Colorado Rockies Only Hire Players Who Are Born-Again Christians

[donsu]

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/10/24/colorado-rockies-only-hire-players-who-are-born-again-christians/


-snip-

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.

Club president Keli McGregor said, “ truly do have something going on here. And using us in a powerful way.”
-snip-
------------------------


an extreme case of group religious insanity

[havocmom]

1. How is that even legal?

One more reason to cheer for the Sox!

[TornadoTN]

30. If I wasn't a Sox fan already, this would push me into the Sox camp

Lifelong Sox fan here. Now I can pull for my team with a whole new amount of fervor and zeal!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

39. this pushes me from hating beisbol to supporting the - - whose playing?

oh, yeah the whi er red sox.

[Tesha]

72. It's not. But who will do anything about it? (NT)

[otohara]

100. YEAR OLD DEBUNKED STORY -

SAN DIEGO - Colorado Rockies players and management say the team enjoys a healthy, positive attitude in its clubhouse but is anything but a bunch of choirboys.

"We look for players with character and ability," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said Wednesday, the day a USA Today cover story portrayed the organization as being built around "a Christian-based code of conduct."

"Ability is part of it," O'Dowd said. "I have neighbors who are good people, but they can't hit a 95-mile-per-hour fastball or throw a 92-mile-per-hour sinker."

Rockies players and officials said they weren't comfortable with the national newspaper's characterization of the team.

"Character is nondenominational," O'Dowd said.

With the Rockies having been one of the surprise teams in the opening months of the 2006 season, they have started to draw attention from out-of-town media trying to explain the turnaround in a franchise that has suffered five consecutive losing seasons and has not finished higher than fourth place in the National League West in the past eight years. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_4741695,00.html

[BurtWorm]

128. Rebunked, to some extent

Still pushing the ridiculous idea that only the religious are moral or have character. What crap!


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/sports/baseball/23rockies.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

The role of religion within the Rockies’ organization first entered the public sphere in May 2006, when an article published in USA Today described the organization as adhering to a “Christian-based code of conduct” and the clubhouse as a place where Bibles were read and men’s magazines, like Maxim or Playboy, were banned.

The article included interviews with several players and front office members, but team players and officials interviewed this week said it unfairly implied that the Rockies were intent on constructing a roster consisting in large part of players with a strong Christian faith. Asked how his own Christian faith affected his decision-making, General Manager Dan O’Dowd acknowledged it came into play, but not in a religious way. He said it guided him to find players with integrity and strong moral values, regardless of their religious preference.

“Do we like players with character? There is absolutely no doubt about that,” O’Dowd said during a recent interview in his Coors Field office. “If people want to interpret character as a religious-based issue because it appears many times in the Bible, that’s their decision. I believe that character is an innate part of developing an organization, and to me, it is nothing more than doing the right thing at the right time when nobody’s looking. Nothing more complicated than that.

“You don’t have to be a Christian to make that decision.”

Even if the Rockies are not consciously doing it, reliever Matt Herges, playing for his seventh organization, said the team had the highest concentration of devout Christians he had seen during his nine major league seasons.

[Taverner]

2. Whaaa??? Is that even legal???

The Rockies are not a church or religious organization. So isn't that discriminatory hiring?

[GrpCaptMandrake]

45. Of course not!

Borned-agin players just miraculously have great batting averages and ERAs!

:puke:

[Wapsie B]

165. Professional sports teams, with the exception of the Green Bay Packers

are privately owned organizations. If someone wants to field a team of Mormons or Pentecostals they can do it. Plus take public tax $$$ in the process of building their stadiums. What a racket! Even if the Coors family did everything on their own without any government assistance; something I highly doubt; the system that's set up in professional sports makes these teams entities unto themselves. Yeah, there's the players associations to deal with, collective-bargaining and agents and all that. But there are some things that are beyond the scope of governmental law.

[Bill McBlueState]

170. eh, not necessarily

Being privately owned does not exempt an organization from anti-discrimination law.

[Junkdrawer]

3. I read the Air Force Academy is doing the same thing...

What the hell is going on in Colorado? :shrug:

[Junkdrawer]

10. Links:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062200598.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_1_123/ai_n16133178

[havocmom]

23. There are a lot of agencies in D.C. moving data, people into the west too, aren't there?

The end timers really are figuring on trouble. Rising tides flooding D.C. and they just won't go public with it? Looking for places with more cover in case of total global war?

They are doing everything they can to get ready for disasters they are doing everything they can to create. My firm belief is that is what is going on in Colorado.

Don't forget, Prince Bandar put his big estate there up for sale and is bugging out.

[Tesha]

71. Certain locations in Colorado are Ground Zero for Christian Fundamentalists. (NT)

[Pathwalker]

4. Go Boston! Win in 4!

I am now officially rooting for Boston!

