Posted on 09/27/2009 7:06:50 AM PDT by Publius804
When Religion Is Involved, a Game Is Just That
This is a most wonderful gesture, having the Yankees and the Red Sox play at 1 p.m. on Sunday. It could even be the start of something better.
Instead of putting the game at 8 p.m. — prime time, as the networks call it — ESPN and Major League Baseball are accommodating thousands of fans who at sundown will be observing Yom Kippur, the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
Not only that, but the N.F.L. has allowed both New York teams to play at 1 on Sunday — Jets at home, Giants on the road — just to get the tackling and selling and screaming over before sundown.
These admirable tweaks in the schedule raise the vestigial memory of simpler times, when there was a break in the action, when people stayed home, turned down the tempo.
Nowadays, there is always action on the tube, somebody hurtling into somebody else, kick-boxing in Asia, soccer in Europe, dunking in America. When exactly is that day of rest, that hour of peace?
One of the most beautiful sights in my neighborhood is on High Holy Days when people walk to temple. Not only does this bring the traditional legendary weather, but it gives off a psychic signal to slow down.
I felt the same way during Ramadan when I watched a Pakistani tennis player who felt he could not fast during the United States Open but respected his friends who were going without water during daylight. Piety can be contagious.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Major League Baseball does not apply an equal set of standards on this issue. A number of Catholics in the Detroit area were upset when the Tigers home opener was scheduled for Good Friday afternoon. The league wasn’t willing to accommodate them in the least...
You’re not going to get concessions from any major sports on holidays.
P.S. Remember when the Utah Jazz were in the finals against the Chicago Bulls, and a certain Jazz owner was OPENLY mocked for not attending Sunday playoff games?
How about a certain White Sox outfielder being openly mocked on ESPN radio in Chicago for not believing in dinosaurs (sports radio, mind you)?
In both of theses case, not only were accommodations not made, but they were openly mocked fpr their beliefs.
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