Would Everyone Love Josh Hamilton’s Recovery Story if He Wasn’t White?
Baseball, Media Gossip/Musings June 4th. 2008, 1:15pm
Former ESPN Page 2er Bomani Jones is in North Carolina hosting a radio show, and recently, while talking about the staggering stats Texas Rangers outfielder (and former drug addict) Josh Hamilton has accumulated two months into the baseball season (an SI cover, too!), posed this simple question: Is everyone embracing this story a little more because he’s white? Because he’s Christian?
Hamilton’s Dad happened to be listening at the time, and phoned in to the radio show. Pretty compelling radio.
Hamilton is Mashing (850 the Buzz)
104 Responses to “Would Everyone Love Josh Hamilton’s Recovery Story if He Wasn’t White?”
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June 4th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Would Dems be voting for Barack Obama if he wasn’t black?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
IMO: If he wasn’t white, he wouldn’t have had a chance to come back into the league.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
MikeNYC – Barack would running for Register of Wills somewhere if he weren’t black.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
The whole world is racist, race is the reason for everything.
\Don’t really think this, bringing race into subjects for no reason is stupid.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Its great that he got his life back toghether. I dont think race is an issue here. I just think a radio guy is trying cause controversy.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I personally think that this story would have been even bigger if he was a minority.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Right, just ask Darryl Strawberry. Wait … what?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Black people do drugs like this…
White people do drugs like this…
June 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
he’s uber-talented…he’d be back if he was any color but green. if he was green, he’d be a leper and nobody likes lepers.
except for jesus.
/high five JC
June 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Freddy, you are spot on.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
@412: Register? You mean Registrar?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Or Doc Gooden.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
the color of his skin has zero to do with the story
June 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
the only reason we care is that because he’s putting up monster numbers…the drug aspect is just back story.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
No, I meant register. Thanks.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
No, people are embracing the story because he “won” so far, is kicking ass and actually shows something called “humility”
Society loves a good comeback story.
If Roy Tarpley had come back to lead the league in scoring, whitey would have liked that too
June 4th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Ryan Chruch was dizzy last week. Where’s the media coverage of Ryan Church coming back from dizziness?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
We all loved it when Roy Munson took Big Ern McKracken to the final frame didnt we?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
+1 to Crapgame for the old school Roy Tarpley mention.
/Rolondo Blackmon
June 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Shawn Green is as big a coke fiend as you’ll find, but the Jews covered it up.
/Nick P.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
silly pki – 412 is always spot-on with his subtle racism.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Well they do have the nos…
I’ll stop.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Obviously people care that hes white. If this were Roy Tarpley or Chris Washburn we’d be ripping them everyday. The sport helps too. No one gave a crap about “The Birdman” when he came back from doing crack.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Would Dems be voting for Barack Obama if he wasn’t black?
He wouldn’t be who his is, so it’s impossible to answer.
/tires easily of dumbass questions.
Back on subject, Hamilton’s story is compelling because he was the top draft pick and he washed out due to crack/heroin or something else that feels really, really good I bet. Coming back from that to play like he has is insanely rare. I’d be like Jenna Jameson recovering from her Duck Disease to conquer the porn world again.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I’m not trying to be a dick, but isn’t the only way to judge the validity of this question to come up with an example of when a minority did the same thing Hamilton is attempting and was ignored? I mean, are you telling me that when Doc Gooden pitched that no hitter for the Yankees, that didn’t generate a lot of feel good press?
Otherwise, this question just feels like race baiting to me.
Actually, while I admire Hamilton’s recovery, I also think of how he got himself in that situation in the first place through his own stupidity.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Yeah…we really have oppressed Doc and Darryl and LT and Cris Carter in their attempts to comeback…how is race involved with the Hamilton story..just stop already
June 4th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
‘
Don’t tell August West that. He tires of dumbass questions, yet goes on to answer the question of the post anyway …
June 4th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Mike in NYC is to bringing his one sided political opinions into a sports story as Bomani Jones is to bringing his one sided race opinions into a sports story.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
It’s not impossible to answer, nor is it racist to suggest that a stuffed shirt such as BHO wouldn’t be where he is if not for his race. If I’m wrong, please do let me know exactly what his qualifications/accomplishments are. And, please do not use the words “hope” or “change”.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
That was the point, Maggs. Thanks buddy.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
This is bringing race into a conversation that wasn’t about race. That is called race baiting. Posting discussion pieces on a sports blog about it is a perpetuation of said race baiting.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Do the same with McCain and don’t bring up the phrases “POW” or “mis-shapen head.”
June 4th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I could care less if he was green. What grabs me is that he basically didn’t play organized baseball for 4 years, then walked into the bigs and started pwning pitchers from day 1. His 2nd year is even more amazing. He’s literally the best hitter in the game right now. That’s completely absurd and as far as I can remember, its never happened before.