[Deep13]

5. The Lord is truly using them in a trivial and pointless way.

Hey, the power of Christ is working! I just forgave the Red Sox for beating Cleveland and I am now hoping they crush those Fundy bastards in four games.

[Lurking Dem]

9. LOL!

Baseball for Christ reminds me of this guy in town who has a truck and trailer with the business sticker: Haulin' Junk for Jesus! and a phone number.

[kstewart33]

6. Here in Denver, few are buying it.

It's a PR angle for the Rockies if that's what ownership wants to convey.

But they're not fooling anyone. They hire for talent, first and always. Their current trip to the World Series is proof of that.

[Cha]

19. Well, their P-R Sux.

How many Rockies' "Christians" are for lies and killing in IRaq?

[tridim]

96. Well, it's obvious that some Rockies are xtian..

Yorbit Torrealba is for sure.

But I doubt the percentage is any higher than any other team or the population in general.

[otohara]

102. Rocky Mt. News Story Debunking USA Today - Year Old Story

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_4741695,00.html

[TheUniverse]

7. Fred Phelps would be proud of them!

[spanone]

8. this country is completely insane....this is proof

[rocktivity]

11. The Rockies SHOULD be nervous

that's a confession of job discrimination! As for not wanting to "offend anyone because of our beliefs," he just blew it! One class action lawsuit coming up!

On edit: The USA Today article is dated last June.

:bounce:
rocknation

[northzax]

52. i doubt it

you would be hard pressed to sue a sports team for any sort of discrimination.

[rocktivity]

59. If it WERE true that they were hiring only born again Christians

--which it isn't--that's textbook employment discrimination, especially since the ballpark has public funds built into it.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Bonobo]

12. Holy Fuck! Frank Zappa was 100% right.

If this is allowed to let stand... we will be unrecognizable in 20 years.

[symbolman]

107. President Zappa

Would have been the best thing to ever happen to this country, I was actually making and posting "Zappa for President" posters in Seattle during the mid 80's before I found out about his cancer...

Bonabo monkey's, eh? The only creatures that would happily comply if you told them to go fuck themselves. :)

[depakid]

137. It's already unrecognizable

to those of us who remember a quite different America.

[BridgeTheGap]

13. Were their prayers answered last night?

xxx000

[bigscott]

31. if they prayed to ONLY lose by 12 runs

then their prayers were answered!!

[WCGreen]

135. The number twelve....

I guess it was their last supper...

[Bucky]

138. Last night was their Lamentations of Job, their Season of Doubt in the Desert

There shall come a jubilation, a day of deliverance, yea, for the Lord shall hear their prayers and deliver unto his chosen team a great victory against the Philistines of the East.

[TahitiNut]

14. Well, that's sure consistent with the ephemerals I'm seeing.

I've not paid any attention to the Rockies until last night's game ... but there was a subtle difference I was seeing in the attitudes and demographics of the team, particularly in comparison to the Red Sox. They seemed to almost be from some different country - one even more 'different' than Canada. It was very puzzling to me that I was having that impression - and it's not because I'm particularly partisan or even a baseball fan. (I like the game - not the 'business' of MLB.)

[opihimoimoi]

15. ROCKS FOR BRAINS...dense rocks with a 9.9 MOH reading are found in their craniums

[denverbill]

16. I'm sure that will come as a surprise to Kaz Matsui. n/t

[TahitiNut]

24. Perhaps the Church of Perfect Liberty satisfies the religious critera??

:shrug:

[FredScuttle]

67. It will also come as a surprise to Jason Hirsh

Rockies starting pitcher and one of the Chosen People:

?


However, it appears Boston has the more powerful Jew:



Kevin Youkilis

[durrrty libby]

108. YOOOOOOUUK Great talent and passion for the game

[FredScuttle]

150. Tremendous eye at the plate....and he keeps the Sabbath

n/t

[durrrty libby]

154. He plays on Saturday. Why Lie?

[FredScuttle]

157. Only if Ortiz can't play first

Yahweh understands that Big Papi needs some rest every now and then



Plus, Youk posts the mezuzah in front of his locker on Saturdays.

[durrrty libby]

158. Lol ............Whatever works....... this is a fab game tonight

Top of the 9th..:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

[villager]

17. Go Sox!

[Cha]

18. And do these so-called Christians

believe in bushit and his killing?

[otohara]

103. Story is Year Old Pile of Doo Doo - Here's Debunk Link

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_4741695,00.html

[Cha]

153. Thanks..too bad

I so easily believe all the shite.

[spoony]

156. Shh, you're interrupting a perfectly good hate session

God knows it's all some people live for.

[Clark2008]

20. So the Catholics are beating the Evangelicals?

:rofl:

Go SOX!

[donsu]

26. lol

nt

[cboy4]

21. Do you have a link to that USA Today article? I found

an article from 6/1/06 that talks about how the organization is fundie, but nothing about how it only signs players who are Born-Again Christians.

