Black Athletes Don't Get Fair Shake According Fans
BRISTOL, CT - A racial divide remains among fans about the extent to which African-Americans enjoy equal opportunities in sports, as well as about the degrees of prejudice and discrimination that continue to pervade the sports landscape, according to results from a Hart Research Associates survey conducted for ESPN.
The online survey of 1,822 sports fans (1,213 whites, 435 African-Americans) was conducted Dec. 15-Dec. 21. The full survey results are posted below:
BRISTOL, CT - A racial divide remains among fans about the extent to which African-Americans enjoy equal opportunities in sports, as well as about the degrees of prejudice and discrimination that continue to pervade the sports landscape, according to results from a Hart Research Associates survey conducted for ESPN.
The online survey of 1,822 sports fans (1,213 whites, 435 African-Americans) was conducted Dec. 15-Dec. 21. The full survey results are posted below:
Results from an online survey of 1,822 sports fans (1,213 whites, 435 African-Americans) conducted Dec. 15-Dec. 21 by Hart Research Associates for ESPN.
On a scale on which a five means you are "a very big sports fan" and a one means you have "absolutely no interest in sports," in general, how big a sports fan are you?
Type of fan
All
White
African-American
5 -- Very big fan
39
38
47
4
33
35
25
3 -- Somewhat of a fan
25
24
26
2
3
3
2
1 -- Absolutely no interest
--
--
--
About how many hours in an average week would you say you watch sports on television?
Hours watched
All
White
African-American
None
--
--
--
1 hour
--
--
--
2-3 hours
26
27
24
4 to 5 hours
26
27
23
6 to 10 hours
24
25
26
11 to 15 hours
12
11
12
16 to 20 hours
6
6
6
21 to 25 hours
3
2
4
More than 25 hours
3
2
5
Please indicate how much you admire and respect each one of the following sports figures -- a great deal, quite a bit, somewhat, not that much, not at all.
Michael Jordan
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
40
27
21
6
6
White Sports Fans
38
28
23
6
7
African-American Sports Fans
55
21
15
4
5
Tony Dungy
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
31
19
25
12
13
White Sports Fans
29
19
27
13
12
African-American Sports Fans
48
19
16
7
10
Tom Brady
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
23
25
28
11
13
White Sports Fans
22
26
28
12
12
African-American Sports Fans
27
27
27
9
10
Shaquille O'Neal
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
21
25
30
14
10
White Sports Fans
18
26
31
15
10
African-American Sports Fans
33
26
25
9
17
Serena Williams
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
20
26
27
14
13
White Sports Fans
14
26
30
16
14
African-American Sports Fans
51
26
14
5
4
Phil Mickelson
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
20
23
31
13
13
White Sports Fans
22
24
30
13
11
African-American Sports Fans
15
21
33
15
16
Derek Jeter
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
20
22
29
15
14
White Sports Fans
19
22
29
16
14
African-American Sports Fans
28
24
26
13
9
Danica Patrick
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
17
23
31
15
14
White Sports Fans
18
23
30
15
14
African-American Sports Fans
18
19
34
15
14
Kobe Bryant
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
15
18
25
19
23
White Sports Fans
11
17
26
22
24
African-American Sports Fans
32
23
19
11
15
Tim Tebow
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
13
19
33
17
18
White Sports Fans
13
19
34
17
17
African-American Sports Fans
17
17
32
15
19
LeBron James
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
14
16
24
21
25
White Sports Fans
9
15
25
24
27
African-American Sports Fans
35
22
19
12
12
Bill Belichick
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
12
17
32
19
20
White Sports Fans
11
17
33
20
19
African-American Sports Fans
15
20
30
13
22
Michael Vick
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
12
13
21
17
37
White Sports Fans
6
12
21
18
43
African-American Sports Fans
40
25
18
9
8
Tiger Woods
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
12
13
19
21
35
White Sports Fans
7
12
17
24
40
African-American Sports Fans
27
21
24
13
15
Ben Roethlisberger
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
7
15
28
22
28
White Sports Fans
6
15
27
23
29
African-American Sports Fans
12
18
28
21
21
Cam Newton
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
7
12
34
22
25
White Sports Fans
4
11
35
25
25
African-American Sports Fans
18
16
31
16
19
Terrell Owens
Great deal
Quite a bit
Somewhat
Not that much
Not at all
All Sports Fans
7
11
24
22
36
White Sports Fans
4
10
25
23
38
African-American Sports Fans
20
15
23
20
22
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements, using a scale from zero (do not agree at all) to 10 (completely agree). You can use any number from zero to 10, depending on how you feel.
African-Americans have equal opportunities and the same chances to succeed as whites do in our country today.
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
6.5
31
24
22
13
10
White Sports Fans
7.0
34
26
21
13
6
African-American Sports Fans
4.4
11
14
26
20
29
African-Americans in our country still often face prejudice and discrimination.
