Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society

Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society is an organization that addresses the problems in sports and shows how sports can help benefit society. The following viewpoint is excerpted from the center’s 1997 Racial Report Card, which analyzes the racial composition of players and staff in professional football, baseball, and basketball. The report notes a downturn in minority representation in some sports, and further contends that minority players do not always receive equal opportunities in the sports they play. According to the center’s findings, African-American players may be victims of positional segregation since they are more likely to play positions such as running back or outfielder rather than quarterback or pitcher. Furthermore, the center...