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?
About how many hours in an average week would you say you watch sports on television?
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
Tony Dungy
Tom Brady
Shaquille O'Neal
Serena Williams
Phil Mickelson
Derek Jeter
Danica Patrick
Kobe Bryant
Tim Tebow
LeBron James
Bill Belichick
Michael Vick
Tiger Woods
Ben Roethlisberger
Cam Newton
Terrell Owens
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.
African-Americans in our country still often face prejudice and discrimination.
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.
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
The military
Politics
The corporate world
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
Sports in America are colorblind, and people in sports are judged solely on the basis of their ability and conduct, rather than their race.
African-Americans often still face prejudice and discrimination in the sports world today.
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.
The sports world sets a bad example for the rest of the country when it comes to race relations and equal opportunity.
The sports world simply reflects the rest of the country when it comes to race relations and equal opportunity.
And do you think that ...
... Sports do more to unite people across racial lines.
... Sports do more to divide people across racial lines.
... Sports do not have much effect either way in this regard.
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.
... The sports media play more of a negative role in the way they deal with issues involving race in sports.
... The sports media do not play a role either way in this regard.
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
Becoming an athletic director at a major Division I university
Becoming a manager in Major League Baseball (MLB)
Getting a head coaching position in the National Football League (NFL)
Getting a head coaching position with a major Division I sports team in the NCAA
Getting broadcasting positions in TV coverage of major sports
Getting a head coaching position in the National Basketball Association (NBA)
Several years ago the National Football League adopted the Rooney Rule that requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate when looking to hire a new head coach. Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose requiring NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate when looking to hire a new head coach?
Strongly favor
Somewhat favor
Somewhat oppose
Which one of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about the Rooney Rule to require consideration of minority candidates for head coaching positions in the NFL?
The Rooney Rule was never really needed
The Rooney Rule was needed when it was first adopted but is no longer needed now.
The Rooney Rule is still needed now but should be ended soon.
The Rooney Rule will be needed for many years to come.
Should other major sports leagues, such as Major League Baseball and the NBA (National Basketball Association), have a Rooney rule?
Yes, other major sports leagues should have a Rooney rule.
No, other major sports leagues should NOT have a Rooney rule.
When you are talking about sports with friends or family, do you ever have conversations about any aspect of race in the sports -- including the prevalence of one race in a particular sport or in a particular position, or a controversy in sports involving race?
Yes, often
Yes, sometimes
Yes, but only rarely
No, never
Next you will see some different phrases. For each one, please indicate whether you tend to associate it much more with black athletes, somewhat more with black athletes, associate it equally with black and white athletes, somewhat more with white athletes or much more with white athletes.
Are fast runners
Have great jumping and leaping ability
Have had to overcome adversity to get where they are
Have natural athletic ability
Get into trouble with the law
Are showboats
Are unfairly criticized by the media
Are involved in giving back to the community
Are likely to be seen as leaders on their teams
Plan for the future after sports
Are team players who care more about their teams than themselves
Are hardworking and dedicated
Are good role models for young people
Have a positive image in the media
How much do you think the image of the black athlete as portrayed in the media has changed since the 1980s? Do you think the image of the black athlete has ...
When there are controversies involving allegations of misconduct, do you think the media put more of a spotlight on problems involving black athletes, they put more of a spotlight on problems involving white athletes, or do the media treat the problems of white and black athletes just the same?
Jan. 17 is the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. Dr. King set a dream for the country of equal opportunity for all regardless of race. Thinking about the country as a whole, not just the sports world, how close do you think the country is to achieving Dr. King's dream of equal opportunity for all regardless of race, using a scale from zero (very far from achieving it) to 10 (have reached that dream).
And thinking now just about the sports world, how close do you think the sports world is to achieving Dr. King's dream of equal opportunity for all regardless of race, using a scale from zero (very far from achieving it) to 10 (have reached that dream).
Looking ahead to 10 years from now, and thinking just about the sports world, how close do you think the sports world will be 10 years from now in achieving Dr. King's dream of equal opportunity for all regardless of race, using a scale from zero (will be very far from achieving it) to 10 (will have reached that dream).
Listed are a number of events that have occurred over the past 10 years or so involving African-Americans and sports. Rate how important each one is for society in showing real progress in achieving Dr. King's dream, using a zero-to-10 scale on which a "10" means that this is extremely important and shows real progress and a "0" means that this is not important at all.
Michael Jordan becomes the first former NBA player to be the majority owner of an NBA franchise
Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith are the first African-American head coaches to reach the Super Bowl, and Dungy is the first to win the Super Bowl
Tiger Woods becomes the first African-American to win a major golf championship.
Serena Williams is the first African-American woman to win a career grand slam in tennis.
Ozzie Newsome is the first African-American NFL general manager.
Shani Davis becomes the first African-American to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
LeBron James signs with the Miami Heat on his own national television show.
Listed are a number of facts about African-Americans in sports today. Rank each one of these facts in order from one to seven, with a "1" being the most concerning fact about African-Americans in sports and shows the most need for further progress, followed by the second most concerning fact, so you end up with "1" being the fact that is most concerning and shows the most need for further progress all the way down to "7." Please rank each item only once, from one to seven.
The graduation rate for African-American student athletes is 53% compared with 68% for white student athletes
There is only one African-American who is the majority owner of a men's professional sports team.
In the major professional sports (NFL, NBA, MLB), there are five African-American CEOs or presidents of organizations out of 92 teams.
In NCAA Division I football, African-Americans represent 46% of players and 5% of head coaches.
Among radio and television announcers, 5% are African-American in Major League Baseball, 14% in the NFL, and 18% in the NBA.
In the major professional sports (NFL, NBA, MLB), there are 21 African-American managers or head coaches out of 92 teams
In the NFL, 17% of quarterbacks are African-American
Which one of the following best describes your current employment situation?
Which of the following best describes your marital status?
What is the best way to describe the area where you live?
How much of a fan are you of the following sports? Please use a scale of one to five, on which a "1" means you are not at all a fan of the sport and a "5" means you are a very big fan of the sport.
NFL (National Football League)
MLB (Major League Baseball)
College football
NBA (National Basketball Association)
College basketball
NHL (National Hockey League)
NASCAR
Professional golf
Boxing
Professional tennis
Mixed Martial Arts
International Soccer (for example, UEFA, La Liga, etc.)
MLS (Major League Soccer)
Survey demographics