I always admired Ernie Banks, until I found out he was a Bush supporter

[Wetzelbill]

It was weird seeing KO interview him yesterday. Ernie is such an all-time great baseball player and everything, I just can't see how a black man could ever vote for a guy like Bush. I'm a Blackfeet Indian, and to paraphrase J.C. Watt's father, "A minority voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders." Although, Keith did a great job in the interview and Ernie was both humble and interesting. The Bucky O'Neill and Minnie Minoso omissions are jaw-dropping. That these men are not part of the HOF is pretty astounding if not shameful. Keith is right in making a big deal over this story, as it may only be sports, but Negro League athletes are a cultural symbol for our society. A time of Jim Crow, racism and intolerance. Yet, now we have some serious problems in that area still, as witnessed by the Katrina disaster. Poverty, socieoconomic strife, illness, voter disenfranchisement. We see overt racism with regards to our border policies as well. This is not to mention an intolerance -ok hatred - of homosexuals and the continuing problems of paternalism and women's rights. All of this ties in to a bigger picture. So the omission of Bucky and Minnie from the HOF is a sports story, but it's also emblematic of something larger, of a not so distant time and of problems that our country is still facing. Keith is right to pursue this story. It matters.

[RevCheesehead]

1. You're right - it's emblematic of a bigger problem.

I dunno how to express it as well as you did, other than to say that we sure don't appear to be thinking, do we?

We need to look at our choices, actions, and words, and seriously ask "how would I feel if I were in this _____ place?"

Where's the empathy? Where's the love? Where's the concern for neighbor? Do all people matter, or just the rich and powerful?

From outward appearances, it seems they chose to ignore talent, and chose instead to honor corporate moguls. "Hooray for the white people who made this all possible!" Jeebus. :banghead:

[gkhouston]

2. I'm not sure it was even "hooray for white people" so much as

"hooray for the rich people". Two days ago, I didn't know Buck from Adam and now I'm totally pissed that he was excluded and the same goes for Minnie. I don't for a minute believe that either one of them had some shortcoming that Keith is blind to; he's an honest enough person to say, "yeah, there was the trouble with X, but the sterling example he set with actions A, B, and C should offset that, especially considering they inducted a former criminal". As far as I'm concerned, he's got every right to be pissed. Anybody wanna bet that they'll eventually be shamed into inducting Buck... but that it will only be after Buck has died? And if KO hasn't resigned before then, that sure as hell will be the final straw.

[Berry Cool]

3. I'm with you guys.

I hope Keith really pushes this. He has every right to be angry for these men. It's nice to see him stand up for what is right.

[Wetzelbill]

6. yes, his interview tonight

was great. He was so genuine. It was just nice. You can tell it was something he believed in so much.

[Wetzelbill]

4. it's odd that they inducted a former criminal

because then it seems like they are overlooking both what that person did off in their personal life while also overlooking what Bucky did off the field too. I think that matters. What's more, if they are going to induct a criminal then why not give Pete Rose his due? I'd say money and status played a major role in some of these decisions. They may be shamed into inducting Bucky, but the real shame has already been shown by them not doing it in the first place.

[Wetzelbill]

5. It's total BS

that they won't speak about it now either. Really a cowardly way out. They just must have missed the boat totally on this. It's hard to say what went wrong, it makes a person automatically think the worst. That's just the culture we're in now. Greed, corporatism, indifference. Selfishness. When something goes awry people like us who are already exasperated are just like: "oh here we go again!" It seems like only certain people with a certain status matter. And, I haven't seen much in the last several years to make me think otherwise. :)