That seems impossible to me.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/rockies/2006-05-30-rockies-cover_x.htm

[SidDithers]

86. I just threw up a little bit in my mouth...

From the USA today article...

"I don't want to offend anyone, but I think character-wise we're stronger than anyone in baseball. Christians, and what they've endured, are some of the strongest people in baseball.

What they've endured? WTF? Yeah, it's really difficult living in a country where you're an 80% majority, run every branch of government, including the Supreme Court, and can't walk more then a mile without seeing a freakin' mega church.

More than anything else, the christian martyr complex makes me wanna puke.

Sid

[FredScuttle]

151. If we're talking about "endurance" and overcoming, behold the modern-day Job

[Bitwit1234]

22. People with '''CHARACTER''''

There are too damn many to post here but I have to laugh...all the numerous sexual and bribery and the rest of the crimes committed by these christian republicans with character. But on second thought, it is too lubricious to laugh at, it is shameful.

[denverbill]

25. That article is pretty much bs.

The article included interviews with several players and front office members, but team players and officials interviewed this week said it unfairly implied that the Rockies were intent on constructing a roster consisting in large part of players with a strong Christian faith. Asked how his own Christian faith affected his decision-making, General Manager Dan O’Dowd acknowledged it came into play, but not in a religious way. He said it guided him to find players with integrity and strong moral values, regardless of their religious preference.

“Do we like players with character? There is absolutely no doubt about that,” O’Dowd said during a recent interview in his Coors Field office. “If people want to interpret character as a religious-based issue because it appears many times in the Bible, that’s their decision. I believe that character is an innate part of developing an organization, and to me, it is nothing more than doing the right thing at the right time when nobody’s looking. Nothing more complicated than that.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/sports/baseball/23rockies.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Personally, I have absolutely no objection to hiring people with integrity and moral values, considering baseball players are role models for kids.

[rocktivity]

35. “If people want to interpret character as a religious-based issue

because it appears many times in the Bible, that’s their decision. I believe that character is...nothing more than doing the right thing at the right time when nobody’s looking. Nothing more complicated than that. You don’t have to be a Christian to make that decision."

But if he DIDN'T believe character to be a uniquely Christian trait, he WOULDN'T be making an issue of it. Does he consider not worshipping Christ--on anyone at all--the right thing?

:crazy:
rocknation

[markbark]

56. Sheesh

baseball players are role models for kids.
Drug addled prima donnas getting paid millions of dollars for playing a child's game?
This is a role model?

If your kid needs a role model and you're not it, you're BOTH screwed.

--MAB

[denverbill]

93. So you criticize athletes for being drug-addled prima donnas?

So wtf is wrong with the Rockies for NOT wanting to hire a bunch of drug-addled prima donnas?

Like it or not, kids do like and emulate rock stars, movie stars, and sports stars. I say if the Rockies give kids good role models by hiring people aren't drug-abusers and don't talk trash and aren't arrogant, self-absorbed assholes, then more power too them. I support them 100%. It beats the shit out of having them idolize drug-addled, prima donnas like Britney Spears, Rush Limbaugh, Mel Gibson, or Daryl Strawberry.

[guitar man]

27. Civil rights act of 1964

Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin

They are in clear violation if that is their stated policy, unless I'm missing something



http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/vii.html

[bigscott]

28. WOO HOO

GO RED SOX!!

:evilgrin:

[XOKCowboy]

29. Hmm Let's take a USA Today article from mid 2006 and report it as fact...

Now that's great journalism. What's even better is that most here at DU immediately jump on the bandwagon.

Pathetic

[TornadoTN]

34. No what's pathetic is for an organization to take this viewpoint

I guess the next logical step is to make it an All-Jesus league.

[JVS]

36. You mean that the Tribe of Coors didn't issue a statement confirming this?

"And according to the Tribe of Coors, “character” means accepting Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior."

[SidDithers]

89. Yeah, 'cause that article was so last year...

and the Rockies are a completely different organization now, with all new players and management.

:sarcasm:

Sid

[nightrider767]

32. Ahahh!!!!

I knew it! My wife asked me why I didn't like the Rockies. And I told her I thought Colorado was a tight-ass, holier than thou, state o hypocrites. She told me I was a putz and I agreed with her.

I'm gonna send her that article.

Too funny. I'm still a putz though.

Cheers.

[hlthe2b]

37. Nice... really nice... So now we are into bashing an entire state

Your post and sentiment is despiccable.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

43. sometimes entire states deserve it.

Like when they force kids to learn creationism. Or when they arrest women for possessing sex toys. Or when the states attorney refuses to force pharmacies to sell the pill or the morning after pill. Or when their prosecutor sues for medical records AND names from Planned parenthood.
in those cases, yeah, they deserve it.

