Survey from ESPN about black athletes, pretty sad who's left off

[mrsmith123]

I read this morning and article by Michael Wilbon (one of my favorite sports writers). Tiger Woods was left off of a survey for "Greatest Black Athletes", this is a travesty. Read it if you have 10 minutes:

 

https://theundefeated.com/features/50-greatest-black-athletes-not-including-tiger-woods-oversight-injustice/

 

This shows you how much people think that the personal life of Tiger and the sports life of Tiger are tied together essentially. Pretty sad.... regardless of his personal life choices, you can't discard his achievements and impact for golf (and sports in general). He is clearly one of the top Best 50 black athletes ever.

 

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[Brian A]

Honestly that list is just wrong if Tiger isnt on there. He is arguably the greatest ever.  You have Simone Biles in the top 10 (which she deserves because shes unreal at what she does) but I would put her on the same level as Tiger on what they did to their sport.  When Tiger played, everyone else played for #2

[JudgeSmails]

maybe it's because they don't consider him 'black'......remember his father was African-American/Native American and his mother is Thai/Dutch

 

But yes, I agree, it would be a HUGE oversight

[TBT]

I'm not a Tiger "homer", but not including him on that list is just nuts!

[TheWahoo]

Perhaps, those surveyed see golf as a game and not a sport and do not consider golfers to be athletes.    However, such may be the very reason that Tiger should be on the list because he transitioned golf from a game to a sport making athletic ability and conditioning relevant.

[sixcat]

The list had several egregious omissions, not just Tiger.  Then again, it is the Undefeated and ESPN.  Both of which have had any number of issues over the past half-decade.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the omissions weren't purposeful to generate attention, conversation and vitriol.  No press is bad press, right?!?!?

[Rusty1885]

maybe it's because they don't consider him 'black'......remember his father was African-American/Native American and his mother is Thai/Dutch

 

But yes, I agree, it would be a HUGE oversight

He's Asian when it's convenient for them, and he's black when it's convenient and if they want to promote diversity and interracial articles he'll be in it too. Soon they'll be going after Tiger for performance enhancing drugs rumor.

 

Look what they did to Lance Armstrong, he made everybody rich promoted the sport worldwide, when he's done, they went after him.

[sixcat]

maybe it's because they don't consider him 'black'......remember his father was African-American/Native American and his mother is Thai/Dutch

 

But yes, I agree, it would be a HUGE oversight

 

The list included Pele and Roberto Clemente.  Couldn't the same argument be made that they shouldn't be considered "black".  Pele is Brazilian and Clemente was Puerto Rican.

 

 

He's Asian when it's convenient for them, and he's black when it's convenient and if they want to promote diversity and interracial articles he'll be in it too. Soon they'll be going after Tiger for performance enhancing drugs rumor.

 

Look what they did to Lance Armstrong, he made everybody rich promoted the sport worldwide, when he's done, they went after him.

 

Anyway, I agree with Rusty.  Tiger and Company have always fallen into whatever category best suited the situation.

[kardboard.kid]

Ultimately, why do we need lists. You can't compare one generation to the next and be fair, as technology and training change. Compare clubs that were used only 15 years ago to today. Could Rory hit a 350yd drive with the technology then? Maybe... I like to look at the future, while admiring the accomplishments of the past. Not trying to qualify with a list.

 

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[GolfSpy Barbajo]

11 NBA titles, 2 NCAA titles, Olympic Gold, 5 NBA MVP's, first African-American head coach in any major sport (2 titles as player-coach, BTW), author and civil rights pioneer -- Bill Russell was only #36???

 

Survey are mostly about the here and now or most recent, and another poster I think is correct - it's to spark debate, discussion and attention for ESPN.

[DaveP043]

The list had several egregious omissions, not just Tiger.  Then again, it is the Undefeated and ESPN.  Both of which have had any number of issues over the past half-decade.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the omissions weren't purposeful to generate attention, conversation and vitriol.  No press is bad press, right?!?!?

Remember, this is a survey.  If you want to blame anyone, blame the folks who TOOK the survey, not the people who published the results.  

[sixcat]

Remember, this is a survey.  If you want to blame anyone, blame the folks who TOOK the survey, not the people who published the results.  

Not necessarily!  Surveys can easily be manipulated to a desired result in an effort to cater to a selective audience and often are.

 

Cable news has built a cottage industry from the practice.