Josh Hamilton and Big Brown
June 5, 2008 – 10:29 am Posted by bryan in » Christianity, MLB
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Back in January we pointed you to the amazing story of Josh Hamilton’s rise and fall as a big league star, and how he rose again (in life and in baseball) thanks to a newfound faith in Christ and a commitment to stay clean and disciplined.
If you’ve watched any baseball this year, you know that the story is only getting better. Hamilton is absolutely raking. Like Big Brown and his cracked hoof, Hamilton is a legitimate triple crown threat, with a batting average of .327 (4th in the AL) with 17 HR (1st in AL) and 68 RBIs (1st in AL). Considering his average draft position in ESPN Fantasy Leagues was 112th, it’s safe to say that he’ll be the centerpiece of many a winning fantasy team come September.
The MLB Baseball Package on DirecTV has afforded me the opportunity to watch a handful of Rangers games this year, and I’ve been just as impressed as everyone else. In fact, he hit a home run the other day on a pitch that was up at his nipples. Not sure anyone else in the game could have put that pitch in the seats except for Vlad. (and maybe Barry Bonds, except, he’s not actually in the game).
This morning, Deadspin picked up on a story from SI.com that Hamilton has switched agents in the middle of contract negotiations with the Rangers. According to Jon Heyman, Hamilton switched from Matt Sosnick to Michael Moye, and apparently told friends he made the switch because he wanted to be with “a christian stable.”
You see? And you thought the only thing Hamilton had in common with Big Brown was that whole Triple Crown business.
(h/t: Deadspin)
Tags: Big Brown, Josh Hamilton
4 Responses to “Josh Hamilton and Big Brown”
By jason on Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Hamilton’s is an amazing story, obviously. But anyone else have mixed feelings about a Christian preferring to do business with other Christians? Hamilton’s switch is high-profile — SI has yet to report any local believers choosing the plumber with the fish on his yellow-page ad instead of the regular and possibly pagan plumbers. But the whole trend — the epitome of which is those “Christian Business Directories” — kinda irritates me. Hard to be a light in the darkness when you intend to share it only with other lights.
Or maybe I’m just a judgmental turd.
By bryan on Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Funny, I was just thinking about those Christian business directories the other day. They really bother me. The spirit behind them seems to be, “If you’re going to spend money on a service, better to support a Christian than a non-Christian.”
My question is why? Why is it better to support a Christian? Since when should we be showing favor, grace, and love to only those people who share similar beliefs with us? It just feels like the Good Samaritan parable all over again, only Christians are the ones leaving the dude on the side of the road because he doesn’t go to church.
I’ve got less of a problem with folks showing favor to good friends or to family in those situations, that’s fine. But to only want to do business with Christians? That seems like pulling yourself out of “the world” that we are supposed to be being a light in, like you said Jason.
That being said, SI might have been simplifying the story or putting their own angle on it, so I won’t point the finger at Hamilton. Maybe I can get an interview with him and ask him about it.
By Zeke on Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
bryan, first of all, i want to commend you for getting the word “nipples” into one of your posts and making me laugh. you could have said that hamilton crushed a pitch that was up around his chest, but you went straight for the man’s teats. from now on i will be referring to all pitches in that area as “nipple-height” - so awesome.
second of all, i kind of share both of your sentiments about the “christian businesses” idea that i think it’s bogus (and believe me, here in the south people use it all the time to sell stuff) but i wonder if hamilton’s decision is more influenced because an agent deals so heavily in matters of ethics? i guess he might want someone that’s on the same page so that he can feel confident that what they’re asking for isn’t underhanded in some kind of way. also, an agent “represents” you in a lot of ways so he wants someone on the same moral ground or that shares the same values, not to mention the fact that agents often have personal relationships with their players, so that makes hamilton feel more comfortable.
i agree that SI might be simplifying it, but i also don’t fault hamilton for seeking out a christian guy in a situation like this - i feel like the circumstances are different than if he were trying to find a christian barber or plumber or something. it’s much more personal.
By Peter Gaultney on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
And while I appreciate Zeke’s defense of the situation, I have to disagree with all three of you on the grounds of a verse that everyone seems to love to ignore:
Galatians 6:10 (ESV): So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
I think what you all are failing to recognize is what the Church is supposed to be: exactly what Bryan was just referring to: your family. Doesn’t Jesus say specifically that His family are those who do His will, NOT just his biological mother and brothers/sisters?
I completely agree that we’re supposed to love ALL men…but this doesn’t (and oughtn’t) exclude showing special love to those who are Christians. Why would choosing your plumber based on these guidelines be excluded?