[hlthe2b]

46. Your ignorance and bigotry on this issue is so telling.

But, obviously you don't give a damn about your fellow DUers who are working in states like Colorado and throughout the west to turn the map, blue. Well, enjoy. If I had read this type of posting on Free Republic, i would not be surprised, but damn...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

65. but i was not referring to colorado.

frankly, I was talking about it and several other states.
ignorance? about intel Design and creationism? sorry that I am bigotted in favor of science vs. make believe fairy tales. But I am and I am proud of it.

[hlthe2b]

109. straw man argument, as good as any RWer could make

No one here is defending ID or creationism. Just hate and bigotry towards your fellow DUers who happen to reside in states that also include RW hypocrits. I find it hard to believe you are a progressive with attitudes like that.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

131. LOL, thanks for the laugh. I needed that.

how you manage to jump from my observation that several states justify and earn scorn at times, to my hating DUers from colorado. That kind of logic is seen in christian sermons weekly. I love it. Mind if I quote that sometime? whenever we need a reall good belly laugh, that is.

[hlthe2b]

160. I'll take that as your much deserved...

apology... Forthcoming or not, you certainly owe one to your Colorado DU colleagues.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

161. then you would not only be wrong, very wrong, but just

possibly laboring under a serious delusion. Considering that you alone managed to miscontrue my words, and in your own mind, turn them into some sort of attack on DU members, I am not surprised that your errors continue, even grow. But it is amusing and entertaining to see your thought process at work. Thank you!

[hlthe2b]

168. No, I'm not the only one who took your words that way

but, I was obviously wrong to give YOU any benefit of the doubt.


Not to worry, like so many other DUers, I won't do so in the future.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

169. good for you. Look at my initial post. "STATES" Plural.

if that concept is too hard to grasp, too bad.
STATE = singular.
STATES = plural.
got it?

And to be even more clear, I was referring to
Mississippi
Misery
Montana
Colorado
Alabama
North Carolina
South Carolina
Pennslvania
Ohio
and other states (either by state, or community) that have tried to force Intel Design down kids' throats, that have irrational laws on sex, that have done other bone-headed things that adversely impact people of color, gays, women, and non-christians, or worse atheists or agnostics.

Go ahead and misread my original post and take from it an non-existant attack on ColoDuers. But you would be in serious error that such an attack either existed or was intended. And that, good sir, is your error, not mine.

[Norwood]

70. Wow thats an awful large brush you're painting with

I and my fellow DUers from this great state appreciate the insult.... Just fyi I wasnt forced to study creationism when I was in school and neither are children who are going through public school now. My ex girlfriend had no problem getting birth control. We have our share of adult stores here so I doubt women are being arrested fror having toys. As a matter of fact a rather large adult store in the Springs would advertise on tv quite a bit. Yes the state is predominantly christian but then again most states are. The only sizable fundie presence is in the Springs and in the grand scheme of things are a small portion of the population. We're an independant state and we're working hard to make it blue. Now we have Democratic majorities in both state houses of congress and a Democratic Governor. We'll be a swing state in the next election. Its a beautiful state with many sights and a lot of really great people. So to those who decide to place judgement without knowing who we are, on behalf of myself and my fellow Colorado DUers....GO FUCK YOURSELF!

[joe_sixpack]

94. Great Post! I've lived in Colorado myself

Wow, were people quick to jump on this or what. They just so wanted to believe that there was actually a baseball team who was more interested in hiring people of a particular religion instead of winning ballgames.

[Froward69]

92. in those cases then yeah.

But here in Colorado, none of those examples are true. every state has enclaves of rightwingnuts. CO is no different. the Rockies have always been lackluster. being in the WS may be a fluke, but still true. besides red socks occur when you don't have a tampon...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

132. good one. But again, it was a general statement, not just CO related.

Looks like I missed some fun here. You are right about the RW nuts. Here in Illinois, we have a group of them that sought out and selected Alan keyes to run for senator, because the original nominee (for barack's current senate seat) dared ask his 7 of 9 wife for sex. and it came out (stolen apparently) from the divorce file. As good as Barack is, I can tell you that Keyes made his task a hell of a lot easier.

Now that Durbin's time is a'comin, the GOP nuts are gathering steam again, and attacking any moderate or non-neocon early on. Of course, we also blessed the country with that Fat Hastard, Dennie. But luckily, he will soon be wearing a pretty shade of prison orange.

So Now I am a conservative mascarading as a progressive, and I hate Duers simply because they live in certain states. lordy, lordy lordy. :)

[durrrty libby]

146. Ahh.....Thank You for confirming what I already suspected

You are nothing but a nasty, clueless, fucking pig

[Froward69]

163. well besides

Beating the Rockies (a 4th place team that had a streak) is like beating up a kid in a wheelchair. Do you feel better now?:sarcasm:

[nightrider767]

50. Sorry

I tried to write a humorist post about me being a putz.

I'll be the first to agree that anyone who generalizes about any large group are not only destined lose the arguement, but also destined to make themselves look dumb.

