[olldflame]

3 for 3 RTF.

I was going to make a pithy comment here about the appropriateness of your board name, but I figure it's self-explanatory.

Nice editing job in quoting my post and conveniently leaving out the part about how having players from diverse places who grew up playing different styles of basketball benefited us on the court (but of course that would have detracted from your "point".)

I used the term self-aggrandizing because you are holding yourself out to be somehow better that others based on the fact that you didn't notice something. I'll take you at your word that you didn't, but has it occured to you that perhaps you just aren't very observant?

By the way, I respect you, although I disagree with you, because you are a child of God. I mean that. You do not need to earn my respect, because I am merely a humble servant. Apparently you have a different view?

[thesportscritic]

alright guys lets keep this thread from getting personal. the discussion is great but discuss the diversity issue and lets not get personal with each other.

[Purple Haize]

Now if the Lady Flames had athletes in the SCAR/Haize/Soro/SJ mode............................

[RagingTireFire]

Too late, Critic.

Nice editing job in quoting my post and conveniently leaving out the part about how having players from diverse places who grew up playing different styles of basketball benefited us on the court (but of course that would have detracted from your "point".)

I didn't edit anything. That's exactly what you said.

I used the term self-aggrandizing because you are holding yourself out to be somehow better that others based on the fact that you didn't notice something.

That's quite an assumption to make. I was making a point about what is more important about who we recruit than skin color or ethnic background.

I'll take you at your word that you didn't, but has it occured to you that perhaps you just aren't very observant?

If skin color is what I'm supposed to be observing, then I'll gladly be unobservant.

By the way, I respect you.

Good for you.

Apparently you have a different view?

Yep. Jesus commanded us to love. Respect is optional.

Also, as a Lynchburg resident who's followed our team for the last several years, shuk is just as qualified to comment on this topic as anybody.

[RagingTireFire]

Olldflame's ideal recruit

[olldflame]

Good to know that you love me RTF. Made my day.

Now read First Corinthians chapter 13 and tell me that love and respect are not in many ways the same thing.

[SuperJon]

Hey, let's have some fun with this:

Softball's all white.
Women's soccer is all white.
Volleyball only has one black girl.
Baseball's all white.
Wrestling only has one non-white.
Hockey's all white.

While we're being "observant," I thought I'd be "observant of other teams.

[olldflame]

Hey, let's have some fun with this:

Softball's all white.
Women's soccer is all white.
Volleyball only has one black girl.
Baseball's all white.
Wrestling only has one non-white.
Hockey's all white.

While we're being "observant," I thought I'd be "observant of other teams.

You are right SJ, and I made mention of it in an earlier post. What IMHO makes the WBB situation different is that all of those other sports have minimal or declining minority participation at the high school level, and those that are there and have D1 talent are usually scooped up by bigger schools. This is definately not the case in WBB.

I really want to say again that my concern in starting this thread was NOT racial diversity only, or even primarily. Quite frankly, I am more concerned that we haven't signed an international recruit in several years, because these players have contributed so much in the past. There were at least 1 or 2 years during the early success of our WBB program when our team was all white, and yet had incredible diversity.

[thesportscritic]

raging tire if it gets too personal i will lock this thread so i am warning all of you who post in this thread. lets keep things clean

[SuperJon]

Critic it was your side who started the attacks.

I really want to say again that my concern in starting this thread was NOT racial diversity only, or even primarily. Quite frankly, I am more concerned that we haven't signed an international recruit in several years, because these players have contributed so much in the past.

Those two statements contradict each other. You're not concerned with racial diversity, yet you want foreigners.

You are right SJ, and I made mention of it in an earlier post. What IMHO makes the WBB situation different is that all of those other sports have minimal or declining minority participation at the high school level, and those that are there and have D1 talent are usually scooped up by bigger schools. This is definately not the case in WBB.

Soccer isn't played in the minority population? You sure about that? Most of the good teams in high school are the ones with Hispanics and foreign players.

I just think you guys are making a big deal about nothing.

[thesportscritic]

excuse me?

[SuperJon]

Your side of the argument (the people who think we're not black/international enough) are the ones that started the personal attacks.

[shukcb04]

Critic it was your side who started the attacks.

Soccer isn't played in the minority population? You sure about that? Most of the good teams in high school are the ones with Hispanics and foreign players.

I just think you guys are making a big deal about nothing.

most of the foreign players playing in the US are still white though. plus everyone knows that soccer is a white sport in the US

[Sly Fox]

OK, guys. Let's keep this topical and not go at each other on a personal level. We can discuss the different viewpoints without taking shots at individual posters.

