Quote: Willie on being a Black Manager
In a report for the Bergen Record, Ian O’Conner talks with Willie Randolph about the manager’s image among fans.
During the discussion, Randolph wondered if race could be why people view him differently than Joe Torre, who embodies many of the same managerial tactics.
O’Conner than asked Randolph if race is a factor, and if black managers are held to a different standard than their white counterparts, to which he responded:
“I don’t know how to put my finger on it, but I think there’s something there. Herman Edwards did pretty well here and he won a couple of playoff [games], and they were pretty hard on Herm. Isiah [Thomas] didn’t do a great job, but they beat up Isiah pretty good…I don’t know if people are used to a certain figurehead. There’s something weird about it. I think it’s very important…that I handle myself in a way that the [African-American managers] coming behind me will get the opportunities, too.”
…unfortunately, i have been listening to WFAN all morning, and this seems to be a mild topic of conversation…
…people are calling in to the radio station suggesting randolph ‘played the race card,’ which i do not think is accurate…
…he wondered if race could be involved, and was then asked a direct question and he answered it honestly…
…it’s not like he was asked why people dislike him, and responded with race…instead, he was asked if race is a reason, and he answered the question…
…there is a big difference between the two…
…that said, i would never assume to know what it’s like to be a black manager in baseball, so who am i to judge these remarks…if willie honestly thinks ‘there is something there,’ at some level, i’ll trust his judgment and do my best to be empathetic…
…those of you who want to jump to conclusions, and pretend to know what he is talking about, even though i suspect you do not, have fun without me…
…Update…9:45 am…
…as people have pointed out to me on e-mail, yes, willie is more guilty of not shutting up than he is of anything else…they’re right…given all the criticism he is getting of late, it probably would have made more sense for him to just zip his lips – regardless of whether he is right, wrong, or just waxing philosophical…
