Tom Shatel Discovers A “New Era” Athlete at Creighton
Omaha World-Herald Article On Creighton University Basketball Woes Rubs the Wrong Way
By Will Cummings
myHitNews.com
Some things really rub me the wrong way. Such was the case, today, when I read the Omaha World-Herald article “Shatel: Jays dealing with new-era athlete ” written by columnist Tom Shatel. Though not one time in this rather lengthy article was the word black or African-American used to describe this “new era” athlete that the piece was referring to, it was littered with numerous code words and innuendo that left no doubt that the premise of the entire article was “Boy, we never had so many black players at Creighton—maybe coach Dana Altman doesn’t know how to coach them.”
To give an air of credibility to his argument Shatel brought in Creighton team psychologists Jack Stark to explain the nature of these “new era” athletes. As if we were totally oblivious to the socioeconomic and environmental issues facing many of today’s players.
Note to Shatel: This “new era,” “different-kind-of athlete” at Creighton has been around for over twenty years now! Hello.
Coaches and colleges all over the country have been successfully dealing with these “new era” black athletes for quite some time. Most of us are well aware that a lot of black athletes come from single parent homes and from less than desirable living conditions. But to infer that these black players are somehow the reason for Creighton’s lackluster performance this season is problematic: Are the type of “new era” players that Creighton all-of the sudden finds on its door steps a problem for North Carolina coach Roy Williams, Kansas’ Bill Self, Kentucky’s John Calipari and all the other successful coaches around the country?
No. They only become a point of concern in some peoples minds when they are not winning.
Shatel, Creighton’s unimpressive performance this season boils down to them not gelling as a team and/or maybe they are not as talented as many expected them to be. At least those are the reasons you better start hanging your hat on. Because if you can write an article with a title like that and meander on about how difficult these players are to coach and then you ask Stark:
“A lot of folks wonder if Creighton is on the way down because Altman has players he can’t coach?”
Creighton basketball is in more trouble than you realize.
January 30, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
Unfortunately, as a white male and season ticket holder I agree with your assesment regards to Tom’s article. Don’t blame the african american males for poor coaching! “New Era”? No doubt he was discribing the young black male athletes who compete on our team. I don’t fault Shark or Altman for trying to help these young men but it’s an insult to african americans when such code words are used. Fact! Tom, can get away with it since OWH readership is 99% white. Fact! It’s now obvious to me he’s a racist. As the author Tim White would state; Tom’s living as the rest of us whites are with, “White Privledge”. Tom, if you wish to be honest, be honest and say the obvious. Dealing with young black males who come from difficult backgrounds. Or maybe we should just recruit white athletes and hope for the best! “New Era”? What’s new is Tom’s subtle racist headline.
January 30, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
I just read the article after a partner sent me the link to this site. It don’t surprise me one bit because O.W.H. stands for Our White Heritage news. It was like back in the day when white plantation owners would seek out help from each other on how best to control their slaves. Tom Shatel went to Jack Stark,. Dana Altman consults Stark and has talked to Tom Osborne on how to control the slaves. Only a newspaper in Nebraska would be bold enough to print how it is done in the modern era.
And my brotha’s at Creighton play on.
January 31, 2010 @ 6:13 pm
I think everyone including the writer, Mr. Cummings, is missing the larger issue here. Jack Stark should be reprimanded. It is very unethical at the very minimum for him to agree to an article like that where he openly discusses team issues in particular P’ Allen Stinnett. Stark basically psychoanalyzed Stinnet in a public forum. Are licensed psychologist permitted to talk about their clients in the open like that? I for one would not let a Creighton coach step in my door to recruit my son if this is how they conduct their internal business by airing it out in the public. I do not see how any player would feel comfortable in the future with discussing their personal problems with him. Jack Stark may have a very impressive record and is very well connected but he was way out of bounds here IMO.
January 31, 2010 @ 6:35 pm
Unethical Behavior,
Excelent points. If Iwere Stinnett I’d be pretty upset right now that a trained and apparenly licensed psychologist that I confided in would be talking about me in any manner to a reporter. Don’t know what his family life is like but I couldn’t imagine his parent(s) being to happy about the aticle if they saw it. And yes, if i were a player on the team and read the article I’d be very leary to say anything to Stark. Thanks Unethical Behavior. Good catch and insight.