I went to Cards game today with some friends. Disappointing result (lost 8-1), but one of the people I was there with made the end of the game very fun.

He suggested we go down and wait for the players to come out after the game. There were probably 30-40 people waiting outside the parking areas. Most of the players hauled out of there in their Mercedes, Lexus, Range Rover, Yukon, insert big expensive car here. They had no interest in signing autographs.

Mike Matheny did take 15 minutes and signed autographs for everyone in the crowd. He obliged every fan who asked to have their picture taken with him. He did not rush, and took his time to say hello to some of the kids. It was really nice to see, and some of the people who show up there regularly said he does it after every game. It was very nice to hear.

Mike is also an exceptionally handsome man. It was nice to see him up close, as I have had a crush on him for the longest time.

He is a very Christian man. All of his autographs included a reference to a biblical verse. My friends and I did find it ironic, therefore, that he left in a big-ass Hummer. Talk about a car that depletes the Earth's resources faster than any other. (And after the whole "Would Jesus Drive an SUV" campaign.)

One of those waiting around the area did remind us that "people can be good Christians and drive cool cars".

It was a very nice ending to a disappointing day.

So he feels the need to push his religion on others. You can have him.

He has as much right to put a bible verse reference on his autograph as Dixie Chicks Natalie Maines or Susan Sarandon has to put "Peace " or whatever she signs.

Forgetting about the religious factor for a moment... Mike Matheny is a super nice guy! I got him to autograph my Brewers hat a few years ago (When he playing for the Milwaukee Brewers) and he actually looked liked he was enjoying himself as he was signing it!!! Talk about a huge crush - Ugh!

Go Brew Crew!

I'm not sure what the Christian references have to do with anything (let's remember that not all Christians are right-wingers, Copman), but whatever. Good for Matheny. He's about the 5th or 6th most attractive player (and not that great a hitter, either) on that team, so he probably *should* be nice. Would anyone know who he was otherwise?

The Cardinals will get back on track today. Garrett Stephenson is a run-sinkhole. When will Rick Ankiel be healed and ready?

Mike Matheny ( hot guy - bad picture) wink St. Louis seems to have THE hottest players IMHO. eek!

[ June 08, 2003, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: copman ]

He has every right to do it, and I have every right to think, as a result, that he's a Bible-pusher and not worthy of my interest.

YEP! - Thats's what freedom is all about VS political correctness. The freedom to disagree! I never resent the oppositions opinions even if I don't always agree with them. ...By the way I remember first noticing Matheny when the Cardinals had the memorial service for the player that died last yr. I remember seeing his back in a lineup and looking up his MLB stats & pic cuz he looked so good from behind. eek!

Mike Matheny sounds like a nice fellow, and if I was interested in collecting autographs (which I'm not), it wouldn't bother me if he added a Christian or biblical message, even though I'm not particularly religious myself. I'd be pleased that he took the time to talk and to be thoughtful enough to add something besides his signature, which I would be more likely to interpret as his way of sharing his beliefs, not 'pushing' them. Better that than to be ignored or rudely refused a request for an autograph by some other player (and I'm sure there are many who behave that way towards fans).

Copman, I'm with you here--just remind all those Maines haters about *their* political correctness!

The player who died: the late, talented and handsome Darryl Kile. :-(

Sorry, but I should NOT have to tell someone that I'm not interested in "sharing" his religion. In a sense he's no better than a Jehovah's Witness knocking on a person's door, even though the fan is approaching him. Most fans are approaching him for an autograph, though, not a Bible verse.

He should just sign his name, unless the autograph seeker indicates he wants a special message. If he wants to include a Bible verse he should ask first.

Presumably, "peace" is a sentiment that all humans can embrace (except for Bush supporters), while a specific religious text is not.

I've had no interest in autographs since I secured Tom Seaver, the Ramones and John Waters!

I think I'd agree if it was a situation like a card show, or something along those lines. But I think if you're going to approach a player on their own time - and a player walking to his car IS on his own time - the rules are different. If he writes something you find distasteful then by all means throw it out, but if a player wants to add a message that he considers to be eponymous that's his right in this particular situation.

Yeah, I don't have any problem with his religious message. I just question why such a devote Christian would drive such an ostentatious vehicle (Hummer). Couldn't he drive a less pricey car and give the difference to the poor?

But then who am I to tell someone how to practice their religion?

With all due respect, Joe, your logic would have to apply equally if he had said "God bless you" after you sneezed.

With many MLB players being quite aloof, if not downright rude, a little heartfelt expression of his is nothing like the Jehovah's Witnesses coming to YOUR door during dinner.

Quoting a Bible verse is much more than just a "heartfelt expression" such as saying "God bless you" after a sneeze. Much, much more.

We're just going to have to agree to disagree. I know he has the right to do it. But it doesn't mean he's not pushing his religious views on others.

I wonder exactly which Bible verses he's citing in his autographs...something like "love your neighbor" or "do unto others," or some anti-gay stuff from Leviticus? Hmmmm.

It doesn't mean he is, either. Simply scribbling a few word expression is not "pushing one's religion" on another.

In a society filled with so much violence, hatred, complaining, hurt, etc., an expression such as Matheny's shouldn't be so coldly received. After all, it came from his heart and was meant with no ill intentions.

So do Rick Santorum's comments, if you ask him.

Frankly I never understood the whole autograph thing anyway. Kids are fine, getting a chance to meet their idols. But grown ups need to, well, grow up.

As much as I dislike when athletes get in front of the microphone and praise Jesus and all, this situation is different. Matheny isn't going around passing out his Jesusified autograph to door to door or handing them out on the street. His right to sign whatever he wants is the same as the autograph seekers' right to throw it in the trash if he doesn't like it.

Besides, the autograph hound will probably just be selling it on Ebay anyway!

[ June 10, 2003, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

I don't think what Matheny adds to his autograph is really any different than Shawn Green declining to play ball on important Jewish holidays...harmless expressions of both men's religious beliefs. I don't know for sure, of course, but my guess is that Matheny, as a Christian, would likely want to quote verses that are meant to inspire (such as can be found in the Book of Matthew, for example) rather than passages which might be interpreted as inflammatory or offensive.

But like George, I do get a little annoyed by athletes who feel the need to constantly praise the Lord in public (Kurt Warner comes to mind). Even though no harm is intended, somehow such behaviour seems to go a step beyond what Matheny is doing...a bit too aggressively 'in your face'.