May 2015: GetReligion
Dallas Morning News revisits Ebola crisis and Baptist church’s embrace of victim’s fiancée. Published May 1. Basic facts crucial on shooting outside Texas contest for cartoons depicting Muhammad. Published May 4. Good grief, Los Angeles Times: Site of Texas shooting linked to Muhammad cartoon contest is no ‘small town.’ Published May 6. Muslims in Texas: Stereotyping mars New York Times’ otherwise excellent front-page story. Published … Continue reading May 2015: GetReligion
A ‘muy buena’ church plant
A ‘muy buena’ church plant (reporting from Arlington, Texas): In the Dallas area, a Spanish-speaking congregation experiences growth and offers potential lessons for reaching the burgeoning Hispanic population. ARLINGTON, Texas — In the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth, a growing Hispanic congregation celebrated two more baptisms on a recent Sunday. Members sang the Spanish version of “This is the Day” as the Arlington Iglesia de Cristo (Church … Continue reading A ‘muy buena’ church plant
An empty stadium — not the final score — the story as Orioles play White Sox in troubled Baltimore
“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.
Sometimes, images tell the story better than words ever could.
That was the case this week as the Orioles and White Sox played a Major League Baseball game before a paid attendance of “zero.”
Believe it or not: a holy ghost in N.Y. Post exclusive on Jeffrey Dahmer’s killer
Believe it or not: a holy ghost in N.Y. Post exclusive on Jeffrey Dahmer’s killer: http://t.co/2EK6bHgY6f pic.twitter.com/JLnbvqPatH — GetReligion (@GetReligion) April 29, 2015 Bizarre Kellerism debate: Was Bobby Ross Jr. calling for bias in favor of Jeffrey Dahmer? http://t.co/AKKPGiXYAC — Terry Mattingly (@tweetmattingly) April 30, 2015 This analysis of media coverage appears online at GetReligion.org. Continue reading Believe it or not: a holy ghost in N.Y. Post exclusive on Jeffrey Dahmer’s killer
Time for a quiz: Which major-league teams draw the most — and least — fans?
“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.
In my post on enjoying baseball in a nearly empty stadium, I hope I didn’t give the wrong impression.
Some critics like to make the case that baseball is dying (example here if you enjoy Chicken Little).
In the 2014 season, major-league baseball drew 73.7 million fans — the seventh highest total of all time.
Just for fun, here’s a quiz to assess your knowledge of the most popular — and least popular — teams:
Continue reading “Time for a quiz: Which major-league teams draw the most — and least — fans?”
CEO cuts his $1 million salary to pay all employees at least $70,000 — is media missing religion angle?
CEO cuts his salary to pay all employees $70,000—is media missing religion angle?: http://t.co/Qywb3wH1pJ pic.twitter.com/ZGds9qOVmT — GetReligion (@GetReligion) April 21, 2015 This analysis of media coverage appears online at GetReligion.org. Continue reading CEO cuts his $1 million salary to pay all employees at least $70,000 — is media missing religion angle?
We Will Never Forget: My seven most memorable stories on the Oklahoma City bombing
• • •
By Bobby Ross Jr.
At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995, I had just stepped off The Oklahoman’s eighth-floor newsroom elevator when we heard the boom and saw the smoke in the distance.
In all, 168 people died in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City — the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil until 9/11 six years later.
Twenty years ago today, my Oklahoman colleagues and I found ourselves covering the biggest story of our lives, even as we joined our grieving community in shedding tears over an unfathomable tragedy.
I was blessed to tell many stories of victims and survivors. Here are links to seven of the most memorable:
1. Neighbor cares for boys when mom doesn’t return
Thirteen-year-old Ricky Hill and his brother Jonathan, 11, waited up late Wednesday hoping to hear from their mother.
Even as they drifted off to sleep, they clung to hope that Army recruiter Lola Renee Bolden, a 40-year-old single parent, had survived a thunderous bomb blast.
But her call never came.
The boys’ distress turned into a real-life nightmare about 1 a.m. Thursday.
That’s when three men and a woman, all clad in their best Army green, arrived at the door with the horrible news.
Neighbor Mechelle Murray, a single parent with children herself, had taken in the next-door neighbor boys when their mother failed to return home.
Even while calming Ricky and Jonathan, Murray had feared the worst.
“I immediately thought, ‘Oh my God, Renee works in that building,’ ” the 38-year-old accounting student said of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Studies in ethical fandom: Is it ever appropriate to leave a major-league baseball game early?
“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.
So you want to be a true major-league baseball fan.
Understanding the unwritten rules for supporting your team will help.
For instance, a new fan might ask: “Is it ever appropriate to leave a game early?”
The quick, easy answer, of course, would be: “No!”
But at some point, you may find yourself in a real-life game situation that prompts you to inquire — even as play continues on the field — “Should I stay or should I go?”
Let’s circle the bases with some hypothetical examples:
Ghost Town Park: Five tips for enjoying major-league baseball in a nearly empty stadium
“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.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rangers’ game last night apparently wasn’t the hottest ticket in town.
Texas’ 6-3 loss to Los Angeles occurred before the smallest home crowd in nearly five years, reported Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.
There were Angels in the outfield but not too many fans in the bleachers, as the Monday night game drew 18,401 fans to Ghost Town Park — er, Globe Life Park — in Arlington.
Why the small crowd? Weather probably played a role, with rain in the forecast and temperatures in the low 60s. The Rangers’ injury situation — including the loss of key pitchers Yu Darvish and Derek Holland— has hurt confidence in the team’s chances. Moreover, even if the weather were perfect and the team on a winning streak, weeknight games during the school year tend to draw fewer fans than usual.
But for the baseball faithful who made it to the ballpark — including a group of friends and me — last night’s game was a wonderful experience.
Here are five tips for enjoying major-league baseball in a nearly empty stadium:
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 