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Racism in Sports
Further Information: Racism

Racism in sports is a culturally significant predicament in sports around the world. The sport itself does not induce racism. The people that participate in the playing, organization, and implementation of sports bring racism into sports. Some nations, such as the United Kingdom, have used sports in order to battle the over-arching racism in its society. Sport is meant to be a colorblind activity that adheres to the notion of fair play.

1936 Olympics
Further Information:1936 Summer Olympics

From the start of the 1936 Olympics, there was opposition to the Olympic Games being held in Germany, “neither Americans nor the representatives of other countries can take part in the Games in Nazi Germany without at least acquiescing in the contempt of the Nazis for fair play and their sordid exploitation of the Games.” Despite this resentment, the Olympic Games continued.

During these Olympics, Margaret Bergmann Lambert was excluded from the 1936 German Olympic team because she was Jewish. She had to withhold her anger and frustration in regard to Hitler’s unequal and unfair ruling in Germany. Even though Lambert had equaled the German national record in the high jump a month before the Olympic Games, she was denied the opportunity to participate in the games. In addition, the Nazi Press described African Americans as “black auxiliaries” and eventually called for their exclusion from the Olympics. Also, Hitler’s Nazis created rules and restrictions within Germany that prohibited Jews from being able to use local facilities and playgrounds for appropriate training, occurring as early as March 1933. This gave Jews and other “non Aryan” people unequal training methods.

Great achievements by African-Americans, such as Jesse Owens, challenged the “Aryan” ideal, or a Caucasian person without Jewish descent. Owens won four gold medals: one in 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4x100 meter relay. His achievements conveyed both the notions of “interracial education” as well as “muscular assimilation” to help promote sportsmanship towards African-Americans on and off the Olympic stage. However, these achievements of interracial awareness and racial cohesion also solidified traditional social hierarchies through the guise of “scientific” discoveries in physiology and anatomy.

This racism was not limited to Germans, as Americans observed racism as well. American Track and Field coach Dean Cromwell stated “It was not long ago that his [the black athlete’s] ability to sprint and jump was a life-and-death matter to him in the jungle. His muscles are pliable, and his easy-going disposition is a valuable aid to the mental and physical relaxation that a runner and jumper must have.” These thoughts percolated throughout the Olympics, and made discrimination commonplace in many aspects of the games.

Negro Leagues and Jackie Robinson
Further Information: Negro league baseball

As sports progressed, race relations progressed at a comparable rate. In Baseball for instance, African-Americans were barred from participation in the National Association of Baseball Players because of regional prejudice and unofficial color bans dating back to the 1890’s. Due to this segregation, blacks worked together to create the Negro Leagues. These leagues were comprised of mostly all African-American teams. As a whole, the Negro Leagues overtime became one of the largest and most successful enterprises run by African-Americans. Their birth and resilient growth stood as a testament to the determination and drive of African-Americans to battle the imposing racial segregation and social disadvantage. After years of playing in an association for blacks, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by participating in the Dodger’s organization. His excellence at this level opened the gates for other African American’s to be accepted into a less segregated Major League Baseball, and in 1949 the Negro Leagues disbanded. Soon after Robinson’s inclusion into organized baseball, Roy Campanella, Joe Black and Don Newcombe, and Larry Doby all joined Robinson as significant black players that helped foil the racial divide. By to 1952, 150 black players were in organized baseball.

PGA
Further Information: PGA Tour

Only a few minority players, such as Tiger Woods, have dominated professional golf. Woods is of African-American and Asian-American descent. With 83 percent golf participants being white, a white majority dominates golf. Tiger Woods, a multiracial individual, has the second most major wins of any individual in golf’s history with 14. His excellence was well recognized as he became one of the most marketable players in the world. Woods helped tear down the imposing racial discrepancies in golf by not only competing with golf’s current best, but also by challenging other accomplished golfers for being the best of all time. In 1997, Woods became the first African-American to win a Major Professional Golf Association tournament at just 21 years of age. After winning the tournament, Woods faced ridicule from Fuzzy Zoeller, who won this championship in 1979. Zoeller responded to Woods' win by stating "That little boy is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here. You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not serve fried chicken next year. Got it." Zoeller says his comments were misconstrued and later apologized.

In 2011 Woods’ former caddy Steve Williams described Woods as a “black arse,” which sparked much controversy over the racial dynamic between Woods and the world of golf (Jemele). His comments of ridicule opened a debate on the possible racial tensions present in golf. Williams described his comments as “stupid” and not racist and later apologized.

College Athletics
Further Information: NCAA

Despite Universities making strides to diversify their student bodies, racism has had an effect on the University's athletics. According to Charles T Clotfelter, “No bigger issue has faced the United States during the reign of big-time college sports than the blot of racial segregation and discrimination." As college sports have gained notoriety, the nationwide attention towards this issue has gained recognition. Clotfelter continues his analysis of equality in collegiate sports by stating that the “Brown v Board of Education decision of 1954 set the stage for an epic confrontation between… the south’s devotion to college football and its cultural commitment to Jim crow laws.” With a significant portion of the south's football players being African-American, tensions between the players and the southern atmosphere became readily apparent. In terms of the South maintaining a sense of authority over blacks, in the year 2009 "92.5 percent of university presidents in the FBS were white, 87.5 percent of the athletic directors were white and 100 percent of the conference commissioners were white." In comparison, "roughly 31 percent of position coaches are black and 12 percent of coordinators were black. Out of the players in the FBS, roughly 54 percent are black." Whereas the NFL has implemented the Rooney Rule in order to create opportunities for minority coaches, college football has no such rule in place. However, overtime racial cohesion in sports has improved, as Clotfelter states that there has been a “realization that future success would require integrated teams.”

In 1983, Georgetown University star center Patrick Ewing ran out onto the court only to be the encounter racist mockery made towards his character. A banana peel was thrown towards him on the court during play, and signs reading "Ewing is and Ape" and "Ewing Kant Read Dis" were held. As one of the most dominant players in college basketball, Ewing continued to play despite the taunts. University President Rev. Timothy S Healy described the actions as "cheap, racist stuff." Ewing would go on to play in the NBA and become an iconic figure in for Georgetown Athletics and Georgetown University. As a glorified alumni of Georgetown University, his image reflects the University's advocacy for diversity despite the racist actions of the past.