USRT vs. Base Paths

Doug Smith, the author of the weekly column of Base Paths in the Tonawanda News, is one of most interesting baseball fans you can ever talk to. If you are a true baseball fan, spend an game at Dunn Tire Park with Doug Smith. You will have some great baseball talk, but you will have other great conversation with him about all thing in life. If I can accomplish half the things he did in life I would consider my life a sucess.


As I have mentioned before Doug is the PA announcers for the Niagara Power. Peter Farrell and Andrew Kulyk have made a trip to each arena/stadium for all four of the major sports leagues and many minor league stadiums. Their travels are chronicled on their website http://www.thesportsroadtrip.com/ . I think the story that Doug writes in the Tonawanda News tells the rest of the story.


The Niagara Power, who lead their league in being hit by pitch, took one right in the blogs last week.The Ultimate Baseball Roadtrip (www.thesportsroadtrip.wnymedia.net), by ArtVoice sports columnists Peter Farrell and Andrew Kulyk, logged in at Sal Maglie Stadium for Tuesday’s game versus the Bolivar A’s. UBT seemed to have a good time, but was put off by evidence of the Power’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsorship.In a sharp posting titled, “The Niagara Power and the Glory,” Farrell said he knew he was in for a different experience when he saw the Family Life Network banner at the gate.“We came to enjoy a ball game,” he posted, and wound up in “a crusade for our souls.” He quoted Christian testimony in the program by players and coaches and cautioned that if Power President Cal Kern does not “reach out to the entire community,” his venture is doomed to failure.


The rest of the story can be found at http://www.tonawanda-news.com/sports/gnnsports_story_196235153.html


The USRT guys really do have something against religion based events at ball parks. Now I am the least religious person in the world. I don't go to church unless for weddings or funerals. But I am not offended that teams have "faith nights" nor do I care the Power are sponsored by the FCA. I go for the baseball game and really don't pay much attention to the other stuff. It is not like Doug is up there preaching all the time. He mentions a few times a game that the FCA sponsors different things. When a plane takes off from the Niagara Falls Air Force Base Doug will say "tonight's flyover is sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes". It is the same as the strikeouts being sponsored by Golds Gym or the K-man of the game being sponsored by a local restaurant. Granted like a friend of mine said, instead of having the sunset sponsored by FCA, it should be sponsored by god. I don't know if anyone would be offended by that, but I think it is funny. But I guess all I am saying is Peter and Andrew made it out to be like going to church with a baseball game going on, where it is about the baseball, not the religion. So if you have a chance to head out to Sal Maglie, please do it, you will enjoy yourself.