The why of his absence takes a backseat for me right now. That’s another great story, but a tenuous one. For his sake, I truly hope he staves off the demons. It won’t be easy, but I don’t want to see him ruin what could still be a HOF career.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
@RWH: Good call on Cris Carter. Completely forgot about him.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Would John McCain be who he is if he wasn’t tortured for 7 years…the topic is race and Josh Hamilton…not the presidency…
June 4th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I enjoy how Obama supporters can never answer this question directly.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
No.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Maggs you beat me to it!
On a side note, the two biggest hitters this year are huge Christians. I wonder if this Jesus thing is really paying off.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
412…easy. obama’s qualifications are change and hope. and he has a nice tie collection. and has a deep, resonant tenor which inspires…um…hope and change.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
412 forgot to embed his link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj4VK9wVAi0
June 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
@412: Bush did a lot before he was elected and we can all see where that got us. This argument of “What has he done?” really doesn’t hold much water. JFK didn’t have much of a record either and he turned out pretty good.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
pkiguy…you trying to tell me jesus couldn’t hit a curveball?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Isnt it weird that EVERY post suddenly becomes about McCain when it is started off by some douche tool commenting about how they hate Obama? By douche tool I of course mean Mike NYC or 412. So much more annoying than Purdue Matt. 412 can actually comment without bringing up the election so I will give him (her?) that.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Why in God’s fucking name are we doing the same political discussion during this topic…every fucking day the same 5 people go on and on about their political beliefs…enough..I am tired…I get it Mike and 412 are republicans…August and Maggs are Dems…you are not changing minds..you are just rehashing the same fucking points…enough
June 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
412, why would you want to leave out “hope” and “change”. They are kind of important things, seeing as we are all hoping for a change from your boy Dubya’s regime.
That’s like me asking for some good points about McCain, and I don’t want to hear about when he was “in the military” or a “US Senator”
June 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
The only thing is WE never bring it up.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Nick -
When Jay Bruce does it for more than 1 week, then we’ll annoint him the 2nd coming!!
At least for the first 2 months of this season, no one is better than Josh Hamilton… That’s probably less inflammatory and much tougher to argue.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Stop all the same politcal talk on this board. let’s go back to Lebron Vs Kobe!
June 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
+1 Maggs…
@ Mike: Having a better vision and a trail of good works helping people in Chicago and Illinois is bolstered by the fact that Obama and I agree on healthcare (near universal), the war (end it), the banking crisis (re-separate them from investment banks so we don’t have another depression) and ending Bush’s legislative atrocities.
The people with the ‘experience’ McCain has are the people with their hands all over the problems that got us to a recession and a war that’s only slightly more popular than legalizing polygamy.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
@roman- but its okay for you and your boys to do countless jokes about nothing
June 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
The point of my “hateful” comment regarding the Messiah was: if it’s okay to ask if everyone would love Hamilton if he wasn’t white, then is it also okay to ask if everyone would love BHO if he wasn’t black?
That is all.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
@ RWH et al. point taken and I agree. discussion over on my end.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
kobe > lebron
June 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Spence: Jesus created physics, and so I am guessing yes.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
oh, and I’m a Whig loyalist.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Irish…what is that supposed to mean…you don’t? I thought the point was reacting eiother thoughtfully or with humor I react to the post and other comments…I don’t just drop in some shit to start another argument.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Flipping through the Commenter’s Bill of Rights, Violations all over the place. TBL, please erase this entire post at once.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Mike..my point is you could use points form the sports world to illustrate your point..other athletes black and white have comeback from drug issues..to lots of support and acclaim…you immediately jumped to Obama…which then insites more political discussion..not necessary
June 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Wally: I didn’t even mean Bruce. Pujols has been better. Utley has been better. And both of those guys have more of a track record to where you can believe what they’re doing is not a fluke.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
really? damn son, here i thought i was the only Whig left. good to have you aboard.
there’s a duel tomorrow: Franklin vs. Jackson, winner gets the party nomination…should be a real donnybrook.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
LT did get a second chance… with the WWF
June 4th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
benji..Bam Bam Bigelow was never the same
June 4th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
The race issue always comes up in our society, but he can play some baseball. Can we once just enjoy him as a baseball player. I just wish the Cincinnati Reds didn’t trade him.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Franklin > Jackson with a spread at 8.5 paces…
June 4th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
EA Sports Duel (17)72 ran 2000 simulated duels and had Franklin winning at a 60-40 rate.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Jake, no one gave a crap about Birdman because he came back and then sat on the bench all year. How is that an inspiring story?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
+✡✡, mizerle
June 4th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I gave a crap when Birdman was spotting frenching Lil Wayne. I will never look at the Cash Money Millionaires the same way again.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Josh Hamilton is white?
June 4th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
wasn’t Birdman “addicted” to marijuana. marijuana is not a drug. you ever suck dick for some marijuana?!!
