Web Letters: The Rockies Get Off Their Knees

Zirin is way off. He writes about the Rockies "Faith Day," but knows nothing about the event. A post-game event that anyone with a game ticket can participate (or not participate) in, is not a "misuse of tax dollars." Take another angle, Dave... what a joke.

Mark Hayden

Denver, CO

I agree with the rest of the comments to this article. Zirin repeatedly praises athletes for advocating left wing political views. However, athletes who are devout Christians are supposed to keep their mouths shut.

Kevin Boyd

Fairfax, VA

This article really reminds me of a Rita Skeeter article. First of all, I read the USA Today article and your representation of it here is deliberately skewed to make them look like bigots. Yes, they spoke of Christians glowingly (which wasn't a crime, last time I checked... Yet for some reason is greatly frowned upon?). However, they don't require a player to be Christian to play on the team. I believe their words were "men of character," not "men of God." So what is the issue? I, for one, am very pleased with this approach, not because I think God is gonna make us win (as you can see... we lost,) but because it's nice to see a team you can really admire, win or lose. I've never been so proud of any team this city's ever seen. Their character is so great, they won't even try to excuse themselves when they lose. They are hands down the most sportsmanlike gentlemen I've ever seen in sports, and I just adore them, regardless of their religion. I'm sorry, but your rant just doesn't hold any sway with me.

Elizabeth Plant

Denver, CO

Zirin's article makes a sort of sense, but I think it was poorly written. Rather than criticizing the Rockies for being sanctimonious God-squaders and only mentioning in passing (1) the exclusivity of hosting a "Christian Values Day" in a publicly funded stadium and (2) the hypocrisy of espousing humility but then showing favoritism toward corporate ticket buyers, Zirin should have made these two points the focus of his article. The second point in particular could be fleshed out more--that's a pretty strong accusation, and one that needs to be supported to convince us that it's even plausible.

I take his point, but I don't think he framed it in the right way.

Jordon Steele

Philadelphia, PA

I would think if Mr. Zirin has such an issue as his tone suggests with how or what the Rockies attribute their success to or try to expouse as philosophy, then he should go cheer for another team.

Freedom of speech and religion applies to everyone, not just the ones who might get offended. A point often forgotten in this oversensitive, secularistic society of ours.

Charles Thornton

Reisterstown, MD

What can an ever-evolving former born-again, atheist/agnostic/gnostic... say, except that as a diehard Baltimore Orioles fan who's sat through ten consecutive (with no end in sight) self-destructive seasons of steroid-using lying-to-Congress over-the-hill losers, I think I’d be thrilled if someone’s god (any god) touched the lives of every Oriole player in such a way as to inspire them into the World Series next season.

Go Birds!

Pssst, God? What do you say? If you do this for me, I'll tell everyone it was because of you. Do we have a deal?

John LeVan

Thorndale, PA

Mr. Zirin is funny. Accusing the Rockies of "being the most sanctimonious team in baseball," Mr. Zirin uses his own sanctimony to justify his analysis. Mr. Zirin claims "religion and sports" need a "divorce." What next? Taking religion out of the church too? What else would Mr. Zirin sanctimoniously like to take religion--however you define it--out of? So because Zirin's in DC, where fascists justify their maniacal decisions at least in part on God, all of a sudden anyone who invokes God is questionable... you know, tainted with blood and all that. Seems like a God-fearing man or woman just can't get a break these days...

Mr. Zirin should go back to reading Christopher Hitchens, Katha Pollitt and that whole crowd. He can laugh at all the Christians... heck, while he's at it, he can laugh at anyone associated with God. I mean, it's obvious he's on a roll and all. Zirin can take that epitome of evil--you know, God--and wish it would up and leave us alone so we can all hold hands together in liberal-progressive peace singing the songs of Lennon. (Imagine it, Zirin.) If only those God-people would just get out of the way and leave it to the enlightened minds who know better. Like Zirin himself, of course.

What Zirin should actually learn, for the betterment of his own life and those around him, is that his own sanctimony--thinly disguised as liberal rhetoric, such as it is--is only going to come back and bite him in the ass. You know, judge and be judged and all that.

Hey Zirin, here's some free advice: while you're dinin' out in Adams-Morgan yukkin' it up with all the other enlightened souls who no doubt grace your presence, ask yourself if all those immigrants around you would have made it to these great shores without singing the songs of God to help them along the way. You probably believe God should be disassociated from hope too. Do so at your pleasure, Mr. Zirin, or your own peril, and when Hitchens calls to congratulate you on your fine efforts, just say, shucks, pointing out that God is not only dead, but was never alive, is the least that you & he can do.

I say Rockies in 6...but only because I'm a Padres fan...

S. Debs

San Diego, CA