WVA's White offers appology for racially charged statement

Sgt John · 08-01-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

WVU's White apologizes for comments about baseball coach
July 31, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia quarterback Pat White apologized Thursday for his comments that accused Mountaineer baseball coach Greg Van Zant of not pursuing black athletes.

White has been selected three times in baseball's amateur draft. He was asked Tuesday at the Big East football media day in Newport, R.I., whether he had spoken with Van Zant about the possibility of playing college baseball.

White said Van Zant "wasn't interested" in having him on the team and was "not too high" on black players. There were no blacks on the 2008 WVU baseball roster.

ESPN:NCF News

Impact: White had something to say and he said it. In the wake of the RRod scandal, Patrick White is the Emperor of the State of West Virginia. This means nothing. Draft away.

Mike · 08-01-2008, 11:17 PM

I gained much respect for Pat White when he was willing to put his neck out on the line for something "I thought" believed.

When he retracted everything, I lost all that respect, and then some.

You don't say something this serious unless you can back it up.

Did White have a legitimate reason to say what he said? Was he simply upset because a black player didn't make the team?

Regardless why he said it, Van Zant now has a shadow cast over him. Whether it is deserving or not, it is there, and Van Zant can't get out from under it.

Also, I have to wonder why Pat White retracted the statement? Was it do to him saying something he didn't have no basis in saying, or did he retract it for fear of being outcast by the team?

A big "thumbs down" here to Pat White for opening up a can of worms like this, then thinking he can just shut the lid like nothing ever happened.

12gaugetimmy · 08-01-2008, 11:40 PM

I'm guessin they don't call him "whitey" on campus.

Sgt John · 08-02-2008, 12:43 AM

I am sure he said what he wanted to say, and then someone sat him down and told him his NFL potential would be severely damaged if he looked like Al Sharpton throwing a football.

Runnik's Hambones · 08-02-2008, 07:32 AM

I agree Sgt. I bet he said what he wanted to say, what he felt, then someone upstairs put the thumb on him. My guess is the school itself. First they don't want to make it look like their star is against any part of their organization, second they don't want people to think that their racists. I mean come on, White said in the begining that the only real reason he didn't play baseball is because the coach doesn't like black players. That implies that not only did/does White want to play college baseball, but that he may have just been turned down. An athelete like him? Getting turned down? I can only imagine that his denial had something to do with his race, and not his skill. White must have been forced to take back his words.

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08-01-2008, 11:17 PM	#2
Mike who me? Admin Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: L.A. (Lower Arkansas) Posts: 29,032 vCash: 2708179 Donate Blog Entries: 18	I gained much respect for Pat White when he was willing to put his neck out on the line for something "I thought" believed. When he retracted everything, I lost all that respect, and then some. You don't say something this serious unless you can back it up. Did White have a legitimate reason to say what he said? Was he simply upset because a black player didn't make the team? Regardless why he said it, Van Zant now has a shadow cast over him. Whether it is deserving or not, it is there, and Van Zant can't get out from under it. Also, I have to wonder why Pat White retracted the statement? Was it do to him saying something he didn't have no basis in saying, or did he retract it for fear of being outcast by the team? A big "thumbs down" here to Pat White for opening up a can of worms like this, then thinking he can just shut the lid like nothing ever happened.


08-01-2008, 11:40 PM	#3
12gaugetimmy Outlaw Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Shelby,OH Posts: 171 vCash: 64736 Donate	I'm guessin they don't call him "whitey" on campus.


08-02-2008, 12:43 AM	#4
Sgt John Genibus Nitito Canus Premium Member Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Taylor, TX Posts: 5,402 vCash: 82699 Donate Blog Entries: 2	I am sure he said what he wanted to say, and then someone sat him down and told him his NFL potential would be severely damaged if he looked like Al Sharpton throwing a football.


08-02-2008, 07:32 AM	#5
Runnik's Hambones Outlaw Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 464 vCash: 520184 Donate	I agree Sgt. I bet he said what he wanted to say, what he felt, then someone upstairs put the thumb on him. My guess is the school itself. First they don't want to make it look like their star is against any part of their organization, second they don't want people to think that their racists. I mean come on, White said in the begining that the only real reason he didn't play baseball is because the coach doesn't like black players. That implies that not only did/does White want to play college baseball, but that he may have just been turned down. An athelete like him? Getting turned down? I can only imagine that his denial had something to do with his race, and not his skill. White must have been forced to take back his words.