[Marxism] Colorado backwardness

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

(Michael Yates has described the backwardness of Colorado in great detail.
It is a stronghold of Christian fundamentalism, hate radio, etc. It is
where the Columbine high school massacre took place, as documented in
Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" and where Ward Churchill is being
hounded out of his job. Apparently the idiocy has spread to professional
sports as well.)

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060619/zirin

Southpaw by Dave Zirin
The Rockies Pitch Religion

[posted online on June 2, 2006]

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. [Note
to McGregor: You're in fourth place.] There will be distractions. There
will be things that can change people. But we truly do have something going
on here. And [God's] 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?"

Then there is manager Clint Hurdle and GM O'Dowd. Hurdle, who has guided
the team to a Philistine 302-376 record since 2002, as well as fourth or
fifth place finishes every year, was rewarded with a 2007 contract
extension in the off-season. Hurdle also claims he became a Christian three
years ago and says, "We're not going to hide it. We're not going to deny
it. This is who we are."

(clip)


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