In yesterday's NBA draft, only two American-born whites were selected in the first round. One need only look at the NBA--77 percent of its players are African American--to realize the racial realities of modern sports. You can realize this, just don't say anything about it.

After witnessing so many writers reflexively condemn anyone offering more than a superficial examination of race in sports, it's refreshing to see Steve Sailer's current column denouncing the mob mentality that goes after sports heroes who speak candidly about race. Celtics great Larry Bird, Cubs manager Dusty Baker, and Green Bay Packers star running back Paul Hornung are a few who have felt the brunt of political correctness.

Hornung was recently fired from his job as a color commentator for Fighting Irish football games for suggesting that Notre Dame's high academic standards limit the pool of great black athletes that they can recruit. Bird was widely criticized for suggesting that the NBA loses fans because its on-court product boasts less and less players of the ethnic category that the majority of Americans fall under.

Both statements are true. Would it, for instance, be controversial to say that one of the reasons the NHL hasn't caught on among inner-city blacks is that the Grant Fuhrs and Anson Carters of the hockey are few and far between? No, but if you make the same assessment regarding the NBA, you'll catch heat for it.

One could easily challenge Sailer's genetic argument explaining the failure of white American NBA players. After all, is there a major difference in the genes of foreign whites who still excel at basketball and American whites who fail? But the larger point stands: in many ways, there is an increasing racial gap in the sports that Americans watch and play. As a current spectator, and youthful participant, in football and basketball, this disturbs me. As a fan of Marvin Hagler, Reggie Miller, and Walter Payton, the whole notion of identifying with a sports figure because of his race and not his accomplishments is bothersome too. It's bothersome, but that doesn't mean we should pretend that this phenomenon doesn't exist.

"Of course," Sailer concludes, "there is a problem with free discussion: some people might not like the answers."

I have to say, Mr. Fynn, you might have something here. You may have noticed my disagreements with you on other posts, but in this case I honestly see your point. A debate about race in professional sports is long overdue, and it's outrageous to fire someone over wanting to start one. At the end of the day, however, it does seem that athletes get thier jobs on merit. You can't be arguing that the NBA has too many blacks can you? It may have more than the percentage in the general population, but black culture empmhzies basketball while white culture emphzizes other sports like hockey, golf, tennis, ect.