Onward Christian Athletes

Sportsfans notice the occasional baseball player ripping a HR or QB tossing a touchdown, then pointing to the sky and acclaiming that Jesus Christ is number one.

Strikeouts and sacks—those are the work of the desolate one and no cause to acknowledge his work.

USA Today columnist Tom Krattenmaker's under-the-radar Onward Christian Athletes: Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preachers (Rowman & Littlefield, October 2009) looks like a respite for those viewing post-game, on-field prayer meetings as foolish displays of exclusionary, only-through-Christ silliness.

From a Rowman & Littlefield synopsis:

Players pointing triumphantly to the heavens. Lavishly paid pro athletes proclaiming their Christianity in public every chance they get. Faith Nights at professional sports events. The hand of God proclaimed in every win streak. Pro sports teams are supposed to provide a civic rallying ground where fans of widely varying background and faiths come together. In Onward Christian Athletes, religion expert and commentator Tom Krattenmaker takes us behind the scenes of the conservative Christian movement to evangelize in the club house and enlist pro athletes to promote a specific brand of Christianity outside the mainstream of a religiously and politically diverse America.

Krattenmaker is so going to hell for writing this book, but I can't wait to read it.