Roy jones made some really good points. The only thing I would say is that the black fighters he's mentioned haven't been knocking out fighters in the manner that Pacquiao and ggg have... Those guys are very exciting to the causal fan and perhaps more marketable to those outside of boxing... There's an opp with wilder let's see what happens there
http://healthyceleb.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Maria-Sharapova-bikini.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/05/24/12/1E92AD9700000578-3094869-image-m-22_1432466314461.jpg
https://www.google.com/search?q=serena+williams&biw=1680&bih=925&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMInfGKlOWbyQIVQiuICh1sCAZe#imgrc=_
Okay... and even if you really don't agree with the above (I would find that hard to believe, but okay) then let us consider:
There is 41,700,000 million African Americans in the US
Non-hispanic whites totals to 197,000,000 million.
Let's assume that the majority of AA find Serena more attractive, and the majority of non-hispanic whites in America find Maria more attractive (lets not forget Maria was born in Russia and has lived in the US since 1994). Statistically speaking, Maria would be more attractive to sponsors since she reaches out to a wider demographic proportion of the population.
And no, it's not racist to have a certain race preference. While I like all girls, I find latina girls the sexiest on average. Doesn't make me racist, or corporations racist either.
So in other words, race DOES play a factor in an athlete's marketability. Not really sure what you're disagreeing with here.
And IMO, those Sharapova pics are just 'meh'. YMMV.
Say who? That sort of assumption and who gets to make that determination of 'marketability' is EXACTLY what RJJ was speaking on.
http://healthyceleb.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Maria-Sharapova-bikini.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/05/24/12/1E92AD9700000578-3094869-image-m-22_1432466314461.jpg
https://www.google.com/search?q=serena+williams&biw=1680&bih=925&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMInfGKlOWbyQIVQiuICh1sCAZe#imgrc=_
Okay... and even if you really don't agree with the above (I would find that hard to believe, but okay) then let us consider:
There is 41,700,000 million African Americans in the US
Non-hispanic whites totals to 197,000,000 million.
Let's assume that the majority of AA find Serena more attractive, and the majority of non-hispanic whites in America find Maria more attractive (lets not forget Maria was born in Russia and has lived in the US since 1994). Statistically speaking, Maria would be more attractive to sponsors since she reaches out to a wider demographic proportion of the population.
And no, it's not racist to have a certain race preference. While I like all girls, I find latina girls the sexiest on average. Doesn't make me racist, or corporations racist either.
"I wish the big companies would be more diverse, and show love to everybody."
Keep wishing. The companies will go where the popularity is.
If that was true then why did they not go to Mayweather?
People are much more closely related by class than by race. If only people would come to the table and speak these things out they would realize just how similar their struggles are.
This ^. But it is of course in the interests of those with wealth and privilege to encourage social divisions, racial or otherwise, to help maintain their grip on power.
Apple uses focus groups to see how well a guy would play socially.
Sure there is some racism, but.... Big but... If a guy excels at what he does, & a company looking to use them as the face for their company, is charismatic & won't (will not) do idiotic things publicly to bring negative publicity to their brand image, no problem.
Who on this site, without looking him up online knows who Edward Bernays is!?
Honestly? If you don't know who that guy is, then you don't know that this man is the reason you think your thoughts are your own. He is the man that came up with the blue print for how to make you want & buy stuff you don't need. Why one brand is better than a competitor's brand, even if the products are functionally/physically/chemically identical.
If having Che or Manson on the label of "products" would sell more, they are gonna Use it.
Gold or Cash. Some guys like GGG are in sales mode all the time. Selling the image!
Please research Edward Bernays, and read his books, wiki is for short attention span fools! Learn something.
He conveniently does not mention the fact that Maria Sharapova is a lot more beautiful than Serena...
Say who? That sort of assumption and who gets to make that determination of 'marketability' is EXACTLY what RJJ was speaking on.
The most popular athletes in America are all black. The biggest names in American boxing history are black. Honestly, any argument claiming people don't want black American athletes to be popular has no basis at all, and especially in boxing where the biggest stars in the sport going back to the 60s are all black, every single one of them.
Racism is a huge problem in America for many things, but sports isn't one of them.
Again, this is just naïve.
I noticed that boxing will not be as exciting if it wasn't plagued with racist and nationalist.
All this let's get along bs is bs..