June 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
psychadelics too. which aren’t physically addicting so…
ive never sucked dick for marijuana, but i have given out a few Z-J’s.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
benji…let spencer know about that..he seems confused.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I had no idea the Cubs originally took him in the Rule 5 draft
June 4th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
yeah, imagine if the Cubs had Hamilton in CF and those 2 fags as their corner OF. maybe they could win something this year.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Seem to be doing pretty well without him so far
June 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
@Mike NYC/412:
It’s a fair question, but you’re not going to get a yes or no answer. There are undoubtedly people out there voting for Obama just because he’s black. No doubt some “progressive” liberals who want to show how progressive they are by voting for a black guy (I voted for Barack is becoming the “I have a black friend”).
It’s also fair to ask whether there are people who are going to vote against Obama because he’s black, and I think the people who will vote against him because of his race far outnumber the amount of people who will vote for him. It’s not that hard to read between the lines and see that Clinton won the “White Working class vote” (as the media has euphemised) in large part because Barack’s black. She won the “White working class vote” in rust belt/southern states. In Western and NE states Obama and Clinton nearly split the same demographic. And that’s all in the democratic party, which is traditionally more progressive on this stuff.
So it’s a fair question, but so is “Are Republicans not voting for Obama because he’s black?”.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
You guys are right, between being black and having “Hussein” for a last name, it’s amazing he hasn’t been given the Presidency. He has everything going for him.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
*error… middle name. Obviously.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
“Are Republicans not voting for Obama because he’s black?â€.
Republicans aren’t voting for him because he is a Democrat. They wouldn’t have voted for Hilary either
June 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Republicans not voting for Obama has everything to do with the fact that he is a Marxist.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I don’t disagree in general, but there are some Republicans who won’t vote for him, just because he’s black. It doesn’t matter his philosophy, his views or his policy. Just as there’s some Dems who will vote for him only because he’s black.
I just think it’s safe to assume that, while in certain instances Barak’s race has worked for him in MOST cases it is still a factor against him (in the political world)
June 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I wish i could afford a Z-J.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
How would you know? aren’t you the one saying he doesn’t have a firm policy in place? That he’s all talk and no substance?
June 4th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
You take Condoleeza Rice’s or Colin Powell’s resume and give it to a White man running for office, would he be President? You give George Bush’s pre Presidential resume to a Black or Latino, would he be President?
June 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Capitalism and democracy don’t share a bed easily. I would think, by now, this would be obvious. In capitalism we produce the production of our own desire, not an ethical compulsion for the sake of the person beside us.
Such that:
We all have equal voices, just not equal volumes.
@TBL: You need forums. And sub-forums. Entropy is pissing me off.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Perhaps the most important question between now and the first Tuesday in November… will the folks at JibJab be able to repeat their tremendous performance in 2004?
June 4th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTXiK5syAV0
June 4th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
the only way this political race will be interesting from now until November is if one of the candidates gave or received a ZJ.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
There’s a guy playing 1B in St. Louis that would like a word with you…
June 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
@bruce- Pujols isnt the best hitter in the game. Are you talking about on steroids or off steroids. Tony LaRussa is a known steroid advocate.
Pujols probably lied about his age as well.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
72Bruce Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
“he is a scumbag no doubt about that, but in most of these cases its the women who were drunk at parties.€œ
Drag your knuckles much, irishmafia?
remember that comment Bruce. Go write about how Ankiel is using the clear this season
June 4th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
@irish- It always comes back to the steroids shit for the Cardinal-haters, doesn’t it? You must be a Cubs fan.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
@bruce- i just reread one of your comments towards me. Talk about a personal attack huh. you are not worth me going off on
June 4th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Bump it, spencer. Go ahead, bump it.
PS: I love me some lepers.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I don’t want to bump it. I’ve never bumped it and I’m not going to now.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
On a side note, the two biggest hitters this year are huge Christians. I wonder if this Jesus thing is really paying off.
Hey, put your trust in the Lord and look what happens. We take all comers and are keen on those who really mean it. Those of you just paying lip service, well, in the end, you’ll be disappointed.
High-five! Nice.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Is Jesus Liam McPoyle?
June 4th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Spencer096 and pkiguy22 – I murder breaking stuff. I can hit the curve ball. I can pull it and take it the other way.
Hold on a second – did I just set up clown with that sentence…checking…yep, I sure did.
As far as physics go, yeah, I was all over that.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
That’s what you get, Hef! You get fork-stabbed!
June 4th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Ryan! Stab something.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
+ lots for the Sunny quotes
June 4th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
It’s because he’s putting up super numbers..if he was an average player no one would care.
June 4th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Pujols has been better.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Jesus’ new 6th commandment: Thou shalt not kill, unless it’s a 3-1 hanging slider.
Sound about right?