Shark Escapes

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Shark Escapes


Notre Dame's star wide receiver Jeff Samardzija broke the hearts of his fans here at Caste Football when he signed a five-year, $10 million contract to pitch for the Chicago Cubs. Samardzija was projected to be a possible first round NFL draft pick after his tremendous career for the storied Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was this year's best hope to be a "caste-buster," a white athlete with the skill and accomplishments to punch a hole through the existing NFL racial paradigm that segregates white athletes away from defense and ball-handling positions.


But it was not to be. Samardzija opted to take the smart road and cash in on his skills as a baseball pitcher. It's tough to argue against his choice. As a baseball player he has a chance at a long, rewarding career, on average five years longer than is typical for a football player. So instead of getting mercilessly pounded six days a week preparing for a few plays on Sunday, then trying to get healthy after a brutal game, he can expect to enjoy six months of leisurely ballgames on breezy summer nights and sunny afternoons. As a pitcher he will pitch once every four or five days and spend the rest of the time kicking back with his legs up in the bullpen. Not bad work for $10 million.


At the start of the 2006 football season Samardzija was one of several players that Caste Football fans hoped would challenge the racial assumptions that prohibit white players from playing receiver and running back. All of those players encountered the kind of resistance and misfortune that has helped to thoroughly entrench the anti-white Caste System.


In 2005, Colorado State running back Kyle Bell was the only white player to be a featured tailback at a Division I-A school, and only then halfway through the season. Bell ran for over 1,000 yards in '05 as a sophomore. He has indisputable talent and a stellar 2006 season would have gone a long way towards ensuring that he would get a fair shot at playing and starting in the NFL. Unfortunately fate intervened and Bell tore a knee ligament in summer practice. Bell is expected to return but he may always be "damaged goods."


While black players are given every opportunity to prove themselves after serious injury, white players are not so fortunate. Luke Staley, one of the best examples of speed and power to ever run with a football in the college game, was denied any chance at a pro career, largely because of some injuries he had received in college. Willis McGahee on the other hand was drafted in the first round after damaging his medial collateral, anterior cruciate, and posterior cruciate ligaments in his last college game. The Buffalo Bills were content to gamble on a first round pick and wait a year before he could even play a down. That's a scenario a white player is assured will never happen for him.


Brian Leonard of Rutgers was coming off a superb junior season in 2005 and was even hinted at as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate in the pre-season. But in one of the most despicable actions by a football coach in modern history, Leonard was switched from being the rare fullback who runs the ball to the racially correct status of blocking fullback and spent the season plowing into linebackers and defensive tackles for a lesser black player. This scenario is played out over and over at colleges across the country with no end in sight. White players with better skills and accomplishments find themselves shunted aside so lesser black players can take their place.


There were other players that also were of interest. Peyton Hillis of the Arkansas Razorbacks is a marvelously talented running back who it was hoped would get significant carries in 2006. However the "Nutt-cases" that oversee the mess that is the Arkansas football program put a halt to that.


Even had Samardzija gone the football route, the Caste System would have proved a tough enemy to defeat. Every year talented white players enter the NFL with impressive resumes yet find themselves benched, cut, and waived. This year college's best receiver, Biletnikoff Award winner Mike Hass, came to the NFL with better numbers than Samardzija, but was ignored, cut and now languishes on the Chicago Bears practice squad. All previous Biletnikoff Award winners were high draft picks and were given numerous opportunities to start and star in the NFL. However, they were the right skin color.


Samardzija's best asset may not have been his speed, height, catching or route-running ability, or even his glittering numbers of receptions and TD's. It was his affiliation with the popular Notre Dame football program. As a famous ex-Irish grad he would have been much harder to kick to the curb than any other white receiver.


Samardzija's decision to go with baseball brings to mind similar cases over the years. A few years ago Drew Henson was starring for the University of Michigan Wolverines as a QB. But Ohio State University alum and New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner came calling with his millions of dollars and enticed Henson to forego his U of M career (ensuring that he would not be competing against Steinbrenner's beloved Buckeyes) and signed with the Yankees.


Henson had been labeled a "can't-miss" pro baseball prospect by the scouts. He was a five-tool player, hitting for average and power, and he could also field, throw, and run. Once in the Yankee system though, Henson proved a bust. He played miserably and even though it was not justified, he got a shot at third base for the Yankees. When that didn't work out, Steinbrenner, with millions to spare, went out and traded for Alex Rodriguez. Henson eventually resurfaced with the Dallas Cowboys, but his football career, which had been unwisely interrupted, was essentially over.


A generation ago Kirk Gibson was a star receiver for the Michigan State Spartans. Gibson was a tremendous combination of speed and strength. He also possessed one of the most aggressive attitudes in sports. His athletic qualifications were unquestionable and he was sure to have been a high draft pick by the NFL. Gibson could have been a caste breaker at a crucial time in the formation of the Caste System. With his skill and aggressive attitude he would have been a force to be reckoned with. The idea of benching Gibson for a lesser black player would have been risky for any coach.


Gibson, of course, opted for baseball and a career with his hometown Detroit Tigers. It was a wise choice for him in retrospect. Although he was not a "natural" ball player, his athletic ability and unique personal drive made him a star. He was perhaps the most athletically gifted white player in baseball since Mickey Mantle. Gibson nearly always placed in the top ten in power/speed rankings during the 1980's, leading the league in 1984. His dramatic home runs in not just one, but TWO World Series, is part of the legacy this great white warrior left behind.


Samardzija will not get to display much of his athletic prowess as a pitcher. Thus he will not have any effect on the Caste System ideology, a big disappointment for his fans. He is however pitching for the Cubs, who have a habit of burning out young pitchers faster than Harry Carey could down an Old Milwaukee. So perhaps someday the "Shark" may yet again strap on a football helmet.


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sunshine

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Dec 22, 2004
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It remains to be seen if Jeff will become the projected star pitcher. Making the majors is incredibly hard and as JB mentions above Drew Henson is an example of what can go wrong. Henson was an even higher touted can't miss prospect in baseball who grabbed the big bucks and to be fair the guy was dreadful. Yet he gave up a promising football career wasted a lot of time and the rest is history. Not saying this will happen to Jeff S but don't be surprised if it does.
There are other guys down the road we should watch--Riley Cooper of Florida comes to mind. If he plays baseball this spring then we can evaluate him better. He has been likened to Jeff Francouer and is big and fast. (4.3 speed). Will he start at WR for the Gators next season or the year after?
BJ Symanski was another big fast WR( 6.45 speed in 60--moving folks) out of Princeton who opted for baseball instead of football despite a great career at Princeton. He is currently struggling like hell in the minors.
Another athlete who is off the charts in terms of athleticism is Drew Stubbs out of U Texas. He was drafted high( Reds) but questions still dog him regarding making consistent contact. At 6'4" and mind warping speed he was a champion 100 M sprinter and star WR in HS. If he makes the majors we will look at an even faster and more powerful version of Rocco Baldelli.
If not we will be left wondering if he chose the wrong sport.
 
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