Author: Bobby Ross Jr.

Bobby Ross Jr. is an award-winning journalist who has reported from all 50 states and 20 countries.
The Ross News

A father and son enjoy baseball, make memories in 29 major-league cities

“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.

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By Bobby Ross Jr.

Easton Moore, now 18, was just 2 years old when his father, Bobby Moore, started taking him to major-league baseball games.

They first saw their hometown Texas Rangers at what is now Globe Life Park in Arlington in 1998. Later, when Bobby Moore had to make a business trip to Houston, he introduced his son to the Astrodome — home of the Astros from 1965 to 1999.

Thus was born a tradition — and a home run of an idea.

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Christian Chronicle

The faith behind Disney’s ‘McFarland, USA’

The faith behind Disney’s ‘McFarland, USA’: New movie starring Kevin Costner is based on the inspiring true story of coach Jim White, who has deep roots in Churches of Christ. “McFarland, USA,” a new Disney film starring Kevin Costner, tells the true story of California cross-country coach Jim White, who transformed a migrant farm town’s predominantly Latino high school into an unlikely powerhouse. The PG-rated motion … Continue reading The faith behind Disney’s ‘McFarland, USA’

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Christian Chronicle

Youth Advance builds the future, and present, of the church

Youth Advance builds the future, and present, of the church (reporting from Malvern, Pa.): Organizers work to identify and train the most outstanding teen leaders in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. MALVERN, Pa. — In a hotel meeting room northwest of Philadelphia, a gray-haired facilitator sings karaoke with a group of teens. The playlist ranges from Katy Perry’s “Roar” to the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” to the … Continue reading Youth Advance builds the future, and present, of the church

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Religion Unplugged

February 2015: GetReligion

News vs. advocacy: Time reports on an evangelical church coming out for same-sex marriage. Published Feb. 3. Context, please: About the ‘controversial statements’ by San Francisco’s ‘conservative’ archbishop. Published Feb. 4. Temptation, two Timothys and the Los Angeles Times’ take on a pastor to California lawmakers. Published Feb. 5. Same-sex wedding cakes: Journalistic framing again comes into play. Published Feb. 6. Washington Post delves deeper … Continue reading February 2015: GetReligion

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The Ross News

Trips to baseball heaven: Fans share cherished memories of first major-league games

“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.

• • •

By Bobby Ross Jr.

The stadium felt like a furnace — think obnoxious Texas heat in early July — when I walked into my first major-league baseball game at age 14.

By then, of course, I was already a big baseball fan, with thousands of baseball cards, an autographed picture of Pete Rose and a dream of growing up to do radio play-by-play.

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Me, with my children Keaton, Brady and Kendall, at a Texas Rangers game in 2013.

For all the hours I had spent watching televised games and poring over newspaper box scores, though, I had never actually been to a game.

But in 1982, my family moved to Dallas-Fort Worth, and a heaven with the greenest grass I had ever seen beckoned us.

We made it to our bleacher seats in the bottom of the first inning, just as Texas Rangers slugger Larry Parrish stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. That Saturday was “Bat Day,” so 10,000 wooden bats banged thunderously against the concrete and the crowd roared at an obscene decibel as the ball sailed over the fence — a grand slam!

A young lifetime of rooting for the Cincinnati Reds suddenly vanished. I fell in love with the Rangers that day.

Continue reading “Trips to baseball heaven: Fans share cherished memories of first major-league games”

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Christian Chronicle

Sketching the Good News — nightly

Sketching the Good News — nightly (reporting from Shamokin Dam, Pa.): At a low point in his life, Bill Wiist found comfort in giving visual expression to holy words. SHAMOKIN DAM, Pa. — When Matthew A. Wiist left home for U.S. Marine Corps boot camp in 2009, he asked a favor of his father, Bill, a talented artist. The son requested that his dad pick an … Continue reading Sketching the Good News — nightly

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Religion Unplugged

Muhammad, satire and blasphemy: What Muslims really believe

Muhammad, satire & blasphemy: What Muslims really believe: http://t.co/TRTvxelJhw #CharlieHebdo #journalism pic.twitter.com/fNSk17KMyn — Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) January 8, 2015 Related posts: The obvious #religion angle in the #CharlieHebdo attack: http://t.co/nstnbVpflM #journalism pic.twitter.com/4OPHmTHXO1 — Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) January 7, 2015 As many as 2,000 dead in #Nigeria, but #France dominates front pages: http://t.co/gMNPifuVyz #religion #journalism pic.twitter.com/0uo5KxMoob — Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) January 13, 2015 … Continue reading Muhammad, satire and blasphemy: What Muslims really believe

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Religion Unplugged

January 2015: GetReligion

‘Devout Muslim’ killer?: New York Times profiles gunman who assassinated two New York City police officers. Published Jan. 3. Welcome to 2015: New year brings happy new developments to the Godbeat. Published Jan. 6. At least 12 dead as terrorists strike French satirical newspaper ‘that lampooned the Prophet Mohammad.’ Published Jan. 7. Muhammad, satire and blasphemy: In wake of Charlie Hebdo attack, exploring what Muslims … Continue reading January 2015: GetReligion

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The Ross News

The year in tweets: My top stories, blog posts and columns of 2014

new-year-2014-wallpapers

Journalists love year-end lists.

This is mine.

Via Twitter, some of my top stories, blog posts and columns of 2014, along with a personal tweet or two:

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