And being dumb is worse than being a putz.

So I try, not always successfully to avoid that.

Done in fun only, if I offended the people of the Great State of Colorado then I sincerely apologize.

Cheers.

[hlthe2b]

51. thank you for that..

[Norwood]

90. Accepted and thank you

[TornadoTN]

33. Clearly, this means the Red Sox play for Team Satan

That's the fundamentalist view of it, I'm sure. Don't laugh, I could just about guarantee that I could walk out of my office and tell this story to a group of ten people - six of which would spout that the Sox are with satan.

[Freddie Stubbs]

61. Satan plays hockey, not baseball:

http://www.nhl.com/players/8459534.html

[keroro gunsou]

82. it figures...

he plays for the Rangers.... :evilgrin:

[beltanefauve]

63. Yep

Since the Reich-Wing is "pro-family", then that means the rest of us must be anti-family. And if they're "pro-life" then someone who supports choice is against life. It's that whole, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" argument. So, following that supposed logic, the Sox must surely be playing for Satan.

Lifelong Sox fan here. Go Sat-er,Sox!!!!!!!!!

[TornadoTN]

64. I wouldn't put it past the churches to hold prayer sessions for the Rockies

Since they are "God's Team".

If only I were joking.

[durrrty libby]

115. "Team Satan" would be the Devil Rays who have been

pressured by religious wackos to change their name to the Rays

It seems they will do that pretty soon

[Buzz Clik]

38. NO! The article misrepresented the facts.

Read it for yourself, but here's an important exception:

On the field, the Rockies are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons and only the second time in their 14-year history. Behind the scenes, they quietly have become an organization guided by Christianity — open to other religious beliefs but embracing a Christian-based code of conduct they believe will bring them focus and success.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/rockies/2006-05-30-rockies-cover_x.htm

That's still a bit odd, but stating that they only hiring born-again Christians is simply incorrect.

(EDIT: a couple of other posters have noted this error)

[rocktivity]

48. They're still implying that only the religious in general and born-again Christians in particular

have the market cornered on moral fiber. And that's NOT moral--espeically when public funds went into the construction of your venue.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Sequoia]

40. My neighbor

who used to work in CO gave us a Rockies Hat. I swear I didn't even know what it was and would wear it maybe once or twice when I couldn't find my other black cap. I thought it was from a bar.

But yes, I'm rooting for the Sox. Isn't it cool though, last time they were at the Series there was a full moon, just like now! Minus the partial eclipse of course and the upcoming election where Bush stole the vote again.

[devilgrrl]

41. Isn't there some "born-again" pitcher on the Red Sox?

Sports in North America is a bastion of right wing faux Christian fundamentalism - why is everyone so surprised?

[TornadoTN]

62. Curt Schilling - Right-wing gas bag

Enjoy watching him pitch, but hate what he stands for. He's the worst of the worst when it comes to right-wing blowhards.

Such a conundrum for us Red Sox fans.

[beltanefauve]

68. Screw Curt Shilling

Oh how it broke my heart when I found out about him! I tried to keep his opinions and beliefs out of it and just enjoy his skills and talents as a player for my beloved team, but he couldn't keep his RW BS to himself. Not only was he a * "Ranger" in 2004, at the end of an ESPN interview, that was about baseball, he just couldn't contain himself, looked deep into the camera and proclaimed, "Vote for Bush!"

[TornadoTN]

84. Yeah, I just about fell over when he did that

It's tough for me now to openly pull for him after his little display of ignorance in 2004. He put a damper on my World Series celebration for certain then and will probably be a moron again this time when the cameras are on him.

Tonight, I'll pull for the Sox and for him, only because his teammates deserve the win much more than he does.

[Botany]

42. If you hit .320 and have a gold glove I bet you could worship a goat

Long Live Pedro Cerrano

"I not hit curve ball ... fuck you JO BOO."

[tjwash]

47. Hats...for bats. Keep bats warm.

Hey barkeep...jo-bu needs a refill!

[sutz12]

140. "Are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball?"

:rofl:

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[otohara]

105. No, The USA Today Newspaper Is Garbage - Year Old Story

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_4741695,00.html

[Marrah_G]

49. So how did that work out for them?

The Blessed and Saved got their asses kicked by the Heathens in Boston...


I say they turn the other Butt-Cheek so we can do it again!

[northzax]

53. and who does God pick tonight?

you have Schilling the fundie v. a team of fundies.

[Marrah_G]

54. I don't much care for Shilling

He's a good pitcher though.

I think if there was one big all powerful God he would be much better off saving the world then interfering with Baseball.

I suppose I should have made it clearer I was joking in that post. I just didn't think anyone on DU would think I seriously thought God was watching and influencing the Series.

Looks as though I was wrong.

[Marrah_G]

55. And one other thing:

If there was a God.... He would pick the Sox! Why? For no other reason then because I said so!

