MLB playoff musings

There's a theory MLB tried copying the Catholic church's hierarchy when it formed. Excerpted from Holy Bones, Limbo, and Jesus in My Cheetos

Boys in the ’Hood

Someone’s gotta run God’s show on earth, so, while standing by a huge rock about 2,000 years ago, Jesus put the apostle Peter in charge. A lowly fisherman, he considered taking “Captain Pete” as his new title, but settled upon Pope Peter. That name had rock-star appeal. Plus, it would keep his face off packages of frozen fish sticks down the road. From that moment, the Church put into place a paternal chain of command. Interesting to note, there’s a theory that Major League Baseball tried replicating the structure. The MLB came close, with one major exception: the commissioner’s position isn’t a life-long commitment. Thank goodness.

Pope

The title “pope” comes from the Greek word pappas, which means father. Thus, the pope’s authority is supreme and to be carried out in a paternal, fatherly manner. He’s like Bud Selig, except he doesn’t get booed when he enters stadiums. He’s also called other names, including His Holiness and Pontiff, which means “bridge builder.” Only in Selig’s dreams does anyone call him either of these names.

Priest

Priests are the down-in-the-trenches guys, the intermediaries between parish peons and Church hierarchy. They’re our Cal Ripkin Jrs., reporting to work every day and tackling parish duties. Day-in and day-out, priests say Mass, hear confessions, and play Bingo with senior citizens with the gusto of a rookie on his first day in the Majors. Priests are the Church’s ironmen.

Holy Bones, Limbo, and Jesus in My Cheetos