But it is Rocker's virulent hate that the sports community is focussing on. He went far beyond the offensive rhetoric of Al Campanis , Marge Schott and Reggie White . Like some other people, I have lobbied for more fair hiring practices in sports leadership positions so people of color and women can participate in guiding sports world. Maybe they will do better and maybe not, but they have to be represented in a fair society. But Rocker shows that changing the numbers alone is not enough.
Sport needs to change attitudes.
All racial groups hold stereotypes about one another. According to many surveys on racial attitudes, the majority of whites think African Americans are less intelligent, more violent, more inclined to use drugs and are more likely to live on welfare. Fortunately, these attitudes don t necessarily convert into actions or overt expressions of hate. Many whites with such beliefs are able to change when confronted with a more realistic picture of African Americans as equals. Diversity management training is one way of getting those real images on the table with the stereotypes so people in front offices and on teams can openly discuss them in a safe environment.