Operation Sports Forums - View Single Post - Sports Daily: Richard Sherman, Social Media, and Race

RaychelSnr · 01-22-2014, 02:14 PM

We're a mere two days past the annual commemoration of civil rights martyr Martin Luther King Jr., and like many "holidays" much of the world has moved past the thoughts we conjured up on Monday. Race isn't an issue we discuss in sports very often because the larger barriers were torn down over fifty years ago.

MLK's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech rocked the United States back in 1963, but in many ways sports was also walking the path of social justice during and before that famous oration.

Jackie Robinson broke the 'color barrier' in 1947 when he stepped onto an MLB field on a spring day in April. And on this day in 1962 (almost two years before King's speech) Robinson was voted into baseball's Hall of Fame -- the first black player to receive the honor. But how much has changed since then? When an educated graduate of Stanford University bares his emotions after an NFC Championship clinching play and many respond with thoughts of "Thug!," it can make us question if we've hit a wall culturally and in sports when it comes to racism.

Sound Off: What impact do you believe sports have had on racism or civil issues in your lifetime?

Sports Headlines for January 22, 2014

The Yankees are flexing their wallets again, signing Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million deal.
Curling is hands-down my favorite sport to watch during the winter olympics, and these Norwegian unis may be tops as well. [Image]
And the winner of the first Bud Selig Leadership award goes to -- Bud Selig?
Fox has announced they will stream the Super Bowl for FREE to computers and iPads.
Think you can get March Madness perfect this year? Warren Buffet has $1 Billion waiting for you if it happens.

01-22-2014, 02:14 PM	#1
RaychelSnr Executive Editor OVR: 57 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 4,846 Blog Entries: 490	Sports Daily: Richard Sherman, Social Media, and Race We're a mere two days past the annual commemoration of civil rights martyr Martin Luther King Jr., and like many "holidays" much of the world has moved past the thoughts we conjured up on Monday. Race isn't an issue we discuss in sports very often because the larger barriers were torn down over fifty years ago. MLK's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech rocked the United States back in 1963, but in many ways sports was also walking the path of social justice during and before that famous oration. Jackie Robinson broke the 'color barrier' in 1947 when he stepped onto an MLB field on a spring day in April. And on this day in 1962 (almost two years before King's speech) Robinson was voted into baseball's Hall of Fame -- the first black player to receive the honor. But how much has changed since then? When an educated graduate of Stanford University bares his emotions after an NFC Championship clinching play and many respond with thoughts of "Thug!," it can make us question if we've hit a wall culturally and in sports when it comes to racism. *Sound Off: What impact do you believe sports have had on racism or civil issues in your lifetime?* Sports Headlines for January 22, 2014 The Yankees are flexing their wallets again, signing Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million deal. Curling is hands-down my favorite sport to watch during the winter olympics, and these Norwegian unis may be tops as well. [Image] And the winner of the first Bud Selig Leadership award goes to -- Bud Selig? Fox has announced they will stream the Super Bowl for FREE to computers and iPads. Think you can get March Madness perfect this year? Warren Buffet has $1 Billion waiting for you if it happens.