each individual case.

Answer 3

Yes, blacks support one another and it's easy to see why. But the physical evidence in the case of Bonds is just like that in OJ Simpson's. The man expanded. He says he took steroids only he didn't know it.
But also there is the personality. He is a # 1 jerk. How do you explain "I don't sign autographs for white people"? Is that NOT racist? Look, cutting him slack for being such a negative personality is one thing, but for that?
Lance Armstrong didn't blow up 2 sizes, has never been found to be a user, and denies it. It's not because he's white. Besides, who REALLY cares about the Tour de France? Have you heard who the winner was? I haven't.
I don't know anything about Mike Vick. I assume the courts will settle that. If he did it, he's bad. If he didn't, he's not.
But is it race? McGwire and Palmiero are also derided. They just happen to be out of the game. Pete Rose is banned and good riddance.
A-Rod and Hank Aaron and Kirby Puckett and Ernie Banks and a lot of other black stars are positive figures and popular favorites. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods are, too. Is it really a race issue? I know a lot of people here cry 'racist!' every time Gary Sheffield says something so I know you're right that there ARE racists, I'm not saying there aren't, but most aren't, I believe, and the dislike of Barry Bonds I see as something the man has earned. You have particular reasons to support him, but I wonder how much racism is involved in a lot of people who DON'T support him.

Answer 4

I think it is clear that race plays a part in what peoples opinions are of an athlete/situation. I am a White man, and I agree completely on the Lance Armstrong thing. He was many times accused but never proven guilty, and everyone assumes innocence, even when the "whole" sport is doping. How does that happen? I think it is unfortunate in the Vick case. Vick "supporters" are 90% african american. People shouldn't have a routing interest in justice, they should just want justice to happen. I haven't read too much on the case, but if he did what he is accused of then he should go to jail, and if he didn't he should be exonerated. The whole thing reminds me of the OJ case on a slightly smaller scale.

Answer 5

I think it is much more complex than even these two examples.

I think there are some (enough) in the African-American community that have had such poor conceptions (sometimes justified and sometimes not) of law enforcement that they will rally around any black man or woman who is accused of a crime. I think this is part of what you are seeing with Michael Vick - a total mistrust of the American judicial system and the white power structure. Look at the "Don't snitch" campaign often made popular by African-American entertainers and you see the culture divide.

I think race probably plays into Bonds a bit, but I think it is more that he is portrayed as unfriendly and a jerk. I don't see the African-American community rallying around him - admittedly in part because they respect Hank Aaron. I think the steroid issue transcends race. I am a huge Cardinal fan and believe Mark McGwire went from a god to a surf in most fans eyes.

I also am not sure your comparison to Lance Armstrong is accurate - the evidence may both be damning but is different and bicycling is nowhere near on the radar like baseball in American's hearts. I may grant you that because he is white the media is less likely to tear him down as a hero. Again as a Cardinal fan, I believe Daryl Kile was given a big pass by the media - even though his drug use did not correlate to his death. I think if Kerry Robinson or another black athlete died with drugs in his system and the St. Louis media would have handled that story different. Just my opinion!

I think Vick is innocent until proven guilty, just like the Duke Lacrosse squad. But the Duke LaCrosse squad (also racial undertones here), though clearly innocent of the charges, certainly appeared to have a culture on their team of not the most respectable behavior. ANd it looks that way in the Vick situation as well - he may be innocent but he needs to surround himself with better human beings.

Sorry this went so long.

Answer 6

Usually the people who scream racist are the biggest racists of all. As for Lance Armstrong, hardly anyone cares about the Tour De France outside of Europe, not like the NFL and Baseball. Vick may well be found innocent but as a major celebrity in one of the biggest sports (no matter what color) everyone will take pot shots at him whenever there's an hint of an indiscretion. As you quite rightly say, Bonds is disliked by virtually everyone, color isn't the issue, he's a jerk and a cheat. If you're famouus and going to screw up in public then you can't cry if the media gives you a hard time. As the saying goes, "if you can't take the heat.."

Answer 7

I don't think race is the issue as much as the potential crime committed against Americas most hallowed sport, there is the difference between Lance and Barry. Who cares about cycling?
There are more reasons to dislike Barry, attitude, aloofness, and most of all jealousy, most people dislike Arod also, I think it is mostly based on Jealousy, Europeans did not like Beckham from what I understand, and for some reason there are a hole lot of southerners that don't like Jeff Gordon.

There are always at least three sides to any story, not two, so find a third or fourth angle to this and maybe you can find the truth.

Answer 8

Wrong, the race issue is something the media uses to polarize athletes. Race is not an issue. Michael Vick murdered dogs - nothing to do with race. Barry Bonds is a jerk and always has been - and he cheated. Lance Armstrong is a cancer survivor and is not apart of mainstream American sports. so why would you expect the same criticism of him? Just because he cheated? Plenty of athletes have cheated black and white and they don't get picked on, it's just that guys like Bonds cheated and he happens to be a clown and cheat on his wife and have tons of kids and be disgustingly arrogant. And Michael Vicks problem is more of a geographic difference than racial. Dog fighting is far more common in the south than the north.

Look at Mark McGwire, he gets crucified and he's white. It just so happens that these black athletes youre using as examples act like idiots off the field, it has nothing to do with their race. To make this an issue of race is just ridiculous. And last time I checked Tim Donaghy is getting crucified in the media.

Answer 9

Bonds you are right, people but into the media hype! But why have they really only given Sosa a free pass on this! If it were race altogether wouldn't hey exonerate McGwire and Giambi and go after Sosa? Vick you are wrong, this has nothing to do with race and everything to do with breaking the law. The Feds do not indict until it is basically a slam dunk. Stop trying to interject race into situations that have nothing to do with it though, that is why people believe it and live it...it's always the mans fault.

Answer 10

Lance Arsmstrong does not play a real sport. I didn't know Barry Bonds was chasing a white Hank Aaron. I didn't know Mark Mcgwire, Rafael Palmero, and Jason Giambi are african American. Its not about race its about steroids ruining the record books.