Northeastern Univ.'s Center for the Study of Sport in
Society released its '97 Racial Report Card today, its ninth
edition. The report analyzes the racial composition of
players, coaches and front office employees in the NBA, NFL
and MLB, and for the first time, includes comparative data
for the NCAA and its schools. Among the major findings:
College sport has the worst record for racial and gender
hiring practices when compared to the NBA, NFL and MLB; the
NBA has the best record while MLB has the worst in pro
sports when it comes to hiring people of color and women in
management; and gains are greater for women than for people
of color, but the "glass ceiling" severely limits
opportunities for people of color and women in top
management positions with teams and in college athletic
departments (Sport in Society). Report author Richard
Lapchick: "Despite well intentioned efforts for diversity by
league offices, white males still control most of our teams,
front offices and athletic departments" (USA TODAY, 2/25).
LEAGUE LEVEL: Lapchick said in '97, the percentage of
minority group members and women increased from 21% to 23%
in the NBA league office, from 18% to 20% in the NFL league
office, and from 22% to 28% in MLB's league office. The
only failing grade went to MLB, where top management,
including ownership, received an "F" by Lapchick's
definition. Lapchick's study shows that minorities make up
5% of top management positions in MLB teams' front offices.
But MLB Dir of PR Rich Levin said that MLB didn't have
complete information ready for the study. Levin said that
8% of MLB's senior execs were minority group members.
Levin: "And the front office was 19 percent. We think those
numbers are pretty good" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/25).
