Here you will find out what people are saying about BASN

1. RE: are white coaches better? by Roland Rogers, CEO of BlackAthlete Sports Network, LLC
   
   If you are interested in a follow up to this article, contact Stephen A. Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He wrote a similar piece on this same topic a few years ago.
   
   I would like to read more articles like this written by black journalist with some heart.
   
   
2. RE: are white coaches better? by Roland Rogers, CEO of BlackAthlete Sports Network, LLC
   
   are white basketball,baseball,football players better? are white boxers better? of course not and the establishment(the owners) know that. so it stands to reason that white coaches are also not better. which brings an interesting dynamic. white coaches usually coach majority black/people of color rosters. so is what we are really saying is white coaches coach people of color than black coaches. this is where the slave mentality comes in. the belief that blacks would not work other blacks to death in stifling heat to make money for the master. of course not the whole instution was inhumane and absurd. but sports is not plantation slavery although those same concepts creep in.
   
   sports has a team trying to beat all the other teams for the ultimate prize. there is nothing either scientific or logical that says a black man cannot coach as well or better than a white man. but because the rosters are heavily people of color the slave mentality says you cannot have a black man in charge. what bull shit.
   
   there is great fear between the media, owners, fans that if a black man wins a championship in a major sport that it will be over for them. when you point out that the majority of coaches of color are coaching mediocre teams you have pulled the covers off their strategy. give em a few years and when they don't win can em.
   
   lets go back to art shell and ray rhodes. both coaches were relatively successful but were canned after short stints. rhodes was canned at greenbay after a 500 (8-8) season. look how many coaches kept their jobs this year with a below 500 record. the we look at tony dungy and denis green. both extremely successful. in fact dungy was so close that when he was fired after a playoff season the team won the superbowl the next year with the same players. green was successful for 8 of 9 seasons including the nfl title game 2 of 3 years. but was let go after a 5-11 season which included the tragic loss of korey stringer. i witnessed the minneapolis media wage a war to get green removed inspite of great success. actually green should have went to a superbowl except for a missed kick from a kicker who missed not one kick that year. i have watched that game from start to finish and i don't think the forces wanted green in the superbowl with that team. i know that might be a reach but watch the game see what you think.
   
   coaching and ownership are the last outposts. it is clear the plan is to keep those jobs as white as possible. but there used to be all white nba championship teams........sounds like a joke now. nfl teams had whites at the skill positions running back, receiver, dback ........and no black quarterbacks. boxing ..forget about it. th landscape of sports has definitely changed. it won't be long before green, dungy, lewis, cromell, edwards, baker, alou, etc win it all. .....and then the fun begins.
   
   
3. Dear Mark,
   Your article on the Black Athlete was superb, introspective, but practical. Implementing benchmarks in a contract of an athletic director or coach for graduating college athlete, removes the complexities for achievement put forth by the NCAA. More discussion is needed on this issue, but i beleive you are on the right track.
   
   thanks Mr. Chuck Hicks/ teacher, coach, and, school adminstrator.
   
   
4. Black Athlete Sports Network Philadelphia Sports Conference
   
   April 11, 2003
   Adams Mark Hotel, City Line Avenue
   “Reflections from the Drexel University Athletics Contingency”
   Rebecca Weidensaul Gigli, Ph.D.
   Assistant Director of Athletics, Academic Services, Drexel University
   
   It was a dreary Friday morning in Philadelphia, but our small contingency of Drexel University student-athletes and staff were nonetheless energetic and looking forward to our trip to the Adams Mark Hotel to attend the Black Athlete Sports Network Sports Conference. As an advisor to student-athletes, and a mentor to graduate assistants, I am always looking for ways that I can expose them to new environments, experiences and opportunities for growth. This conference was clearly one of those opportunities. And, as the chair of the Athletic Department’s Minority Opportunities Committee I am always searching for learning opportunities that will help me become more effective in that leadership role. This day provided me, my GA and the Drexel University student-athletes a “time out” from our lives at Drexel so that we could pause to talk and reflect on the important issues that face minorities in sport. I was surprised that more of the Philadelphia colleges and universities were not present and believe that this can become a synergistic event for coaches, administrators, staff and most of all student-athletes. The greatest benefit is for us to be in the same place, to share ideas, concerns and look for new ways to work towards common goals. I hope that that will happen for this organization in the near future. I encourage everyone to get to know Roland Rogers, co-founder and CEO of this organization and what Black Athlete Sports Network has to offer. As you will see from the reflections of my staff and students, this organization is looking to effect positive change in the lives of others and in this case, they succeeded.
   