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
6.2
24
29
23
10
14
White Sports Fans
5.8
18
29
25
11
17
African-American Sports Fans
8.5
59
25
12
3
1
The United States has become a colorblind society where people are judged solely on the basis of their ability and conduct rather than their race.
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
4.7
10
19
25
21
25
White Sports Fans
4.9
10
21
27
22
20
African-American Sports Fans
3.3
7
9
17
21
46
Please indicate the extent to which you think there is equality of opportunity for African-Americans in the United States today, using a scale from zero (very little equality of opportunity) to 10 (total equality of opportunity). You can use any number from zero to 10, depending on how you feel.
Sports
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
8.8
73
16
7
2
2
White Sports Fans
9.1
77
14
6
2
1
African-American Sports Fans
8.0
54
27
11
4
4
The military
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
8.0
51
27
11
4
4
White Sports Fans
8.3
55
27
14
3
1
African-American Sports Fans
7.0
34
29
21
9
7
Politics
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
6.6
28
27
24
13
8
White Sports Fans
7.0
33
29
22
11
5
African-American Sports Fans
5.1
12
19
30
18
21
The corporate world
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
6.0
19
27
28
14
12
White Sports Fans
6.4
22
29
29
13
7
African-American Sports Fans
4.1
6
15
25
25
29
Thinking specifically about the sports world, please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements, using a scale from zero (do not agree at all) to 10 (completely agree). You can use any number from zero to 10, depending on how you feel.
African-Americans have equal opportunities and the same chances to succeed as whites do in the sports world today
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
8.3
60
22
11
4
3
White Sports Fans
8.6
65
20
10
3
2
African-American Sports Fans
7.0
36
33
16
6
9
Sports in America are colorblind, and people in sports are judged solely on the basis of their ability and conduct, rather than their race.
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
7.3
43
25
16
9
7
White Sports Fans
7.5
47
25
15
7
6
African-American Sports Fans
6.1
24
28
21
13
14
African-Americans often still face prejudice and discrimination in the sports world today.
Mean
9-10
7-8
5-6
3-4
0-2
All Sports Fans
3.7
8
15
18
15
44
White Sports Fans
3.1
5
13
16
15
51
African-American Sports Fans
6.1
23
26
25
14
12
Thinking about all aspects of sports -- including the athletes, coaches, owner, and fans --which of the following statements best describes your opinion?
The sports world sets a good example for the rest of the country when it comes to race relations and equal opportunity.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
63
65
48
The sports world sets a bad example for the rest of the country when it comes to race relations and equal opportunity.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
7
6
10
The sports world simply reflects the rest of the country when it comes to race relations and equal opportunity.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
30
29
42
And do you think that ...
... Sports do more to unite people across racial lines.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
72
73
66
... Sports do more to divide people across racial lines.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
6
6
6
... Sports do not have much effect either way in this regard.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
22
21
28
How about the sports media and the major media outlets that cover sports?
Do you think that ...
... The sports media play more of a positive role in the way they deal with issues involving race in sports.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
39
39
39
... The sports media play more of a negative role in the way they deal with issues involving race in sports.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
24
21
32
... The sports media do not play a role either way in this regard.
All Sports Fans
White Sports Fans
African-American Sports Fans
37
40
29
African-Americans have ... (Note: This table has been ranked by the percentage of sports
fans who say African-Americans have many or somewhat fewer opportunities)
Becoming owners of professional sports franchises
Many Fewer Opportunities
Somewhat Fewer Opportunities
The Same Opportunities
Somewhat More Opportunities
Many More Opportunities
All Sports Fans
18
29
44
5
4
White Sports Fans
13
29
48
5
5
African-American Sports Fans
37
34
21
6
2
Becoming an athletic director at a major Division I university
Many Fewer Opportunities
Somewhat Fewer Opportunities
The Same Opportunities
Somewhat More Opportunities
Many More Opportunities
All Sports Fans
10
26
52
7
5
White Sports Fans
6
26
57
6
5
African-American Sports Fans
28
34
27
9
2
Becoming a manager in Major League Baseball (MLB)
Many Fewer Opportunities
Somewhat Fewer Opportunities
The Same Opportunities
Somewhat More Opportunities
Many More Opportunities
All Sports Fans
10
25
53
7
5
White Sports Fans
6
22
59
8
5
African-American Sports Fans
25
39
28
6
2
Getting a head coaching position in the National Football League (NFL)
Many Fewer Opportunities
Somewhat Fewer Opportunities
The Same Opportunities
Somewhat More Opportunities
Many More Opportunities
All Sports Fans
8
22
54
9
7
White Sports Fans
5
20
59
9
7
African-American Sports Fans
21
41
26
8
4
Getting a head coaching position with a major Division I sports team in the NCAA