The Rockies Pitch Religion - Must Have Character to Play Ball in CO

[otohara]

In Colorado, there stands a holy shrine called Coors Field. On this site, named for the holiest of beers, a team plays that has been chosen by Jesus Christ himself to play .500 baseball in the National League West. And if you don't believe me, just ask the manager, the general manager and the team's owner.

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.

As Rockies chairman and CEO Charlie Monfort said, "We had to go to hell and back to know where the Holy Grail is. We went through a tough time and took a lot of arrows."

Club president Keli McGregor chimed in, "Who knows where we go from here? The ability to handle success will be a big part of the story, too. There will be distractions. There will be things that can change people. But we truly do have something going on here. And using us in a powerful way."

Well, someone is using somebody, but it ain't God. San Francisco Giants first baseman-outfielder Mark Sweeney, who spent 2003 and 2004 with the Rockies, said, "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?"

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0603-21.htm

[paulk]

1. why am I not surprised?

jesus fucking christ

I knew Monfort was an xtian nazi, but I never thought they'd push it this far.

and O'dowd thinks God has had a hand in some of the decisions he's made?

Like trading Chacon?

[Democrats_win]

2. Columnist Mike Litwin has great response.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86_4741759,00.html

Oh, lord, execs see God's hand waving the Rockies home

--snip
Third place is not exactly burning-bush territory....

And wait: Even as I write this, the Rockies have just lost to San Diego and slipped into fourth place.

I can think of two possibilities if God really has decided to pitch in for the Rockies and this is the best they can do. But I hesitate to bring up either because they could shake a reader's faith.

One: It could be that Woody Allen was right. Allen once said that if there is a God, the "worst that you can say about him is that basically he's an underachiever."

Or there's this: That not even divine intervention could help Rockies to win the pennant. My guess is that God is a little too busy for the Rockies. The play Damn Yankees advises if you're looking for some Faustian help, try the devil.

There is another possibility: The Rockies players really aren't any more blessed, or any more religious, than anyone else's players....

My favorite baseball-religion story goes back to the '70s, when Baltimore Orioles outfielder Pat Kelly went into manager Earl Weaver's office one day to tell him he needed to "walk with the Lord." Weaver replied that he'd rather have Kelly "walk with the bases loaded."

Amen.

More at link.....

EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5 PARAGRAPHS
FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE PER DU RULES.

[politicat]

3. When they play a game more interesting than Pre-K T-ball,

I'll grant them their divine intervention. They suck, they have sucked, and they always will suck, world without end.

At least the Cubs are honest about their "religion" problem. They're cursed by a goat. This makes more sense than walking with Jesus and striking out with Lucifer.

[Creideiki]

5. One of the things I'm looking forward to...

I'm a Chicagoan relocating to Denver this fall to teach in the area. At least I'll get to see the Cubs play a couple games a year now.

[politicat]

6. You'll get to see the Cubs WIN a couple games a year, too.

The Cubs may have bad luck, but they have talent and skill.

[ForeverWinter]

4. Somebody please...

...let me know when these "faith nights" are scheduled! I live five blocks from Coors field, next to a large pay parking lot, and am looking for an excuse to hang out on the balcony with a six-pack or Coronas and a bucket of water balloons.
Seriously. Go ahead and practice any religion you want. But don't bring it into the economic sphere. That's just vulgar.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi ForeverWinter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[lakercub]

7. If by character

they mean players who show up to practice as well as to play, I agree.
they mean players who won't end up in police blotters, I agree.
they mean players who give it all up on the field to win, I agree.
they mean players who don't treat the fans like crap, I agree.

they mean that Christians are the only "character guys, I strongly disagree.

An example would be Mark Grace who used to play with the Cubs. He was my favorite player. He played hard, treated the fans with respect, and became a Chicago hero. He was never arrested that I know of and no one could accuse him of half-assing on the field. He also drank plenty of beer after games, was a fixture late at night at bars, smoked, cussed, and generally had a good time. Fine by me. He wasn't getting arrested or publicly embarrassing the team, so more power to him.

I have no idea if he is religious or not, but I do know that our local brand of fundie would disapprove of 80% of the things Gracie did off the field. However, none of it was illegal and none of it was anybody else's business. And the Rockies should kill to have nine Mark Grace's on their team when it comes to character.

Now let's check out a good Christian ballplayer...great speed, great power, great arm in right field, 335 career homers, over 200 stolen bases, and found Jesus at least twice...everything they want right? If Darryl Strawberry is everything you want, you are screwed.

Jim Bowden, GM for the Washington Nationals, really promotes the idea of chapel for players and he recently was caught drunk-driving.

Howard Johnson was a good Christian corking his bat.

Sammy Sosa loved nothing more than praising God, and he was a pain in the ass in the clubhouse.

Moral of the story: You have to do your homework if you want character players. Simply finding born-agains can really bite you in the ass. Some born-agains are great players and great people. So are some secular ball players. Finding Christ does not equal finding good behavior.