Yep - they say an opening prayer before The Thunder game. It started when The Hornets were here. It doesn't bother me since I'm involved in the church and the prayers are pretty generic - I agree - lets pray for the safety of our players and good will among everybody. Its the way it is in Oklahoma and as far as I know everyone just respects it.

Attending my first Hornets' games earlier this month, I was shocked that there would be a religious invocation before the game. I interpreted it as cultural: "well, I"m in the South, and down here they are very traditional and conservative." It's not a matter of creating space for all denominations to have their chance to lead the prayer, or even for atheists to speak out. A public prayer almost always seems out of place. I can see a moment of silence for personal, nonreligious reflection at various times--the death of a member of the team's organization, for instance, or victims of a natural or man-made disaster. But routinely imposing a religious ritual on paying (and in my case, unsuspecting and unwanting) fans seems discriminatory and in really bad taste. If this started as George Shinn imposing his religious views on fans, then shame on him. If you think about it, playing the national anthem before a sporting event is also very odd and unnecessary. But that's a tradition that is shared around the league, and in every sport. It's slightly less offensive to be cajoled into ritual of blind patriotism than to be forced to "communicate" with an invisible man behind a curtain. He's probably too busy giving deadly diseases to children and dreaming up new Katrina's to listen anyway.

One thing that really hit me when I was in the US (in particular the South) was just how infused religion is with everything. I guess I have a different perspective on this as an atheist (and no, I am not one of those atheists who think the sun shines through their arse, they piss me off just as much as they do to you) coming from Australia, a country where the vast majority of people couldn't give a rats about organised religion whether they believe in god or not. But really how is Christianity or any other religion relevant to a basketball club? It's an issue with your country as a whole. The US is supposed to be a secular country, but having 'In God we Trust' on notes, prayers in public schools, prayers before sporting events etc as well as the fact that atheists are probably the most disliked minority group over there hardly seems secular and would be more at home in a country ruled by a theocratic dictatorship then a Western democracy. I understand the importance of religion to people, particularly when the vast majority in the area follow one particular religion, but mass prayer of a deity belongs in the relevant place of worship or a private residence and not in a sports arena hosting a non-religious event.

As someone from a Christian background who personally has no real views on religion, is there a god/ isnt there, which religion would the god be type questions I may have but dnt care too much about. I think it's wrong, I know Christianity is the main religion but it can alienate non christian, fans, employees, players etc. (we need our fans for attendance remember) but it's jus not the right place, pray in your own time to your own god. Every1 is entitled to a view n it shouldn't be forced on ppl.

Religion is an intensely personal belief, which brings out strong emotions in people. If someone wanted to offer a prayer to the Church of Satan, I get the feeling that people would flip out. Why? Because that faith is not just not theirs, but it goes contrary to their personal beliefs. Although Christians usually fail to get this, there are people of other faiths, or no faith at all, that find Christianity offensive. I understand that there are many Christians at Hornets games, probably even the majority, but why alienate any fans? Are we trying to convert people? Regardless, why would anyone put something so divisive before a basketball game, where in the sport itself nothing matters, no politics, no religion, no sex, only coaching and skill? Otherwise why not let anyone pay to say anything? Will it be Rush Limbaugh proselytizing? Bill Maher? Someone that will be as applauded as hated? And why only religion, politics, and culture, why not open the door to all commercialism? 7-Up spokesmen, Zatarain's press agents, whoever wants to talk about their product? And if so, what does that say about the opportunity first given to religion? That's it's all about money? Religion is very important to many people. So let's keep it in the places it remains important. Like Church. Like Synagogues. Mosques. Whatever. Let's let basketball remain basketball.

Should we have the Italian national anthem played so Marco doesn't feel left out?

Does anyone on here have the ear of the invocation bookers? I have Catholic leanings, so I'm not too fond of all the Protestant prayer, but I'm down with bringing a spiritual element to pretty much anything not funded with taxes. We should try to get some Buddist folks from the big Vietnamese community, and some Muslims, and some of those Hare Krishnas from Esplanade Ave, and enjoy the diversity. I bet there are a few Muslims at every game. I'd find it to be pretty inspiring to hear from more non-protestant religious people.

It doesn't bother me, but I live out of state and never been to a game. Furthermore, I work for a Christian org and go to church twice a week. Nevertheless, I don't think religion should be fused within professional sport marketing, unless it was a part of the teams image from the start. For example, if you admire the prince of darkness, then there's a 29 year old team in New Jersey that's just for you, the Devils.

how bout that ankle breaker last night...

