Faith Nights - those ballpark events with a religious twist - have come under fire lately. Some are wondering if they are more about exclusion than inclusion, while others claim they are no different than any other community-based promotion.
A product of the Bible-belt South, Faith Nights range from little more than discount tickets for church groups to full-scale revivals with religious concerts, testimonials from players and coaches and strong evangelical messages. One minor league football team in Alabama went so far as to give away Bibles and bobble-head dolls of Biblical characters (Noah and Moses) to fans attending the game, and when the players took the field, they wore jerseys with Bible verses printed on their backs.
This in-your-face proselytizing concerns Faith Night naysayers who say sports teams should steer clear of religion. Last year when the Washington Nationals staged their first Faith Night, the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington sent a letter to the team expressing its concern about using religion to promote ticket sales. Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher upbraided the Nationals for mixing religion and baseball, and earlier this year New York Times columnist Murray Chass wondered why baseball as a whole is "in the business of promoting any particular religion?"
Yet, Faith Nights continue to proliferate. Third Coast Sports, which on its Web site says it is "a nonprofit ministry focused on reaching today's generation for Christ through sports and music," helps organize many of the Faith Nights. The company lists 24 Christian-themed events for this year, mostly at minor league baseball stadiums, but seven involving major league teams.
Church groups seem to like Faith Nights because they receive discounted tickets to family-friendly outings. Sports teams like them because they have been shown to boost ticket sales.
In order to see for myself what all the fuss was about, I went to the Washington Mystics third-annual Gospel Night, held coincidentally on a Sunday night. (I had wanted to go to a Faith Night, but neither the Baltimore Orioles nor the Washington Nationals had one scheduled this year. It was only after I attended the Mystics game that the Nationals announced they were having a Gospel Fest involving choirs from several local churches on Aug. 3.)
During the game, which the Mystics lost, 82-60, to the Connecticut Sun, I noticed few religious overtones. The Christian contemporary gospel group Triple-N-Gen out of Beltsville, Md., performed at halftime, but you had to listen pretty closely to hear any reference to God or Jesus. Other than the public address announcer welcoming the nine church groups in attendance, this game was no different than any other sporting event I have attended.
It wasn't until about 10 to 15 minutes after the game ended that things turned religious. The mostly African-American crowd who remained settled in to hear the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church youth choir. Then a deejay from Praise 104.1, a local gospel radio station that co-hosted the event with the Mystics, introduced Maurette Brown Clark. The Stellar-award winner performed six songs, not including the song sung by her 8-year-old daughter Jada.
Though her message was clear - "The Lord has blessed us. Hallelujah to the lamb of God. - Clark was preaching to the converted, not trying to gain new converts with this concert which lasted about an hour. No Mystics players or coaches spoke; no one read any Bible verses.
Mystics forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin is a fan of Faith Nights. When she was a member of the Orlando Miracle, McWilliams-Franklin spoke about her religious beliefs at the team's Faith Night. She had hoped to attend the gospel concert after Sunday's game, but wasn't sure her 5-year-old daughter would have the patience for it.
"I think in the times we live in a lot of people are searching for something," she said. "We're all about positive things going on. Whatever faith and religion you're in, you can stay and listen to some uplifting and inspirational music afterward."
I asked Mystics chief operating officer Greg Bibb why the team decided to host a gospel night.
"Whether it's a gospel night or a breast health awareness night, we try to find initiatives that are important to our fan base, and gospel music and gospel faith are an important part of our [demographics]," he said.
But didn't he worry that a promotion with religious connotations might offend some people?
"Sure, we take that into consideration," Bibb said. "That's why while gospel night is happening today it's really, within the game, [only a] halftime performance. The entire concert is post-game. So if it's something you want to experience, you stay for it. If it's something that's not your cup of tea, you can leave, and by being here today, you're not impacted by it whatsoever."
