This article was written by an African American, refering to African American man.

Too many times when conversing within a crowd of Black
men, his mind is too often diverted from the struggle
to the latest sports scores and events. From one
extreme to the other, the Black man's mind is never
utilized to its fullest when one end is occupied by
the extension of the Western pursuit of sport.

Like a throwback to the Gladiator times, games have
always been a part of the European culture making
America one of the highest profiting countries in the
world from the sports industry, complete with
exploitation of the female and fulfillment of
stereotypes, especially of Black men themselves.

Most ironic, however, is that when catching the
Playoffs, (basketball, football, whatever) the Black
man is partaking in one of America's most exploitive
arenas of the Black man. No offense to the brothers
whose adrenaline is manipulated by the drama, or those
who set aside time and partake in the pastimes.

Like any other pleasurable thing, sports can become
addicting even to the point of counting anything else
void of attention, including family, community, and
the struggle. Though a man can partake in both or more
- the struggle and enjoyment of games - when the
scores of a game takes precedence over discussing the
future of their people, that addiction has become a
distraction.

Society, the media in general, knows that men, Black
men in particular, are a market for the NBA and other
sports. Not only are Black men a target but men period
are being bombarded with the drama of sports and
slowly being distracted from reality, the reason and
purpose is to give weight to the feminist movement
that seeks to undermine any man's ability to think and
reason.

Another distraction of the Black man, or any man, is
the woman. A man will go through an entire day
contemplating how and what to say to gain entrance
into a woman's life, sexually. Some make it a hobby to
pursue women and conquer them by adding them to their
stable.

And last is money. Making money ranks high on the
Black man's think list because it is more difficult
for a Black man to get money in this society. The new
"ghetto" black proverb has become, "values don't pay
the bills." This drains strength from the struggle
because it occupies much more of the Black man's mind
on how to get over.

The strength of a man lies in his ability to
discipline his desires and organize his thoughts and
actions. If a man is so easily led astray from his
purpose, which is to provide and protect his family
and community, by the over pursuit of games, money and
women, that man must put everything in perspective.
Without Black dignity and unity, nothing else will
work.

Allowing American society to direct your way by their
powers of marketing manipulation is a sign of a lack
of confidence in self and Black people as a whole.
Deciphering fantasy from reality and placing reality
first is the ultimate goal; anything else is simple
control.