Bonds, Vick and the Race Factor
Two of the sports world's biggest stars are making headlines this week, one for his performance on the field (and how he was able to achieve it) and the other for off-the-field conduct; San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds is poised to break Hank Aaron's long-standing career home run record after years of speculation about whether or not he used steroids and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been indicted on charges related to dogfighting.
Recent polling shows both stories divide fans, particularly along racial lines.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the results of an InsiderAdvantage survey of Georgians on how the Falcons should react to Vick's indictment. The survey found a state divided: 46 percent said the Falcons ought to release Vick, while the same percentage said he should remain on the team until a verdict is rendered. Falcons' fans expressed similar sentiments, 47 percent said the team should let their QB go.
Black respondents were much more likely than whites to believe Vick should be given the benefit of the doubt. Two-thirds of blacks said the Falcons should wait for a verdict before making a decision about Vick, nearly 30 percentage points higher than among white respondents.
In Bonds' case, an ABC News/ESPN poll of baseball fans released in May found that Bonds' record-breaking home run may not be met with many cheers. Just 37 percent of baseball fans were rooting for the controversial slugger to break Hammerin' Hank's record and more than half were rooting against him.
Along racial lines, however, a different picture emerges. Three-quarters of black baseball fans said they were hoping Bonds would break the record and just 37 percent believe he knowingly used steroids. Among whites, the results are a mirror image: 76 percent believe that Bonds did use steroids and 37 percent are rooting for him to break the record.
Will sports fans' opinions continue to diverge once the record falls or a verdict is reached? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
By Jennifer Agiesta |
July 20, 2007; 7:17 PM ET
Polls
Previous: Sizing Up the YouTube Vote |
Next: Debate Prep
Posted by: ransacker | July 27, 2007 7:03 PM
A DIFFERENCE OF CULTURE. THAT WILL NOT BE CHANGED. POOR BLACK PEOPLE LIVING IN SLUMS RAISED WITH DOGFIGHTING WILL SUPPORT HIM.
RICH WHITE PEOPLE LIVING IN RELATIVE MANSIONS IN THE SUBURBS WHO WERE RAISED WITH OVERDOMESTICATED WORTHLESS PARASITIC PUPPIES WILL HATE HIM.
Posted by: ANON | July 31, 2007 6:06 PM
White people are taking offense to the act while it seems alot of black people are taking this as a personal attack. Are they going to treaten to riot like in the case of Rodney King if he's not aquitted? It never fails to amaze me how people will point the finger in any direction but where it belongs trying to deflect the blame. Such as comparing dogfights to hunting. It's just crazy.
Posted by: Chakk | August 31, 2007 12:15 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I think what is going on with Michael Vick is trial by media. He is after all, and according to our Constitution, innocent until proven guilty. If he is taken to a court of law and found guilty of said charges, then hence the league should punish him appropriately. I own a dog and find the idea of dog fighting reprehensible. Well just plain ****ed up would be a better way of putting it.
But allow us to await the decision of the courts........