Given how the Mystics handled their gospel night, I don't understand the outrage. Now, had they handed out Jesus bobble-heads or given out Bibles, I'd feel differently. To me, that's crossing a line.
Frankly, I don't see why every religion can't have its own night at the ballpark, and Bibb suggested to me his organization would be willing to entertain such an idea. Why should Christians be the only ones to capitalize on sports teams' promotions? How about a Meditation Night for Buddhists? It would certainly make these promotions appear more inclusive.
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Comments (20)
Of course it's profiteering.
Baseball, like all professional sports, is a business; a very big business. And we are to believe that the same owners who routinely blackmail cities and states into giving them massive subsidies by threatening to move their team to another, more gullible, city, have suddenly put their worship of lucre aside for God?
Gimmee a break!
August 5, 2008 3:27 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 5, 2008 15:27
Let me re-phrase.
Sports and sex are not things I learn about by watching.
August 4, 2008 5:30 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 17:30
I definitely learn by watching other people do things I want to do, but sports and sex just aren't two of those things.
I study actors - I will see a good movie or a good play at least twice, budget permitting. The first time is strictly for entertainment. If it's really good, I'll go back and study the actors.
August 4, 2008 5:12 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 17:12
Yeah, Lepi, I always preferred to play than watch, myself. I always delighted in the movement and all, but could never long stand the regimentation of organized sports as a kid.
There is a part of the human brain that actually can't tell the difference between what we watch and what we do, though, and this is why, well, people like to watch, really. It's part of how we learn, and learning is something that actually does feel pretty good. Usually, anyway.
August 4, 2008 4:44 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 16:44
PP,
I generally prefer to play than to watch any sport.
For me, watching sports is like watching porn - someone else is having all the fun.
August 4, 2008 4:02 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 16:02
Hey, but in the spirit of the joke, maybe on Pagan night, they could all run the bases deosil. :)
August 4, 2008 3:52 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 15:52
Possibly, Lepi, it's because far-from-all Sufis are dervishes. As much as I think it's actually a pretty admirable practice, some may be sensitive to the stereotype.
As for 'religious sports nights,' it's hardly any surprise. There's long been a perceived connection among Christians between piety and the follower-sort of athletics-watching. Isn't it always the 'jocks' and wannabees that most embrace the notion that the religion gives them some special status? Particularly when it comes to 'enforcing' the sexual mores the Christians are so vocally-obsessed with these days?
As well as, 'Win, win, win.'
Let's hope it doesn't turn to more religious hooliganism, but that dynamic's always been there. I consider it unwise to join overt public piety with these circuses, especially because for the not-overly-involved, listening to people extolling the virtues of their favorite team is a great way to *not* have communication cut off with other elements in society, these days.
Frankly, I don't care much personally about sports. I enjoy them when I'm with people who enjoy them. It's a shame to see this turned to more soon-to-be-more-obligatory shows of a certain group's piety. This bit of social bonding and outlet is rapidly being turned into yet another thing to send the message 'See the piety of the winners, it's impolite to mention the losers may be just as, or even more, pious, but we'll send the message our beliefs confer 'victory' anyway. '
Pity.
August 4, 2008 3:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 15:50
Arminius,
Thanks for the reminder about the poetry - on Sufi night, instead of the announcers giving a play-by-play, they'll recite from the works of Rumi.
August 4, 2008 3:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 15:50
Good one, Lep, about the Sufis. Don't forget the poetry.
I strived mightily to think up a scenario for Buddhism. Maybe stop after every caught ball and every reached base to meditate? I dunno....
August 4, 2008 3:41 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 15:41
That's odd - I had made a post, it was there, and now it's not.
Oh well, here goes again...
Sufi night, when the bases must be run while whirling.
August 4, 2008 12:51 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 12:51
Brambleton: "Would we hold a "jewish" night in Burma, despite the fact that there exists only a tiny Jewish community in Rangoon with a synagogue but no resident rabbi to conduct services? Does that make good business sense to you? "
We agree! - from a business perspective, it doesn't make any sense. These faith nights are all about business and not about religion. Buddhism and Judaism are lesser than Christianity only in a business sense, right?
