its just the way Christianity affects people

I don't think Christianity is alone in this. That's the power source of most major religions.

Man, this has taken a fun baseball turn, hasn't it?

Christianity's classic argument to non-believers is that they must be wrong because they can't prove anything. What many Christians fail to understand is that they are atheists, too, atheists from every other religion or god that ever existed. And, though they feel they are the exception to all the rules because they are right (!), it's ironic that they shut other beliefs out by the fact that it's simply unproven, when they can't prove their faith, either.

But whatever. That's why I say live and let live, because who am I? Just another lefty-loonist!

Joe,

Josh does not owe anything to a single one of us. The Rangers traded for him, gave him a chance to make right his previous wrongs, and he came in and while on the field, produced for the most part. He is as gifted physically as any other major league baseball player, but is equally challenged as anyone mentally. He gets paid to show up and play the game at a high level, and for the most part he did. He does not owe a single one of us an apology for quiting on his team or himself. We are spectators at a sporting event, we are not promised anything more than to be entertained. Now, we luckily support a team that is managed correctly, and does alot to ensure we have a winner on the field. Josh, if anything should apologize to his teammates for the dropped ball, but mostly he should(if any) apologize to himself. Don't make yourself out to be anything more than just a fan. You have nothing to worry about anyways because he wont be back in a Ranger uniform next year.

Somebody tell Eric Wheining this is a baseball site

The relationship between Josh and fans is not the same as the one between him and Christians. My 'fan' relationship is where I say easy come easy go and move on down the road. Kind of like when C.J. left. But Josh asked/found his way into my family's heart with his public exhibtion of a lifestyle that I very much am in alignment with. When he used the foundation of that lifestyle (words from the bible) to insult what is frankly a relatively 'Christian-Josh' friendly community, it definitely cuts to core. Perhaps I've invested too much in this guy. I'll hopefully take this to heart with my trust relationship with future outspoken Christians. I should have learned my lesson when this first happened with George Bush and I realized he only talked about Christ to get applause. But I was sucked in by Josh's grin and his talent and how it encouraged my kids to believe in redemption and to never quit trying. So yeah, I was looking for a little bit of an apology for that. But the more I think of it the more I realize the apology needs to be from me to my kids for over selling millionaire athletes and also to Christ himself for allowing myself to idolize a TV personality. So there's that.

Eric, you're out of your element.

We are spectators at a sporting event, we are not promised anything more than to be entertained

For some reason this made me envision Hamilton as a Gladiator who kills efficiently but not for spectacle and is therefor beheaded by the Consul (JD).

I don't feel like Hamilton owes us anything. I certainly don't feel like we owe him a second (er..6th?) chance. I'm ready for the team to get younger - and more coach-able.

Wow their really is a ton of angst in this thread. Blow this shit up.

Oh goodnes...now I went and made a silly typo...*There!

I think guns are good.