I forsake watching baseball in 1994 as an impressionable 14-year-old. I understood that the athletes were actually not making as much as they should be making and that the owners were raking it in hand over fist, but holy shit, they’re millionaires! I’ll forever remember the ESPN commercials of empty ballparks, out of work mascots, “Please come back” they plead. But let me stop myslef before I get really ranty about how much I hate baseball… Now, God is being pushed front and center by the Colorado Rockies who play over at Coors field.
David Zirn wrote in The Nation last week:
In a remarkable article from Wednesday’s USA Today, the Colorado Rockies went public with the news that the organization has been explicitly looking for players with “character.” And according to the Tribe of Coors, “character” means accepting Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior. “We’re nervous, to be honest with you,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “It’s the first time we ever talked about these issues publicly. The last thing we want to do is offend anyone because of our beliefs.” When people are nervous that they will offend you with their beliefs, it’s usually because their beliefs are offensive.
So, why does God hate the Rockies? With their thin air, you’d think they devised some kind of crazy pitching scheme to combat the homerun friendly park. Or that with the thin air, they’d just out run their less in shape opponents [oh wait, all baseball players are out of shape and they don’t run during the game either]. Why has God allowed them to have a .464 franchise winning percentage (W949-L1094)?
Club president Keli McGregor had this to say:
…we truly do have something going on here. And [God’s] using us in a powerful way.
Yep, maybe he’s using you to show that building a sports team around the belief that having God-fearing players doesn’t work.
And one of their former outfielders, Mark Sweeney, had this to say:
You wonder if some people are going along with it just to keep their jobs. Look, I pray every day. I have faith. It’s always been part of my life. But I don’t want something forced on me. Do they really have to check to see whether I have a Playboy in my locker?
The article also touched on a new marketing ploy of “Faith Night” where churches/groups will get discounts and other goodies. In Atlanta, John Smoltz will stay afterwards for an intimate testimonial session. I remember reading this article in the NYT from 6.2.06 about faith nights and thought, hey, that’s not so bad. Not really that different from mini-bat night or free hat night. Imposing God on the rest of the crowd and the season ticket holders yes, but it’s just a night and they’re there for the baseball [those crazies] anyways.
But steering your franchise in another direction to that of the Almighty?
Any Denver area residents or Rockies fans out there care to chime in?
God I hate baseball.
