You may not know Paul Byrd intimately. But fret not, for he is keeping a journal of the sordid details of his life on the road as a ballplayer. You know, his struggles as a man of faith on the road with pornography while he is away from his wife.Wait. What?
It's called "The Free Byrd Project,'' a candid and graphic look at how he has managed to remain true to his faith despite the pitfalls associated with a ballplayer's daily lifestyle.Um, I'm not sure just how "graphic" this thing is going to get. But frankly, I'm a bit frightened.
"It's not politically correct. It's not for a 10-year-old. It's not a bubble gum-feel good book. It's only for a certain audience,'' Byrd said. "It's more of a personal account of things I've struggled with - conversations I've had with Atheist ballplayers, coming clean with some issues I've had, like struggling with pornography on road trips when you're missing your wife - all those things you encounter because of this lifestyle. So it's not a book that shows me as having it all together. But it's not going to point fingers or sell anybody out. If anything, it's going to just be me selling myself out a little bit with some of my struggles.''
(Via the Futon Report.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-11-2007 @ 6:28PM
tacobellmanager said...
By Paul Byrd, with Terry Pluto.
Reply
9-12-2007 @ 3:22PM
Molly said...
"conversations I've had with Atheist ballplayers"
Oh my gosh! He spoke to real atheists! Maybe he's even touched one! Do they look like regular humans? Do they eat and drink as we do? I want to know because I hear they're coming, and I need to be able to tell when I see one. I've never seen any in my neighborhood, and I've certainly never met any in person.
It's scary to think that they're real, in our society, and playing baseball no less! Keep me posted Paul Byrd, you frightened, ignorant man.
Reply
9-17-2007 @ 11:11AM
Fish said...
I'm not sure what Molly was responding to. Nowhere in the statement about Byrd's book did Byrd seem surprised or frightened to interact with atheist ballplayers.
He is simply writing a book about challenges he has faced on the road as a religious man. He probably had conversations with some of his atheist colleagues that challenged him to think about his faith.
If anything, the fact that he is including such conversations in his book indicates that he probably hold an attitude of respect towards his atheist colleagues, rather than fear or ignorance.
Reply
9-18-2007 @ 4:28PM
luvdozer said...
Fish Said:
If anything, the fact that he is including such conversations in his book indicates that he probably hold an attitude of respect towards his atheist colleagues, rather than fear or ignorance.
Well, I'll believe it when I see it. My personal experience as a life-long agnostic is that the deeper the faith, the less tolerance for those who do not share that faith.
I have many friends of many faiths. I have been fortunate enough to engage in thoughtful conversations with deeply religious, but nonetheless open-minded people. However, those conversations are the exception rather than the rule. I can count on one hand the number of people who i have heard state that any conversation with a non-believer ever made them question their faith.
On the other hand, i can name dozens of people who have thoughtfully and rationally challanged my view of the universe and forced me to reevaluate what I do and do not believe.
Will Paul Byrd's book be an account of open-minded self-criticism and meangingful exchanges between himself and people who hold different beliefs? possibly. I wouldnt count on it.
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 3:38PM
K Evans said...
luvdozer - in personal interactions with Mr. Byrd (I've had a few), I can assert that he's far from frightened or ignorant.
The close-mindedness you obviously dislike is more evident in your comments (ridicule w/o evidence) than his.
- Kent
Reply