Patterico’s on vacation, so someone needs to step up and slam the LA Times today.<\/p>\n
I only go to churches for weddings and funerals – and to hear my wife sing in her classical choir. Evangelical Christianity makes me mildly itchy, combining as it does spirituality, community, and a uniquely American kind of salesmanship. My own spiritual calls are quieter.<\/p>\n
Having said that I curse and tear my hair out when I read stupid c**p like Tom Krattenmaker’s opinion article in today’s LA Times:<\/p>\n
Should God go to the ballgame?<\/b>
\nEvents such as ‘faith day’ at Dodger Stadium signal the Christianization of pro sports.<\/p>\n\nOn Sunday, Christian baseball fans will stream into Dodger Stadium for what is becoming more common fare at professional ballparks across the country — “faith day.”<\/p>\n
\nFollowing the Dodgers vs. Rockies game, fans with special tickets will gather in a corner of the parking lot for a concert by the Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, an appearance by characters from the “Veggie Tales” Christian television program and testimonials by several devout Dodgers. The purpose, according to event organizer Brent High, is to promote the Gospel of Jesus.<\/p>\n
\nHigh and his Christian events-promotion company, Third Coast Sports, have been organizing faith days and faith nights around minor league baseball for years. They reached the major leagues last season with three events at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, and will be in 10 major league cities this season. The event at Dodger Stadium will be the first in L.A.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Tim, please learn something about major league sports marketing before you sit at the keyboard and write something like this again.<\/p>\n