Yes, and no, says Malcolm Gladwell in a well-researched article entitled 'The sports taboo', which appeared in New Yorker magazine. Gladwell points out that there is definitely stereotyping in athletics-unwritten rules holding that blacks achieve success through natural ability, and whites through effort. He quotes a recent article in Sports Illustrated comparing the white basketball player, Steve Kerr, with his Bulls teammate, Michael Jordan. According to the article, Kerr is a 'hard working over-achiever' distinguished by his 'work ethic and heady play' and by a shooting style 'born of a million practice shots'. But Kerr is one of the best three-point shooters in the game today, and a key player on one of the most successful teams in history. More to the point, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Kerr (or Luc Longley or Tony Kukoc, or any other white player on the Bull's roster) works harder than any of his black team-mates, least of all Jordan. In fact, Jordan's work habits and practice sessions are legendary. But, as Gladwell points out, you would never get that impression from the Sports Illustrated article.