:rofl:

[RiverStone]

57. It is offensive!

Talk about a narrow and bias definition of character...

This article pushed me off the fence (rooting for the underdog) - GO BOSTON! Kick their righteous bullshit outta the WS in 4!

[Oeditpus Rex]

58. I call bullshit on this distortive, misleading headline

Nowhere in the story in The Nation (which is 16 1/2 months old) is it stated that the Rockies hire only born-again Christians.

Besides — who the fuck roots for or against a ball club's front office? The game's on the field.

[TornadoTN]

66. I don't know, I pull against the Yankee's front office all the time

But that's just in my blood.

[beltanefauve]

69. Good one!

:rofl:

[deadparrot]

148. Thank you.

I was wondering when someone was going to mention that.

I'm not cheering for either team, but this is silly.

[gratuitous]

60. I remember a Mike Royko column

Some evangelical fellow came into his bar, witnessing to the Word o' God and the Power o' Jesus. He had a testimonial from (as I recall) Alvin Dark, a pretty fair player who went on to manage Cleveland.

One of the patrons, bothered by the intrusion sized up the evangelical, and said words to the effect of "Alvin Dark, huh? Yeah, he's okay." The evangelist, smelling a convert, went to work with a will until the patron began extolling the virtues of another current player, one Mickey Mantle. Even in those days, Mantle was well known as a boozer and a womanizer, and the patron concluded that if he had to root for a team of Alvin Darks or a team of Mickey Mantles, he'd take the Mantles every time.

I notice the Rockies weren't yippin' about their club's character when they were getting knocked around pretty regularly; but now that they're in the Series, it's all about the character, ain't it? I really hate bandwagon anything, and bandwagon Christianity perhaps most of all.

[KamaAina]

73. Coincidence? Alvin Dark was also a huge racist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_Dark#Managerial_Career

Dark quickly became a successful manager, winning a pennant with the Giants in 1962, but losing the 1962 World Series in seven games to the Yankees. In 1964 he became embroiled in controversy when he was quoted in Newsday as complaining about the number of black and Hispanic players on the team and saying, "They are just not able to perform up to the white player when it comes to mental alertness." He responded that he had been severely misquoted...

http://www.onlyagame.org/features/2007/07/americasgame.asp

As Burgos points out, fifteen and more years after the integration of the Major Leagues, Alvin Dark, the manager of the San Francisco Giants, forbade players such as Felipe Alou, Juan Marichal, and Orlando Cepeda from speaking Spanish in the clubhouse, a policy that would have effectively infantilized the Latino players if they'd paid any attention to it.

Does that make all evangelicals racist? Of course not. Interesting choice of testimonial, though.

[Oeditpus Rex]

76. The article is from June, 2006 (n/t)

[fishwax]

85. actually this story is from almost a year and a half ago

I notice the Rockies weren't yippin' about their club's character when they were getting knocked around pretty regularly; but now that they're in the Series, it's all about the character, ain't it?

[denverbill]

110. You should really actually read things before commenting on them.

The USA today article was written in June of LAST YEAR, and has since been refuted by current and former players and management, but don't let the facts interfere with your opinion. After all, it was written in USA Today so it must be true.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070404231929/http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_3885222

[gratuitous]

136. Gosh, I'm awfully sorry

Someone made a post, I presumed it was a current article. So take your anger and frustration out on me because I commented on it. Now there's some thinking outside the box. I suppose if the Rockies had lost bigger last night you'd be even pissier about it?

[Hubert Flottz]

74. Does that mean they've been doing the kind of things the Rev.

Haggard was in to?

[frylock]

75. i was actually rooting for them too..

now i'll have to wear an inverted crucifix the next time they're in town.

[KamaAina]

77. Herewith, the rebuttal from the Denver Post

http://web.archive.org/web/20070404231929/http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_3885222

San Diego - Character, not religion, is the critical factor in the Rockies' chemistry, according to the players. That explains why so many players reacted negatively to the portrayal of their clubhouse in a USA Today cover story in Wednesday's editions that stressed the importance of Christianity.

"It was just bad. I am not happy at all. Some of the best teammates I have ever had are the furthest thing from Christian," pitcher Jason Jennings said. "You don't have to be a Christian to have good character. They can be separate. It was misleading."

Ouch. Not exactly confidence-inspiring...

Manager Clint Hurdle said he became more disciplined in his faith years ago - not three years ago as stated in the article - after he stopped drinking.

Asked what role religion plays in the team's roster construction, Hurdle said, "We look for men of character, men of skills. Their (religious beliefs) are not a question that is even brought up. That those have a common fabric with Christianity is not a coincidence. But values are the issue."

Converted after he stopped drinking, eh? Where have we heard that before??

"Values are the issue". Hmmm... maybe Tancredo could throw out the first pitch Saturday. Their catcher's not Latino, is he? :sarcasm:

edit: caps

[rockymountaindem]

91. Everybody will probably ignore this

because there's no reason to break out the soothing tonic of righteous anger over an article like that.