For the record, I'm enjoying the open dialogue about a subject that has divergent points of view.

[Sly Fox]

plus everyone knows that soccer is a white sport in the US

Que!?! Perhaps in Central Virginia but that's not the case in most of America where there is a significant Hispanic population.

[thesportscritic]

OK, guys. Let's keep this topical and not go at each other on a personal level. We can discuss the different viewpoints without taking shots at individual posters.

For the record, I'm enjoying the open dialogue about a subject that has divergent points of view.

exactly.

[SuperJon]

Critic it was your side who started the attacks.

Soccer isn't played in the minority population? You sure about that? Most of the good teams in high school are the ones with Hispanics and foreign players.

I just think you guys are making a big deal about nothing.

most of the foreign players playing in the US are still white though. plus everyone knows that soccer is a white sport in the US

You're not serious are you? My brother's challenge soccer team when he was in 8th grade had a black kid, a Chinese kid, a Dominican kid, and a Mexican kid. My high school just played a team that was predominantly Mexican earlier this week. Soccer's not a white sport. Soccer's the most diverse sport on the planet.

[shukcb04]

plus everyone knows that soccer is a white sport in the US

Que!?! Perhaps in Central Virginia but that's not the case in most of America where there is a significant Hispanic population.

yeah, if you're looking at states like California which is virtually overrun by illegal immigrants.

[olldflame]

SJ is technically correct. I referred to the first 2 posts RTF made in a derrogatory manner, and although I'm not retracting it, I am beginning to regret it a bit. I think there is still plenty of room for reasonable discussion here.

I know you're young SJ, and I'm not sure how much you've traveled. 23 foreign countries here and counting. Bringing in international players would not necessaraly change the way our team LOOKED. Most of the international WBB players who have played at LU would only be distinctive in the preponderence of blonde hair and blue eyes.

[SuperJon]

Soccer's the most international sport and our women's team doesn't have one single international unless you count the Canadian sisters. Complain about that before you complain about basketball. Who cares where these girls are from as long as we put a good team on the floor.

yeah, if you're looking at states like California which is virtually overrun by illegal immigrants.

That's just dumb.

[Sly Fox]

yeah, if you're looking at states like California which is virtually overrun by illegal immigrants.

Uh, California (as well as Arizona, NM & Texas for that matter) was a part of Mexico before joining the US and as a result most of the Hispanics in these states are not illegals. Yes, soccer is cultural touchstone for most Latino-Americans ... but they also have a passion for baseball as well.

Meanwhile most Americans of pale complexion use soccer as a sport to develop motor skills before moving onto other sports. That's why the MLS has never fully blossomed in America's sports culture.

[El Scorcho]

plus everyone knows that soccer is a white sport in the US

Que!?! Perhaps in Central Virginia but that's not the case in most of America where there is a significant Hispanic population.

yeah, if you're looking at states like California which is virtually overrun by illegal immigrants.

You might want to check out some U.S. population stats and trends. Whites are only a few years away from being a minority in many of the U.S. states.

[ATrain]

Since we're being observant of other sports, I'd like to point out that our tennis and track teams are the most diverse on campus. In tennis, we have players from:
Poland
Russia
Peru
Colombia
Mexico
Czech Republic
South Africa
Brazil (Has more representation on the teams than any other nation-including USA)
Chile
Only 3 players are from the USA

[Rocketfan]

Ok here is my perspective and ill be interested to see the reaction. I have traveled with and followed the basketball team over the last 7-8 years and to me there is one huge difference between white players and african american players. The ability for a player to create her own shot. Stephanie Walker to me is a key example(african american), she could break you down with the shot clock winding down and get to the whole. However a key a player like Tharp(white) had average at best dribbling ability. Crystal Peace( african american) on the low block could get her shot as well, but some of Lithuanans(white) really struggled with post moves that didn't leave them completly off balance and out of control when attacking the basket. To me we recruit a lot of shooters its seems, but not a lot of play makers, granted we did have a Feenstra on our team for like 8 years but we also needed a Monique Leanord (sp?) to break down defenses and distribute or else we sometimes looks lost with other point guards or they had a truck load of turnovers. To me is not a race issue, but i just haven't really scene many athletic white girls other than Frazee. Now i could be forgetting someone, but im sure ill be reminded if i am.

[Sly Fox]

I really don't like generalizations. I don't think they are fair to either side.