I agree with this. The rampant nationalism is what keeps boxing relevant. As boxing fans, most of us can appreciate a lot more about the sport and support varying fighters. However, us petty few aren't what pay the bills.
Didnt really check out that interview.
But didnt Roy take way too many headshots in his career?
How can he still fight, does he want to get totally braindead?
Isnt he a puppet of the rich russians now and acts as a fighting clown for russian millionaires?
"But black athlete's get all the endorsements", "Look at Michael Jordan"
as soon as I read I comment like that I automatically ignore it. America loves to get someone black to sing, dance or rap their product into the hands of the masses. Black people are entertaining and are proven product pushers. The issue comes into play when we talk ab out how these athletes/entertainers are treated in the corporate world. We all recognize that Serena is the best in women's tennis, but Sherapova maes more money in endorsements. Why spend so much time trying to ignore this fact as opposed to addressing it? Michael Vick was ripped to pieces, lost his endorsements, was kicked out of the NFL and thrown in jail for dog fighting. As yourself, what happened to his teammate Big Ben? Don't ignore it, address it. Hope Solo is a media darling and Chris Brown is still apologizing for beating up his girlfriend when he was 18 years old. Come on guy's, we're not making this shit up.
lol What a crybaby
It isn't odd that you don't find any relation between your situation and Chris Brown's but it is odd that America is to this day is calling an 18 year old a monster for getting in a fight with his girlfriend.
And sure you can play the "you're really discrediting black people talents" game which is age old american deflection but It won't work with me becuase I've seen this game for years and years and years.
You saying "lord forbid a black athlete gets 50 mill and not 100 mill in endorsments" sounds like "you people should be happy with what they give you" and I'm sure you don't want to come off like that lol
Listen if you don't want to admit that there's an inequality in the branding and marketing of black athletes/entertainers in comparsion to whites, that's on you. You're choosing to turn a blind eye to the facts and the conversation can't move forward.
It's not a game it's plain and simple. No illuminati conspiracy theory. Black people basically rule professional sports. Endorsements don't mean shit to me when these athletes are already getting paid millions upon millions, I don't see a reason to fight for them.
Ah, of course, how could I judge Chris for that? I remember being young and beating the shit out of my girlfriends too.
Lord forbid a black athlete gets 50 million instead of 100 million in endorsements. When I read about that stuff, I can't sleep for weeks thinking about the inequality. Drives me nuts.
You really discredits black people's talent's when you say things like " America loves to get someone black to sing, dance or rap their product into the hands of the masses." Like their talents didn't earn it, just some white man gave it to them? Quit playing the victim and trying to find inequality where there is none.
It isn't odd that you don't find any relation between your situation and Chris Brown's but it is odd that America is to this day is calling an 18 year old a monster for getting in a fight with his girlfriend.
And sure you can play the "you're really discrediting black people talents" game which is age old american deflection but It won't work with me becuase I've seen this game for years and years and years.
You saying "lord forbid a black athlete gets 50 mill and not 100 mill in endorsments" sounds like "you people should be happy with what they give you" and I'm sure you don't want to come off like that lol
Listen if you don't want to admit that there's an inequality in the branding and marketing of black athletes/entertainers in comparsion to whites, that's on you. You're choosing to turn a blind eye to the facts and the conversation can't move forward.
A lot of just brain dead idiocy on this thread.
Floyd is unmarketable. He's a serial woman abuser and just not a very likable or charismatic person.
Jordan made more money in endorsements than any other athlete. Shaq made money. LBJ makes money.
Its not about race, its about being marketable.
You're an idiot. Floyd is marketable. How else do you explain him being the highest-paid athlete, and breaking PPV buys despite his less than exciting style?
It's a tricky, sensitive subject that needs good wording. RJ pulled it off, he was very good with the wording and respect. Give the subject to Broner, Campbell or Devon Alexander and they will sound like jerks and get backlash. But they ultimately want to say the same thing, they just don't know how to say it in a professional way like Roy did. Probably his HBO commentating job helps him express himself more professionaly. He has to be careful with what he says on air so that probably made him a better talker now. He has to find a way to say what he feels in a civilized manner.
its tricky, but look at the person speaking on the topic...I think the former p4p king of boxing, future hall of famer and one of the most known athletes of his generation would know about how it feels a lil more than people on a boxing forum who never dealt with what he has
10y ago
legend Roy Jones speaks on how america treats black boxers and the Ward vs GGG beef | BoxingScene Community