As seen on Sportscenter

There's a movement to retire Roberto Clemente's number 21, apparently. He was the first Latin American player to make the Hall of Fame, and because of the fact that he was not only an outstanding ball player, a superb human being (he died on a humanitarian mission), but the idol to a generation of Latin Americans, there is this movement. Near as I can tell, the argument also goes along the lines of "If Jackie Robinson, why not Roberto Clemente."

This is just faulty. First, a number of Cubans (who might not strictly be in the sphere of Latin America) played in the major leagues through the first half of the century, the best of whom was probably Dolf Luque. The point, though, is that these guys all looked white. It's not to say that because of Luque, Clemente got a shot. Roberto Clemente looked like a black man. If it weren't for Jackie Robinson, there would have been no Roberto Clemente. Clemente may be the idol of a generation of Latin American players, but Jackie Robinson should be the idol of everybody.