Randall:
I am sticking to what I know Randall. I've actually read the genetic and
scientific research on this. Your eye balls are not empirical research. Nor
do they reflect physiological differences.
A certain degree of upper body strength is very critical to do well. When
one talks about body type, it is within a range, like a Bell Curve
distribution. You are not likely to find a high concentration within that
range of great soccer body types in Kenya -- or from athletes who trace
their ancestry to the mountainous regions of North Africa, where the people
share a common ancestry with East Africans.
East Africans also have huge natural lung capacity, which tends to be
somewhat inefficient for the explosive speeds you need in many positions in
soccer. Plus, they have a preponderance of slow twitch muscle fibers, which
is not the best for attackers. That's just anatomical/physiological facts.
These facts are MOST CLEAR in sprinting, in which Kenyans are just not that
fast at 100 meters (10,28 best, pretty pathetic) although they get
progressively better as the distance increases, as more aerobic skills come
into play. Again, that's just fact based.
North African "flat landers," those who live and trace their ancestry to the
coast, are a much different genetic population than those from the
mountains. There is some interesting data on this, for instance, in
Cavalli-Sforza's "The History and Geography of Genes."
As for these being generalizations, OF COURSE, THAT'S WHAT POPULATION
GENETICS IS. Are men taller than women? Of course. Is every man taller than
every woman? Of course not. Does finding a tall woman "prove" that men are
not, as a generalization, taller than most women? Of course not.
Do Kenyans have the body type and physiology to be great soccer players? No.
Is it possible that individual Kenyans may emerge who become great soccer
players? Of course. Would that mean that therefore Kenyan body type as a
generalization is ill-suited to elite success in that sport? Of course note.
The proof is in the science of body types and physiology which concurs with
the vast empirical data -- in this case, Kenyans are mediocre soocer players
and not very fast 100 meter runners.
On the other hand, we have carping and purely speculate "environmental"
theories that are laughed at by scientists and without much support from the
empirical evidence.
Sorry Randall..
On 4/12/01 4:10 PM, "Randall Northam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> on 12/4/01 6:15 PM, Jon Entine at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
>> (which they are not very competitive at
>> compared to athletes from West Africa -- they don't have the body type for
>> it)
> I know I shouldn't step into this minefield, but I do find some of this,
> just as I found some of John Entine's other posts, breathtakingly sweeping.
> Kenyans don't have the body type for football (association football that
> is)! I don't know much about genetics but I do know my football, been
> obsessed with it for nearly 50 years and it seems to me Kenyans (runners
> that is) are skinny with a great power/weight ratio which is exactly what is
> needed for soccer. Speed is necessary but power is just as important as is
> stamina.
> Look at Thierry Henry of Arsenal. Looks like a middle distance runner, look
> at most soccer players, they look like middle distance runners. Very few are
> the bulky typical Nigerian sprinter types. If you were picking a football
> shape among sprinters it would be Don Quarrie, not Maurice Greene.
> Nigeria and Cameroon have risen to the top of the African football ladder
> recently but they still haven't truly overtaken Tunisia and Egypt. And the
> players in those countries look like middle distance runners too. Stick to
> what you know about John, you clearly know nothing about football.
> Randall Northam
> "When they said sit down, I stood up"
> my own little religious slogan.
>
--
Jon Entine
RuffRun
6178 Grey Rock Rd.
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(818) 991-9803 [FAX] 991-9804
http://www.jonentine.com
