Baseball, Religion & Renewal

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Part 2 of Paul and Stephen’s Chinwag turns to the religion of baseball with writer, comedian and passionate fan, Alex Edelman.

If Paul is gonna talk sports, it’s bound to be about its spiritual pull and ability to expand space and time. They’ll get into all of it: superstition, Mark “the Bird” Fidrych, the legendary Bart Giamatti, George Grella, how “home” is a concept and not a translatable word.

Then, baseball as a pastoral game and touchstone of American roots, and why the sound of baseball’s distinct silence on the radio is akin to a religious experience. Later, NASCAR and its roots in moonshine, hockey, boxing, bullfighting, and why sports today are like Bravo Housewives. All this, and the harrowing story of the time Paul saw The Palio, the legendary horse race in Siena.

Chin-word of the week: SISYPHEAN

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. 

Alex Edelman is a writer and comedian whose acclaimed Broadway one-man show Just For Us is now streaming on HBO Max.  

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