Sports and Race

Sports and Race

Malcolm Gladwell , in his essay The Sports Taboo ' wonders about the innate and desire-related similarities and differences of blacks versus whites , particularly in the arena of sports and athletic competition Clinical , anecdotal , factual and common sense evidence is gathered and analyzed in an attempt to solve the puzzle of racial differences in athletic prowess . Statistical approaches are also employed to measure athletic and intellectual differences among races and sexes . Desire competitiveness and work ethic are also poured into a mix of variables quantifiable and intangible , that help determine

athletic acumen Taking all these factors into account , Gladwell surmises that elite athletes are physically talented , highly confident kids at heart ' who love their sport and are willing to go to uncommon lengths to fully develop their talents

According to Gladwell and according to National Basketball Association statistics from any recent year , approximately 80 of NBA players are black . Common sense and cold , factual statistics argue that blacks are innately physically advantaged over whites , and they use their physical advantages to reach the highest level of competitive basketball . Given the highly lucrative salaries that are paid to all NBA players , work ethic and desire are important but insufficient qualities that fail to propel most outstanding white basketball players to the elite , paramount level of basketball , the NBA . Countless white players love to play this kids ' game and would undoubtedly love to earn millions of dollars yearly playing in the NBA . However , most of these talented white players are unable...