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Quite disappointing - With such an adamant title, I was expecting the author to give us the concrete, infallible scientific proof explaining "why black athletes dominate sports," but I guess my expectations were too high.I couldn't agree more. After hearing the controversy surrounding this book, I decided to shell out twenty bucks and pick up a copy myself. But it was fairly comprehensive and the first of it's kind (to my knowledge) to address such a controversial issue, so I give it 4 stars. It was too historical without enough case studies and science based explanations for the given ethnic group's athletic superiority. As a social scientist with a strong interest in racial inequality and identity, and especially as a major sports fan, I figured that this would be a rather intriguing book. It certainly is, but in a different way than which the author/publisher market it.Entine provides very little evidence and data to explain to us "why black athletes dominate sports." Mostly, he gives us a collection of statistics on the number of black players at the so-called speed positions in various sports (providing a numerical relationship, but no explanation).
Onthe other side of the pond is William Rhoden,who while bragging about black QBs, forgot tomention the CFL [11 years older than the over-rated NFL] (Oopps). Think what a wasteof reasources, like say, trees this book and all theones about the 'holaembellishment' are. First of all race has nothing to do with athletics, unless of course you beleivethe gibberish that got know-nothings likeHoward Cosell [nee Cohen] and Jimmy 'TheGreek' fired. and Arena Football Leagues,which play better, faster styles of football,and black QBs have done better in those leagues.The evil of two lessors, I guess. Such a shamethat anyone may believe these tales.Revisionist Rich Salzer [U.Hawai'i '84), Chesapeake, VA, USA,4-17-08. Secondly, the hardest sportin north America is Hockey and if blacksare supposedly so superior, why have theynot mastered it. The author is a typical gutter-trash liberal who beleives everysterotype that washes down the gutter.
Unfortunately, more of these children are minorities. And I might be a little generous with the second star.I, as a few other reviewers, note two problems off the top of the bat.One is Entine's uncritical handling of "The Bell Curve."Two is that he ignores the many sports that don't have a lot of black athletes.Beyond that, he gets selective within some sports that he does address, such as seeming to focus on track more, and field events less.Also, he ignored the rise of non-American white and non-black athletes in several sports in recent years.I think of the white Europeans in the NBA, and the non-black Caribbean players and a few Japanese in MLB.Finally, contrary to his claims otherwise, all too many children of all colors who are lower down the socioeconomic rungs tend to focus on sports as salvation.
Why does his black ancestry somehow trump the other 75% of his heritage. Given that the book weighs in at 400 pages, you've got to wonder what his editor was thinking about some of these anecdotes.On another note, I'm tired of seeing Tiger Woods be referred to as a "black golfer." For the record, Tiger is 1/2 Asian, 1/4 black, 1/8 white and 1/8 Native American. There is some interesting information here, but ultimately much of this book is simply a history of African-American athletics, which is not exactly obvious from the book's title. Hey, I'm as interested in the story of Jack Johnson as the next guy, but does the treatment he received really belong in this book.
However, those folks must remain oblivious to the fact that after the United States, the basketball powerhouse nations are found in Eastern Europe.NOT western Africa. I find it quite amazing how people are always quick to point out that the high proportion of African-Americans in the NBA is scientific proof that blacks are genetically gifted basketball players. Sports consists of much more than speed and running, and clearly, black athletes do not dominate in sports such as weight lifting, skiing, field, wrestling, gymnastics, or hockey. By the title of this books, blacks rule the entire world of sports - which is not the case. As a social scientist with a strong interest in racial inequality and identity, and especially as a major sports fan, I figured that this would be a rather intriguing book.
Also, Entine attributes the pheonomenal success of Brazil in World Cup Soccer to the African ancestry of most players on the national roster. For example, a 5'3" man can forget about playing center in the NBA, just as a seven-footer has no shot at being the winning jockey at the Belmont Stakes. Talk about false advertising. The fact of the matter is the right-wing lunatics have no ability to engage in scientific debate on race whatsoever. Entine's lack of scientific evidence proves he can not discuss this subject matter, and as such, makes a bold claim and then sits back, labeling anyone who challenges him as a politically correct crackpot.
Entine provides an excellent account of the history of racism and racial politics of sports, from the days of Jack Johnson and the Negro Leagues of baseball up until the steroid scandals of communist East Germany and the USSR in the 1980s. Quite disappointing - With such an adamant title, I was expecting the author to give us the concrete, infallible scientific proof explaining "why black athletes dominate sports," but I guess my expectations were too high. Something else also comes to mind. And if any sport ever relied on speed, quickness, explosiveness and agility, certainly it is soccer. But to assume body form to some innate, hard-wired, racial sports gene is absurd and ultimately undermines the valid points that Entine does bring up. After hearing the controversy surrounding this book, I decided to shell out twenty bucks and pick up a copy myself.
This is quite ironic, since Germany, Italy, and Argentina are also soccer powerhouses and have accomplished this with few African-descent players on their respective clubs. Despite the failure to produce scientific evidence for black athletic superiority, I do like this book for one big reason. Body form is, in fact, a major factor in calculating competitive advantage in certain sports. England, Colombia, and Mexico each have far superior soccer squads than any national teams from West Africa (the area of the world where the nature's most gifted athletes trace their ancestry, according to Entine). The fact of the matter is that growing numbers of NBA players are comming out of the former communist bloc of Europe. It certainly is, but in a different way than which the author/publisher market it.Entine provides very little evidence and data to explain to us "why black athletes dominate sports." Mostly, he gives us a collection of statistics on the number of black players at the so-called speed positions in various sports (providing a numerical relationship, but no explanation).
The real value of this book is found in its second half, when the author provides a nice account of race in sports throughout the 20th century. Even sports reporter Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star has bemoaned the fact that African-American players are "losing their jobs" to foreign players. If African-descended players dominate basketball and baseball for their superior speed and agility, then why does this fail to yield results in soccer. I bring up these points to illustrate the absurdity and inconsistencies in attributing innate racial abilities of any particular group of people with regards to any particular sport. We are given chapters on Joe Louis, Jewish basketball teams, Jackie Robinson, and the social significance of all of these historical events. The truth is, Entine and his backers are the ones motivated by political agendas.
Such is not the nature of science, but the nature of charlatans motivated by personal agendas. The book implies it will provide a scientific explanation for athletic performance, and does not even come close to doing anything of the sort. Their only recourse is to point out correlations, and assume there is a biological explanation. Entine has a point up to a certain extent. "Racial realists" can not have their cake and eat it to. In 20 years, I believe the NBA will be 50 percent European.
I half think that Entine chose such a title for this book for the sensational reaction he knew it would garner. If African-Americans' ancestry to equatorial west Africa was responsible for their basketball abilities, then we should expect to find the nations of Nigeria, Ghana, and Zaire winning international basketball medals over the likes of Lithuania, Germany, Russia, Croatia, and Serbia.
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