Image by wallyg via Flickr
Last night I took my family to a Phillies/Red Sox baseball game. My wife gave me two tickets for father’s day without knowing that another wonderful person offered me two of his tickets to the same game. In many ways, it was a great and blessed night: wonderful weather, great seats, time with one of my sons, a gem of a pitching outing by Cliff Lee despite the fact that I’m a Red Sox fan, a batting practice ball caught and given to my son, and best of all…missing keys turning up in at lost and found (if God hadn’t answered that prayer…well this would be a far different post!).
But, I do want to note a couple of observations about human behavior (notwithstanding the great behavior of whoever found my keys and turned them in…THANK YOU):
- People drink far too much. Going to the game means indulging in food and drink
- Related to this…it is interesting to watch strangers pass a twenty dollar bill down the row to the aisle, beers and change come back down. No one seems to even play with copping either the beers or money. Outside the park, I’m pretty sure the same values would not apply
- Put on a shirt for your team, drink (see #1 above), and you enter the Lord of the Flies. People acting if THEY were the team. When their team does well, they are inclined to make sure the “enemy” is duly scorned and despised.
- Some fans of the opposing team (Red Sox fans in this case) don’t seem to realize the odds are against them. Some “men” in front of us decided they would take on the fans in front of them. Created some anxiety in myself and my son. Probably #1 involved. Thankful security took care of the issue.
- I’m all for cheering, but some cheer in such a way that makes you think they’re cheering for righteousness and jeering the Nazi Germany. (I”m sure this would also be true if we were in Boston, where I took a beer over the head at one game I attended there).
- Some people who pay top dollar for their seats don’t seem to stay in them very much. I can’t count the number of times some of the fans left to buy drinks and other merchandise, and take care of business in the bathroom.
Musings on Faith and Psychology 
Rev 4:10-11 (revised just a bit)
“The twenty-four (thousand fans) will fall down before (them) who (play on the field), and will worship (them) who (plays season after season), and will cast their (caps onto the field), saying, “Worthy are you, our (team) and our (gods), to receive glory and honor and power; for you created (amazing plays), and because of your (incredible ability to keep us mesmerized by the simple act of swatting a ball with a stick) (we) exist, and (find meaning for our continuance).”
It can be like a parallel universe with rules of its own.
I remember fights in right field of Fenway when the Reggie Jackson Yankees came to town in the late 70’s. This is part of why I hesitate to bring my kids. But the D’Backs games I’ve been to have been pretty low key since they don’t have the same amount of time invested in the team. No blood lust there.
There is just so much immaturity contributing to sin. I usually appreciate a good play by the opposition. But some people can’t do that. Just sad they can’t appreciate the game as well as the team.
Able to see the Sox-O’s in Baltimore in Sept?
Never been to Oriole stadium. Would love to sometime. Not sure if the bloodlust there would be high or not.
********* Philip G. Monroe, PsyD Professor of Counseling & Psychology Director, MA Counseling Program Biblical Seminary 200 N. Main Street Hatfield, PA 19440 http://www.biblical.edu http://www.wisecounsel.wordpress.com Following Jesus into the world
As to “blood lust” at baseball games, you might find it more in the upper-right corner of this chart: 🙂
Ron, love the chart. Shared it with my baseball loving son. We thought it was hilarious. Glad the creator of the chart recognizes the soullessness of the Yankees.