[Breeze54]

98. Thanks for this update and rebuttal!!

Whew!!

Hurdle said, "We look for men of character, men of skills. Their (religious beliefs) are
not a question that is even brought up. That those have a common fabric with Christianity
is not a coincidence. But values are the issue."

Ummm....the manager sounds like a loggerhead! All teams look for players with skill
and character (sort of) and those characteristics are found in all religions!!

That guy really needs to get out of Colorado!! Gheesh!!

[davepc]

78. Are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?!

[TornadoTN]

80. No but he did record an unbelievable amount of Saves.

Hell of a Closer.

[RainDog]

116. LOL!

Yeah, you're from the south...

I was already rooting for the Sox or else my son and my... uh.. "special friend" would kill me, not to mention my co-worker. Colorado seems to be going the way of Utah. What's next? The baseball players wives will change their names -- like "OfShilling?

[TornadoTN]

119. LOL - the "Jesus is my Closer" joke used to get big laughs down here

Now it's blasphemous - which is why I use it at every occasion that calls for it, being the non-religious heathen that I am.

[RainDog]

122. I'm originally from Nashville

so I know what you are talking about, brutha.

[truebrit71]

121. Okay, now THAT is funny!!!

:rofl:

[TornadoTN]

124. Hey, Air Jesus could bring the heat!

Could really nail down the ninth inning.

[Release The Hounds]

130. Yo bartender! Jobu needs a refill!

[bonito]

79. They should take it all the way than, and go play with themselves!

[Javaman]

81. god loves a good puck in the teeth. nt

[intheflow]

83. I pray God will help the Sox defeat them.

I was raised in Massachusetts, so am a die-hard Red Sox fan. But living in Denver now I was thinking that no matter who won, in some way my hometown team would win. But now? Fergetaboutit! I want the Rockies crushed. I can't believe this is legal! :grr:

[texpatriot2004]

87. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus. I believe in the Boston Red

Sox.:evilgrin: O8)

[otohara]

172. It's Not Legal, Nor Is It True

I just learned in one of the posts that Curt Shilling was doing an ESPN interview back in 2004 and at the end he looked in the camera and said "vote for Bush". Waddaya think of that?

[Breeze54]

88. Maybe all that Boston cussin' freaked them out last night!!

:rofl:

Now I'm sure the Red Sox will win the series! Seriously. :P

You've GOT to be kidding me!!! This is a joke, right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for your recommendation. If the thread you recommended
has five votes or more it will appear on the Greatest Page.

Go back

:kick:

GO RED SOX!!!!!

[BR_Parkway]

95. So they will all forego their multimillion $$ salaries and give to the

poor like Jesus said?

And do they tithe the required 10%? Wonder what mega church gets that windfall.

[sakabatou]

97. That, is illegal

Non-discrimination laws and all...

[Breeze54]

101. It's also UNTRUE! See post "Rebuttal" above.

;)

[sakabatou]

104. Oh, didn't see that

^^;

[Breeze54]

112. Neither has anybody else!

:P

:hi:

[Initech]

99. Counter point to this: Boston has Curt Schilling.

A guy who is on record saying that getting Bush elected was more important than winning the 2004 World Series. A guy who believes in the rapture. :yoiks:

[RainDog]

117. Yikes! What is god supposed to do when both teams pray for a win? n/t

[Initech]

142. I quote Stephen Colbert - "This just in, Jesus has quit."

[SaveElmer]

120. But...Red Sox owners...and GM are Democrats!!!...

Makes up for one bad apple!!!

[Initech]

141. True, but that doesn't make up for their fans.

[TornadoTN]

123. True- that's why I pull for Schilling only to help his teammates

They can't all be held responsible for his stupidity.

[joe_sixpack]

106. Don't you think your subject title is a little misleading?

But, I have to give you credit, you sure got people to run with it pretty quickly.

[John Kerry VonErich]

111. Who cares?

I hate to say it. Baseball is a business. Why pry into it?

[Breeze54]

113. huh?

:shrug:

Would you say that about all companies or is it OK to "pry into" Halliburton and Blackwater?

Just asking.

[John Kerry VonErich]

126. 2 things.

1. A baseball team doesn't commit murder like Blackwater

2. MLB and its teams are private entities, unlike Halliburton.

[Breeze54]

127. Wrong.

04/14/2007 7:23 PM ET
Urban Youth Academy a beacon in LA
First complex a vision of others to follow around the country
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070414&content_id=1898908&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

snip-->
"An Academy in the nation's capital was part of MLB's agreement in moving the Nationals
from Montreal into a state-of-the-art ballpark funded largely on public funds."

------------------------

http://espn.go.com/mlb/bush/timeline.html

1990

April: Bush buys an additional $100,000 ownership stake in the Rangers.