   Jonnae McClain, Drexel University Women’s Softball
   
   The information at this conference was great and very useful. It may come as a surprise, but I have been black all my life! Along with that, I have been a competing athlete since I was 4 years old and not once have I been to conference geared to black athletes. This was much needed and I believe that once people realize how important this organization is it will go straight to the top! "Low in numbers, High in spirits" became the motto of the day. I just got filled with great emotion thinking of how it could have been if we had the turn-out that I had expected. We learned about the medical aspect of sport and sports injuries and financial tid-bits. But the most touching part of the day were the personal anecdotes. They showed us that we were not alone in this, that we had someone who had been there and done that and now trying to give back and steer us mentally in the right direction. On my campus there is a lack of mentors for the black population. Any one of these men could do an impeccable job here. BlackAthlete.net needs to advertise more so that everyone, young and old, current and former athletes, friends and family can join in on this potential mentality changing event. I had a great time and would love to attend more functions of this kind and even get a hand in the process of putting another one together. This organization needs more young people on the staff.
   
   Kimberly Lucas, Drexel University Women’s Basketball
   
   I thought the Black Athlete Network Philadelphia meeting turned out to be a great success. I know in the beginning, some of the organizers were saying that as long as they planted a seed of knowledge in the few people that were there, the symposium would be a success, and that success was achieved. R. Anthony Jones, a motivational speaker, shared thoughts about the concept of setting a higher standard for oneself which is something that can be applied to many aspects of a person's, or student-athlete's, life.
   The second speech, by Dr. Thomas L. Wickiewicz was just as meaningful as the first because he stressed the importance of knowing what different injuries entail and how to treat them, skills that every athlete should know.
   
   Charles “Tank” Harris, financial advisor, was my favorite of all the speakers. His large size and booming voice caught my attention right away. The topics he covered in his speech were equally as powerful, and his story of how he always had his goals set high from the beginning and is still working hard today to better himself even more was very heartfelt. I could relate a lot of the things he was saying to my life and to the life of my brothers and my sister who have worked very hard to be successful and who are also a great inspiration to me.
   
   The people who were there had been moved and the seed of knowledge and inspiration had definitely been planted!
   
   Samara Porter, Drexel University ACHIEVE Center, Graduate Assistant
   
   Having the opportunity to attend the Black-Athlete in sports symposium was great experience for me. Being a Minority athlete myself I found the information to be very useful, I have more recently than ever recognized the under-representation of minorities at my University and the need for minority support programs. With programs such as this I find that it empowers the athlete with confidence and know how. Having that resource available for information and networking can lead to obtaining a competitive edge in the present and in the future.
   
   I hope that this program continues to grow and recognize the importance of knowledge to make the right decision. Armed with powerful and motivational speakers at these seminars, minorities can begin to recognize their worth and demand it. It’s been proven that it is extremely hard to get over on some one who knows what’s going on. With that I can see a movement being started one with a good cause and going in the right upward direction. GOOD LUCK!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   
5. Hello, Mr. Rogers:
   
   Thank you for the write-up about Mr. Rust. It returned me to those thrilling days of yesteryear when Art and I used to stake out stories together, he for NBC, me for Channel 5, in New York. Not only did Arthur have a sports mind, but his knowledge of jazz was equally astounding; he could name the complete personnel of the Ellington Band, circa 1929, or any time, for that matter.
   
   Brian Madden
   
   
6. Hi Greg,
   
   I read your editorial on blackathlete.com. I coach women's volleyball at Coppin State College, a MEAC school in Baltimore, and I think you are oversimplifying the problem. A lot of the problems with Black schools competing for talent with the "powerhouse" schools can, indeed, be attributed to budget. Not only the athletic budget but also the funds that are available to pay top teachers; maintain and upgrade attractive facilities; and supply effective student support services, i.e., all the things that prospective student athletes consider when selecting the institution that is supposed to give them a jumpstart toward their chosen professional careers.
   
   I have found inspired and innovative administrative leadership to be lacking in the traditionally Black institutions with which I am familiar. When strong leadership or money is lacking at the top then the athletic department is the first to feel the effects. It's tough to build a successful athletic program if you can't attract the best talent. The most successful coaches, at the collegiate level, are not necessarily the best "X and O" guys. They are the best recruiters. It comes down to them effectively "selling" their program (and institution) to the top recruits. If a coach can't present a package that includes a great education; an attractive campus with modern facilities; a great "student" life; and a top competitive schedule, then he can't compete. It takes money to accomplish all that.
   
   Sorry to burst your bubble, Greg, but it really does come down to money in the final analysis.
   
   Cheers,
   
   Tom Herod, Club Director
   Washington Diplomats Volleyball
   P.O. Box 87332
   Gaithersburg, MD 20886
   Office: (301) 990-2646
   Email: therod@diplomatsvb.org
   Web: www.diplomatsvb.org
   PRODUCING GREAT PLAYERS PRODUCES GREAT TEAMS
   
   
7. Hello -
   
   Thank you for your web site ...I like the "whole" stories you provide. I read an article last week re: Paul Pierce and his court case by Stephen Alford and I can't find it on the site anymore...can you give me a link or forward the story to me?
   
   Thanks,
   Lisa Fager
   
   
8. Dear Sherri:
   
   Thank you again for giving the Drexel student-athletes and
   I agreat opportunity last week! We loved it! I really got alot from the day -
   
   thank you! -submitted by Rebecca Gigli