Thus, it makes good sense for striving young clergy to choose Christianity as their calling - preferably a mega-church, because that's where the really big bucks in Christianity are these days. The basics of the business are profit potential, not the actual quality of the product. If it doesn't sell, what good is it?
August 4, 2008 12:16 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 4, 2008 12:16
And for Jewish night, they would wear yarmulkes instead of baseball caps, and serve Hebrew National hotdogs. Muslim night will have falafel sandwiches. What other fun can we have with this?
Athena, who really should be working on my paper...
August 3, 2008 10:28 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 3, 2008 22:28
Athena,
I'd buy a ticket to that game!
August 3, 2008 3:11 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 3, 2008 15:11
Hi, Athena, you said:
"I look forward to Pagan Nights, when they run the bases deosil (clockwise) rather than widdershins (counter-clockwise), and the bases are "Air, Fire, Earth and Water" rather "First, Second, Third, and Home". You get three strikes for the Triple Goddess."
Well, that got more than a chuckle here. But, as a passionate follower of the sport, I must protest! Blasphemy! Outrage! Send in the troops! In other words.... ROTFLMAF!
Thanks. It actually would be fun to watch.
August 3, 2008 12:34 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 3, 2008 12:34
EFav,
Your emotions cloud your judgment. The very small number of Buddhists in the U.S. is a fact and not in dispute. It does not mean that it is somehow "lesser" than any other religion.
Would we hold a "jewish" night in Burma, despite the fact that there exists only a tiny Jewish community in Rangoon with a synagogue but no resident rabbi to conduct services? Does that make good business sense to you?
August 3, 2008 11:12 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 3, 2008 11:12
Yeah, Brambleton, You've got a point there. All the big bucks are with the Christians.
Who'da thunk that Gentle Jesus, meek and mild could fill a ballpark? Amazing - Not only do Christians get eternal life, they get discount baseball tickets, too.
There's no profit at all for the ball clubs with those lesser religions.
Go Jesus, Beat Buddha!
August 2, 2008 11:24 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 2, 2008 23:24
Yeah, Brambleton, you've got a point there - all the big bucks are with the Christians. What good is a religion if it can't fill a ballpark?
Who'da thunk that Gentle Jesus, meek and mild could rake in so much dough for the ball clubs.
Go Jesus, Beat Buddha!
August 2, 2008 11:17 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 2, 2008 23:17
I look forward to Pagan Nights, when they run the bases deosil (clockwise) rather than widdershins (counter-clockwise), and the bases are "Air, Fire, Earth and Water" rather "First, Second, Third, and Home". You get three strikes for the Triple Goddess.
August 2, 2008 9:30 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 2, 2008 21:30
Good idea Kathy. Let's have a night for all the religions. Let's see, recent statistics show that Buddhists represent 0.5% of the U.S. population (and you'd probably get a much lower % if you added "WNBA fan" to the criteria). In 2007, the Mystics drew, on average, 7,788 fans per game. Using the U.S. statistics, that would mean 35 people for the "Buddhist Meditation" night. Yeah, I'm sure Greg Bibb will be jumping all over that one.
Perhaps a Wiccan night too? Given the population percentages, the Mystics would be looking at a turnout of about two. Yeah, seems to make sense.
August 2, 2008 7:33 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 2, 2008 19:33
Kathy,
Please come see one of our events.
August 10 - Colorado Rockies
August 16 - Houston Astros
August 17 - Cincinnati Reds
August 23 - Kansas City Royals
September 6 - Minnesota Twins
Blessings,
Brent High, Executive Director
Third Coast Sports Foundation
www.thirdcoastsports.org
August 1, 2008 7:10 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on August 1, 2008 19:10