I'm a non-believer, but I don't feel uncomfortable watching other people pay respect to God. This freedom-loving country was founded by Christians, and we have money and many other fine traditions that refer to Christianity. I also don't object to celebrating the life of the Reverend Martin Luther King, who shares neither my race or religious beliefs. I don't object to Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Mardi Gras, Halloween, or any other celebration of traditions or beliefs I don't share. Feeling uncomfortable is not the end of the world. The Constitution guarantees that the government won't sponsor a religion. It doesn't guarantee freedom from experiencing religion in others, or that companies and groups won't practice their religion in a way that makes you uncomfortable. People always have the option of buying a bag of popcorn, taking a nap, or otherwise ignoring the invocation.

They have had a rabbi, and it must have been the same one last year and this year, because both years I remember remarking that, ironically, his was the best one! I have been against this for years. Mainly because it is not super inclusive, which I believe you should be when you are trying to sell more tickets. And also because it has a mom and pop sort of feel, and I'd rather see the team run as coolly professional. Furthermore for practical reasons, the intros and national anthem make the pregame long enough. I don't even bother leaving my house anymore until ten of 7 because I know the game doesn't actually start.

I think I heard somewhere that OKC does an invocation as well. Personally, I don't have a problem with it, and I wouldn't have a problem if they started inviting other religions to do it as well (for the record, there have been 2 rabbis this year, all the rest some sort of Christian), but it certainly seems to annoy some people. If a considerable amount of people really do find it offensive, then they should just do away with it. No point in ruffling feathers. Despite the fact that the majority of the fans there will be Catholic/Christian, I really don't see many people having a problem with dropping the invocation.

I enjoy the prayer because i'm Catholic. On the other hand, if the invocation were done by a Muslim leader, for instance, I wouldn't care. I enjoy interaction between people who have different beliefs than me. I'd take the words from his mouth and make them Christian in my ears. No harm, no foul. Besides, isn't the point that we all need to take better care of each other? Lord knows New Orleans could use a little higher power. But as far as the comments about "this being the South" and so forth, that's a generalization that doesn't hold a lot of weight anymore. Certainly we all saw the backlash about the Mosque near the 9/11 site. It wasn't rednecks up in arms.

Like others have said, I appreciate you bringing up this issue. However, I don't agree that the NBA has taken a religious stance by keeping this practice in place. There have been invocations given by rabbis. I have also notice that most prayers are to "God". Rarely (if ever), are prayers made to "Jesus". On a personal note, I enjoy the invocations and hope they keep them.

The pastors who do it pay for the opportunity. Its a revenue source on a team that needs revenue. Personally, it irritates me. What irritates me more is the singers who maul the national anthem. At least the kids try to do it right.

I am so glad you wrote this, I was wondering the exact same thing at last night's game. My theory is that despite his dark powers, Stern can't actually be everywhere monitoring the minutiae of his league. I expect that this particular detail of the day-to-day operation of his Hornets will eventually trickle up to him, and it will cease. I never really minded it, though I am not religious, because the invocation was usually pretty non-specific and inoffensive. It certainly couldn't hurt anything to have 15,000 people simultaneously hoping that no one gets hurt. That being said, I'll be glad to see it go.

Joe you are mistaken, they have had quite a few Rabbis do the invocation. It doesn't change the fact that I can not think of any other religions being the leader of the invocation, but the point that it is exclusive to Christian invocations is wrong. Now for me, it is a matter of majority rules. I don't think any significant bruhaha would be raised by christian groups if a Muslim or Buddhist invocation was done occasionally, but this is the south. It is a team in a city where the football team is named the Saints in reference of the Catholic nature of the city. Trying to start mess over an invocation is the kind of thing that pissed off people in this state. I think the NBA knows that, and is just letting the group that has been in charge of the team run the team the way they see fit until a new owner takes over and does what he will over the issue. If the NBA had chosen to ban the invocation the second they took over, it would have been a headline. A massive headline. The NBA would have drawn a line in the sand against religion. Unfortunately, there would not have been a civil debate and it would have further hurt the NBA product in NOLA. If it vanishes before the beginning of next season there will be far fewer people who notice it is no longer happening, than if it was removed after it was part of the daily routine for half a season.

Very brave of you Joe to bring this subject up and I applaud your courage to bring up an injustice that most will just brush off. It is hard for someone to imagine how alienated things like this can cause some people to feel. This subject comes up often in schools- where my fiancee works day in and day out- and I am tired of hearing the ignorant argument that goes something like this: "Well if you don't like it or don't believe in it, just ignore it- it ain't doin' you no harm." (Can you tell I live in the South?) Subconsciously, however, this creates Norms. Being Christian is normal and being something else is not. That spreads and divides groups where they don't need to be divided. Anyway, I can go on about this for hours but I will stop here and see what others have to say.