1.1% are Asian

But honestly, I’m not surprised to learn that so few blacks are among the 30 million people who participate in fantasy sports. I’ve always thought that a lot of these guys (and 96% of them are guys) are nerds desperately in need of more sociable leisure time activities. Leisure time for black folks historically consists of direct interaction, the kind of experience you get at a family barbecue or hanging out with friends. Sitting in front of a computer screen pretending to be Bill Parcells? Sounds like work to me.

Well, to play fantasy sports one has to own a computer and pay the internet bill. But that sounds like work.

Not necessarily. We have one guy in our football league without a computer. The year I was commisioner, he'd call me up on Sunday morning with his picks.

No offense, but I suspect that Stephen A. Smith knows a lot more about how young male African-Americans spend their leisure time than you do.

ESPN seems to have made a successful business model of creating as much noise as possible. You know how when someone honks everyone looks? ESPN is like that, except they passed out with their forehead on the horn. When anyone comes in the vicinity they can't help but look, but quickly feel the need to get away.

What I'd really like explained is why do so many white dudes play fantasy?

On the weekends around here, I sure see an awful lot of extended African-American families having barbecues in the park.

Also, for me, it's a way to keep in touch with a bunch of my buddies who I otherwise don't have much of a chance to talk with.

So why don't more women play fantasy sports?

The average intelligence and social skills of a Yahoo! fantasy league owner must hover down near the average intelligence and social skills of someone who takes Screamin' A seriously.

This is race-baiting at its worst.

...people like Stephen A Smith and Obama have to make everything about race to show that they belong, its getting ridiculous.

the editor in chief of The Mag told me he was curious why so few black people play fantasy sports. And oh, by the way, he wanted me to do some research and write a column on it.

Fine, boss, you got it.

somebody did a survey, and Stephen Smith wrote about it. How is it baiting?

Leisure time for black folks historically consists of direct interaction, the kind of experience you get at a family barbecue or hanging out with friends.

And the more I learn about the typical fantasy player, the more I think most minorities simply have better things to do.

Actually, much of the article is well-researched and statements are backed up by survey results

The facts aren't baiting, the commentary is.

I wonder what percentage of online message board trolls are females? Gotta be far less than the percentage of fantasy players who are black.

he's not thoughtful enough to come up with a reasonable explanation for the facts

Of all the opinions I collected on the racial disparity, though, one of the most interesting came from Kim Beason, an associate professor at Ole Miss who's also the CEO of Fantasy Sport Research Specialists. Basically, Beason's six years of research shows that people who have well-paying jobs with fast Internet connections are more likely to play fantasy sports. "When you break it down, it appears the disparity has to do with a critical mass of individuals who are together discussing fantasy sports," he tells me. "Up to now, that has mostly occurred in the white workplace. And a lot of time, it's on the Internet." But as the web grows, this potential audience is becoming more diverse, which makes Matt Berry a happy man. "Fantasy sports players consume the most media," he says. "And the demographic—males, mid-30s, college educated, income of $75,000, who have high-speed Internet—is a real sweet spot for advertisers."[/quote

I bet it was Anson Carter. You should've asked for his autograph.

Neither of these are supported by anything, and I think both of them take the racial speech in this country the wrong way

Leisure time for black folks historically consists of direct interaction, the kind of experience you get at a family barbecue or hanging out with friends.

I'm not, but ESPN is a primary source of sports news to a lot of people. And I'm sure ESPN is hoping to goad a few of them into getting upset about this when they inevitably click on the link.

Next up for Stephen A. Smith - why do black people like menthol cigarettes.

Not necessarily. We have one guy in our football league without a computer. The year I was commisioner, he'd call me up on Sunday morning with his picks.

Beason's six years of research shows that people who have well-paying jobs with fast Internet connections are more likely to play fantasy sports.

Apparently this largely white board, a board that spends hours a day in front of a keyboard, knows more about what the average black man does in his leisure time, than a black man.

if his editor asked him to do so, i imagine he would. Its his job to follow orders, right? Reading the comments around here, he is not allowed to add any commentary.

Apparently this largely white board, a board that spends hours a day in front of a keyboard, knows more about what the average black man does in his leisure time, than a black man.

I find that hilarious.

They should do a poll on sexually active fantasy players and ask Rich Eisen to write about it.

Apparently this largely white board, a board that spends hours a day in front of a keyboard, knows more about what the average black man does in his leisure time, than a black man.

Post 26 covers this.

In case you haven't noticed this largely white board knows more than the average anybody knows about anything.

Now you will see that this largely white board will triumph, because the average anybody is dumb

I would come to participate in the Million Nerd March. Bill Gates could be our Jesse Jackson.

So if Buster Onley opines that blacks don't do fantasy because too many of them are in jail and WHIP is too complicated for them to understand, you are comfortable with that?

Apparently this largely white board, a board that spends hours a day in front of a keyboard, knows more about what the average black man does in his leisure time, than a black man.

I find that hilarious.

Doesn't Joe Morgan make a similar argument when he refuses to listen to people who didn't actually play baseball?