October: Arlington Mayor Richard Greene crafts a deal that will go before voters and devote $135
million toward a new stadium for the Rangers by raising the sales tax by a half-cent. At the time,
Greene is among a group of former executives being sued by federal regulators for his role in the
widespread savings-and-loan scandal.

1991

January: Arlington citizens, by a 2-to-1 margin, approve public funds for the new $191 million
ballpark. Two weeks before the vote, federal regulators dismiss their lawsuit against Greene
after he pays a $40,000 penalty.

--------------------------------------

http://ideas.repec.org/a/jsf/intjsf/v1y2006i2p77-95.html">The Edifice Complex: The Economics of Public Subsidization of Major League Baseball Facilities

-------------------------

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3620/is_200410/ai_n9472619/pg_7">PUBLIC FUNDING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS STADIUMS: PUBLIC CHOICE OR CIVIC PRIDE?

-----------------------

:shrug:

[John Kerry VonErich]

174. Just because they got funding for a new stadium...

Does NOT mean the public owns the team. Baseball isn't a public company.

[mondo joe]

162. Business is subject to the laws of the United States, which includes protection

from religious discrimination.

[mmonk]

114. I wasn't going to pull for anyone since it is hockey season

and I'm a hockey fan but now I'll have to pull for the Sox in the world series.

[SaveElmer]

118. That pisses me off so much...that if the Yankees were in the Series instead of the Sox...

I would pull for them...

What a load of crap!!!!

[otohara]

171. Year Old Story Is The Load

What a load this thread is too!

[BurtWorm]

125. Go Red Sox! Kick those Rocky asses!

:patriot:

[Iris]

129. No Catholics?

They are not "born again" - as a priest from my childhood parish said a long time ago, "No one has to ask for Jesus to come into his heart - he's already there! It's a free gift from God."

[WCGreen]

133. No wonder they got the shit kicked out of them last night....

They are gonna have to wait for divine intervention to stop Manny and the boys...

[alarimer]

134. If the Rockies lose does that mean God loves Boston more?

I sure hope Colorado loses. Fundy religious freaks. Since when does being Christian equate to being a "good" person? Can't Jews or Muslims or Hindus be good people? And why do only religious people have good character? Most so-called Christians (at least the fundy ones who wear it on their sleeves) are anything BUT good. Most atheists are far better people.

In any case, since when does God give a rat's ass about sports? One team wins, the other loses. Does that mean God hates the losers?

[loser_user]

139. I'll still root for them...

I have some huge doubts about this story and I hate the fact people are now trashing them though if this does indeed to be proven true and not taken out of context then there is some seriously wrong here. Then again, if there's something in this world that turns grown adults into ignornant buffons it is the discussion of religion.

[Basileus Basileon]

143. Jason Hirsh and Kazuo Matsui might be surprised to find they weren't hired. nt

[proud patriot]

144. Go Red Sox

:woohoo:

[GOPisEvil]

145. Jason Hirsch doth protest.

The Rockies may PREFER Christian ballplayers, but they do not discriminate.

[Hawaii Hiker]

147. Well, I was already rooting for the Red Sox, now I hope

Boston runs up the score & beats them 20-1 each game...

The Colorado Rockies take religious extremism to an entirely new level...

[rockymountaindem]

149. It's really great the level of outrage here for something that isn't even true

Look at Hirch and Matsui. Look at the Latin American players who are Catholics. No shortage of them...

Come on people, use your heads.

[XOKCowboy]

155. I live in Denver and have never heard this mentioned... ever

If there is any truth to this story they're doing a good job of keeping it under cover. Very unlike proselytizing Christians.

Welcome to the new DU. Someone posts a year old blurb from that pillar of journalism USA Today and people jump all over it. Sometimes we're as bad as freepers.

[paulk]

159. I can't believe the shit that's getting posted about this

every time I think DU has hit a new low for stupidity

something new comes along...

[stlsaxman]

152. The Rockies need to be beaten bad! GO SOX!!!

i'll hate baseball if the baby jesus makes them win.

[spanone]

164. down 2, better start prayin'

[Neecy]

166. well....

I remember when this article first came out, and as I remember USA Today interviewed some former players and at least one mentioned the emphasis on Christianity in the clubhouse. It sounds like the Rockies tried to put a new spin on things after the article came out.

Still, this isn't confined to the Rockies, although the emphasis by the head office is unusual. Most teams have a chaplain and fundy fantatics are to be found on every roster. There's a whole speaker's bureau of fundy players who speak to Christian groups in the offseason. You can probably say the same about any sport, but for some reason baseball seems to have the highest percentage of in-your-face, testifyin', witnessin', fundamentalists. Don't know why.

[Name removed]

167. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[otohara]

173. Jesus Christ

Gawd, the story is a year-old overblown POS - and how about that Curt Shilling guy saying "vote for Bush" in a 2004 ESPN interview, he's a born-again Xtian jerk.