Friday, February 17, 2006

UMC General Conference Rejects Richmond

Because of the name of the city's baseball team:

RICHMOND, Va. Upon further review, the United Methodist General Conference is NOT coming to Richmond in 2012 because of the nickname of the city's baseball team.The conference originally picked Richmond over Atlanta because its policy prevents it from going to cities with sports teams named for American Indians.

The conference apparently wasn't aware that the Atlanta Braves' top farm team is the Richmond Braves.

Richmond officials say the ten-day conference would have been one of the largest ever in the city, bringing of thousands of visitors and nights booked in hotel rooms.

The conference says it will meet now in Tampa, home of baseball's Devil Rays.

10 comments:

Revwilly said...

Boy, I think we better think over whether it's good to meet in a city with a sports team that has the word "Devil" in its name! There might be some offended Rays out there.

John said...

Or we might offend devils.

Greg Hazelrig said...

That makes sense...yeah right!

Conrad said...

Do we still believe in devils?

Jason D. Moore said...

I find it amusing that sports teams seem to be such a major deciding factor on where GC can be held. I remember at GC in 2000 we passed a resolution about the Cleveland Indians but then we met in Pittsburgh where they have the Pirates.

rev-ed said...

Ah, the principle of Selected Stances. Has anyone told them about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Each person involved in this decision should beat themselves about the head for 45 minutes. Then maybe they'll think of something important to worry about.

Anonymous said...

I'm just glad it's not going to be in West Bend, IN. I'm part Irish & take offense at the image of Irish being violent people.

But sincerely, it's a sad thing that the politically correct among us are right now celebrating this "great victory" for the reign of God. (I was going to put kingdom of God, but that definitely won't be PC.) Can't we find something more significant to accomplish?

gavin richardson said...

actually, the 'devil rays' are trying to official change their name to the 'rays' this off season. so i guess the devil controversy is out..

how bout the phillies, they do their spring ball in clearwater.. i think that big green blob fanatic thing is funny but offensive...

Anonymous said...

You can tell I'm only a little bit Irish when I thought the Fighting Irish were from West Bend (a town in IA) rather than South Bend (a town in IN).

Anonymous said...

Stupid is all I can think to say.