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Re: Ryan - Foot in Mouth

At 06:35 PM 3/26/2004, you wrote: 
I can dispute it.
Not to say this entirely incorrect its just far too simplistic an
explanation.

Yes, indeed. Basketball is much more complex than something like the 100-meter dash, in that there are various ways to achieve success. Shortcomings in leaping ability and speed can be made up by height, smarts, shooting ability etc. etc., People with different skillsets and physical abilities can be successful - if the "bare minimum" combination of requirements is met, of course. In a "pure" sport, like the 100 m dash, you can either run like the wind or you can't. While sprinters work on their technique and lift weights and use steroids, the first and almost the only thing that matters is your genetic makeup - namely, the amount of fast twitch (IIb, IIx type) muscle you have. On that count, people of Western African descent - which includes most American blacks - have everybody else beat, hands down.
That said, the same physical abilities also happen to be very helpful in basketball, though not nearly in the sine qua non way that they are in 100 m dash. But it is the combination of fanatical devotion to the sport among American blacks AND their favorable genetic makeup that allows them to dominate basketball to such an extent, IMO.


Its a bit like an extended family. Some family might have "tall people" in
them. Likewise in Africa depending on the enviroment over the course of many
years various genetic traits have developed. In flatter eastern part of Africa
"the gold coast" from which the slaves were taken it seems that it was
beneficial to be "fast".

It's actually West Africa.

However in other parts of Africa like say Kenya the western part of africa
have extreme amounts of slow twitch muscle fiber - which is more suited to the
hilly enviroment.

Kenya is in the eastern part of Africa, but otherwise you're correct. Kenyans (and some Ethiopians) will again take at least 6-7 out of the Top 10 spots in the Boston Marathon. Last year, I believe, something like 10 out of top 13 were East Africans, mostly Kenyans.

diversity that is present in Africa. Nonetheless its not a coincidence that say
Northern European men DOMINATE the strong man competitions and Olympic
weightlifting events. They have the right genetic backarounds.

Strongman events, yes. Olympic weightlifting, not quite. I never thought of Bulgaria as a Northern European country, not to mention Bulgaria South - Qatar. :)


But genetics DO play a huge role and its quite clear that the East African
genetic profile is well suited to a number of popular sports namely Basketball
and Football.

Yes, as long you swap "West" for "East" :)

Its not so hot for say bike riding or swimming - but who really
cares about those sports.

All those damn furrners.

Kestas