Stirring The Pot: Sheffield Makes Waves With Race Comments

MLB Not Looking At Disciplining Sheffield For Comments In GQ

UNINFORMED STATEMENTS: Sports sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards said, “One has to look beyond simple statements from someone who is obviously uninformed on a matter such as this. Such a straightforward (opinion) or answer is absolutely wrong and asked of someone with limited information” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/6). Lisa Navarrete, VP of DC-based Latino national civil rights and advocacy organization National Council of La Raza, said, “He’s targeting the wrong culprit, the players themselves. Then he resorts to the stereotyping that he himself is trying to fight” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/5). Former Braves teammate Eddie Perez said Sheffield's comments are “going to hurt a lot of people. I don’t know (if he’ll be suspended), but somebody needs to say something” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/5).

Columnist Says Latino Players Should Be Outraged By Comments

IS THERE SOME TRUTH TO ALL OF THIS? In Detroit, Drew Sharp writes, “There’s truth to Sheffield’s comments in regards to teams exacting more control over Latino players than black players. Non-American players are excluded from the entry draft, so it’s possible for a team to sign 20 Latino players for the same cost as a guaranteed signing bonus for one player selected high in the first round of the entry draft. That gives major league executives tremendous power over those players” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/6). Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Terence Moore noted former NL President Bill White "said there was a quota system in (MLB) and that more than a few black players knew about that, but they were afraid to speak out about it. So this goes further than just knee-jerk reaction that this is all about blacks just preferring to play football and basketball.” Moore also said on the Major League Scouting Bureau’s computerized form there “was a slot for race. ... When I confronted various owners and (GMs) about that, they could not explain that. I went to (former MLB Commissioner) Bowie Kuhn and asked him about it. He was stunned. Bowie Kuhn sent out a memorandum around that said, ‘Effective immediately: no more race on these forms’” (“Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN, 6/5).

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