From: rsmith@strobe.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Russ Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Debunking the standard myth was Re: Couple of thoughts..
Date: 14 Aug 92 15:53:26 GMT
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino CA, USA

In article <M1WCC00.92Aug14105944@mcfss2.fed.frb.gov> m1wcc00@fed.frb.gov (Wayne C. Cook) writes:
>Blow me with the ultimatum.  A scientific study isn't necessary to
>see the obvious.  All other factors being equal, the player who jumps
>higher and is quicker is better.

But in general, all factors aren't equal. Most great leapers tend to be
average or worse shooters, most great shooters tend to be average or worse
leapers. There aren't too many Len Biases who can skywalk, and shoot
the lights out(yes I know there aren't any Len Biases). The question is
why is this the case, genentics or development?

>I responded to posts that heatedly stated that differences in ability
>among races do not exist and that it is harmful to believe that there
>is a difference.  Wake up.  Here's a theory.  Some white people in
>Indiana love basketball and have as much desire as blacks in say, DC.
>It was stated that the only reason blacks are better is because
>they have more peer pressure and more time devotion.  Take 10, 100,
>1000 guys from the two regions who would all tell you that bball
>means everything to them.  You'll find a handful of whites under
>6'5" who can dunk.  You'll find loads of blacks who can do it easily.
> 

Ok here's a theory that explains alot of it. Blacks tend to live in
poorer neighborhoods than whites, because blacks tend to make less money
than whites(due to simple racism in large part). Poor neighborhoods don't
have many indoor gyms and practice facilities, so the kids grow up playing
on the playgrounds. Playground ball has one overwhelming factor, the 
WEATHER. If its cold and windy, shooting jumpshots is stupid, so in
playground ball, taking it to the hole is the way to play. This involves
the type of activity that reinforces quickness and jumping ability as
key attributes to posess.

Whites like Steve Alford grow up in neighborhoods that have gyms, church
leagues etc. and often spend alot of their practice time indoors where
wind is not a factor. They also spend a lot less time in 5 0n 5 games
(Alford spent most of his time shooting alone or with his dad Sam 
rebounding for him), so they tend to become good shooters(Alford, Mullin,
Bird, rick Barry etc.).

The real question is a chicken and egg problem, do whites tend to be 
shooters because they can't jump so they have to work on their shot,
or do whites work on shooting so much that they don't develop their
ability to jump the way blacks do?

As Gary's last post pointed out, we don't know and we can't prove anything.

I don't see whats wrong with trying o find out, but I do see whats wrong
with making blanket statements like blacks are better because they jump 
better, and ignoring the possibility that they simply work harder at
the game. anybody who's seen Southern California highschool volleyball
(or even beach volleyball) can tell you there are a lot of beach blond
white guys with bigtime vertical jumps, so I think there's a strong
suggestion that its the way whites learn the game of hoops that explains
the percentage of blacks in the NBA.




Russ Smith
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"Many dreams come true, some have silver linings,  
I live for my dreams, and a pocketful of gold"      Led Zeppelin
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro