# Yes, we cheated, but investigating us is racist **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647 "2015-02-14T16:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/1 "2015-02-14T16:36:53Z")
> **[Little League cheating call raises allegations of racism](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jesse-jackson-race-factor-chicago-little-league-cheating-call/)** > > Rev. Jesse Jackson calls league's decision to revoke national title "untimely and inappropriate" Little League International announced Wednesday morning that the Jackie Robinson West All-Stars had players in its lineup who lived outside the team’s boundaries. At an afternoon press conference, the Rev. Jesse Jackson asked, “Is this about boundaries or race?” “This decision’s untimely and inappropriate at this time,” Jackson told reporters. “It should not take six months after a team has played a championship game to determine eligibility to play the game in the first place.” … “We had to provide birth certificates, proof of schools, light bills, so we had to prove our residency in order to join the team,” Jackie Robinson West parent Venisa Green said before Wednesday’s decision. At Wednesday’s press conference, Green said she was “blindsided” by the league’s decision and that she heard about it on the radio as she was driving her son Brandon to school. “It is amazing to me that whenever African-Americans exceed the expectations that there is always going to be fault,” Green said. That’s just pathetic. You’re caught cheating. Just take the punishment. Here’s [another team](http://www.cbs46.com/story/26195315/peachtree-city-little-league-team-stripped-of-state-championship) that was caught cheating and was stripped of the title. Should they protest that it was because they were white? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/2 "2015-02-14T16:48:40Z")
Who “cheated”? The preteens and young teenagers who are being punished? Or the adults whose actions they had no control over? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/3 "2015-02-14T16:51:46Z")
Is there some reason you are thinking anything Jesse Jackson has to say is valuable? (Same goes for people like Rush Limbaugh) ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/4 "2015-02-14T18:28:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Who “cheated”? > > The preteens and young teenagers who are being punished? > > Or the adults whose actions they had no control over? Note that it is not the team members that are whining about racism. It is the adults. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/5 "2015-02-14T18:50:04Z")
More a rant, really. Let’s move it over to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/6 "2015-02-14T19:01:35Z")
I’m supposed to care about all this why? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/7 "2015-02-14T19:04:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Who “cheated”? > > The preteens and young teenagers who are being punished? > > Or the adults whose actions they had no control over? I guess you’re right, those preteens and young teenagers had no idea whatsoever as to where they lived or why they were in a different league. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/8 "2015-02-14T19:05:13Z")
Perhaps the qualification that sometimes cries of racism are actually bullshit? Like when criticism of our president is deflected as racist in nature? I guess whether you wish to see both sides of things is your prerogative. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/9 "2015-02-14T19:17:50Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Is there some reason you are thinking anything Jesse Jackson has to say is valuable? (Same goes for people like Rush Limbaugh) But it’s common knowledge that everyone who thinks of Obama as “Dear Leader” hangs on Jackson’s (and Al Sharpton’s) pronouncements regarding race as if they fell from the mouth of God. Both of them. All right, I’ll be generous — three. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/10 "2015-02-14T19:29:03Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I’m supposed to care about all this why? It’s your turn to change Terr’s diaper. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/11 "2015-02-14T20:35:23Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I guess you’re right, those preteens and young teenagers had no idea whatsoever as to where they lived or why they were in a different league. If the adult-in-charge told the children it was ok to play on this team, then they don’t deserve to be collectively punished for the adult’s lie - especially the children who had no part in the lie at all. The adults, on the other hand, should be banned from LL. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/12 "2015-02-14T21:22:33Z")
The issue, as I see it, is whether the Jackie Robinson West team was treated any differently than past teams have been. It’s justifiable to ask them to prove their players’ residence if that has been a standard practice. Does anyone know the answer to that? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/13 "2015-02-14T22:04:56Z")
Christ, can’t we wait? Can’t we just let them have fun without infecting them with the pathology of winning? Hey! Coach! Leave those kids alone! ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/14 "2015-02-14T22:06:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Christ, can’t we wait? Can’t we just let them have fun without infecting them with the pathology of winning? > > Hey! Coach! Leave those kids alone! All in all … ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/15 "2015-02-14T22:11:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The issue, as I see it, is whether the Jackie Robinson West team was treated any differently than past teams have been. It’s justifiable to ask them to prove their players’ residence if that has been a standard practice. Does anyone know the answer to that? I don’t know if this particular team is guilty of using players outside their boundaries, but it’s been a problem for a long time and this isn’t the first disqualification. > **[MLB News, Scores, Standings & Stats](https://www.foxsports.com/mlb)** > > Get MLB news, scores, stats, standings & more for your favorite teams and players -- plus watch highlights and live games! All on FoxSports.com. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/16 "2015-02-14T22:35:37Z")
I find it amusing that conservatives think a lot more about Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Saul Alinsky, etc. FAR more than us liberals do. Why, if it weren’t for our so very concerned conservative brethren, I probably would have never even \*heard \*of two of those names. So, uh, well done, **Terr**. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/17 "2015-02-14T23:21:08Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > I find it amusing that conservatives think a lot more about Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Saul Alinsky, etc. FAR more than us liberals do. Why, if it weren’t for our so very concerned conservative brethren, I probably would have never even \*heard \*of two of those names. > > So, uh, well done, **Terr**. Kind of reminds me that I first heard the word “rimming” (with the sexual connotation) in a preacher’s sermon. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/18 "2015-02-15T00:14:20Z")
“This has been _BLACK PERSPECTIVE_ with **Terr** … the only show that’s by white people, for white people, about black people! Tune in tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that…” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/19 "2015-02-15T01:55:43Z")
I blame it on Black History Month. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647/20 "2015-02-15T02:04:17Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Perhaps the qualification that sometimes cries of racism are actually bullshit? Much like “sometimes, cries of rape are actually fake”, this is a blatantly obvious truism that more often than not leads into “_all_ cries of racism are actually bullshit”. Or, more commonly, “that specific cry of racism (which is actually totally accurate) is bullshit!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-we-cheated-but-investigating-us-is-racist/712647.md?page=2)