As much as some find religion and its traditions/beliefs woke, bogus, fantasy, or an intrusion on their choice not to practice religion, I say it’s okay not to practice, if one respects those who believe and practice, and they respect you. It seems, though, there are some words, gestures, and/or phrases I learned in Catholic School that have crept into situations or events that make some, believers or not, utter “religious” exclamations/phrases, intentionally or not.

How many religious or non-religious practicers watch their favorite baseball player sign themself stepping into the batter’s box, or look towards the heavens after hitting a home run and stepping on home plate? How many have watched football players, after scoring, look to the heavens, or genuflect/kneel in the endzone, and they’re okay with that because their favorite team just scored? How many religious and non-religious practicers are okay re-celebrating and using the phrase, “Immaculate Reception,” when rehashing the miracle (another word with religious connotations?) of December 23rd, 1972, in an NFL playoff game pitting the Steelers against the Raiders? How many religious and non-religious practicers have celebrated successful “Hail Mary” touchdown catches that gave their team miracle wins? How many religious and non-religious practicers have watched and re-watched the movies “Miracle on Ice, and/or “Miracle,” documenting the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey, not only winning the Gold Medal, but also defeating the heavily favored Soviet Union team to reach the Gold Medal game? How many will ever forget Al Michaels’, “Do you believe in Miracles? YES!” How many religious and non-religious practicers use the expressions, “Oh, my God,” or “Honest to God,” or “Holy Cow,” or the post sneeze, “God Bless You,” in daily conversations?

Please don’t be offended, I completely respect those who choose not to practice religion, and I’m not offended by anyone who does not. I also respect anyone who practices a different religion than the one I practice, unless it’s an extremist group who expresses their religion with intimidation, violence, and killing, and incites war.

As a teacher for many years, part of our World History syllabus included the teaching of religions of many countries, cultures, and empires of earlier centuries. Some were offended we were doing that, but we were not preaching religion to our students, we were teaching religions and their connection, influence, and impact on governments and cultures of countries, civilizations, and/or empires. Part of that teaching included learning about documents, books, and practices people of ancient cultures were required to follow, and the loyalty pledges to whom they believed was their spiritual philosopher. In Medieval Times, clergy were in the same social class as kings/monarchs, nobles, and knights, showing the importance of religion in how people lived their lives centuries ago. So, knowledge of religions, and their effect on civilizations, is something that can’t be removed from history, no matter how much some want it removed or ignored, and, believe or not, practice or not, religion can sometimes make us all wonder in serious, athletic, and entertaining ways too.

This said, it’s no secret I’m a fan of the City of Cleveland, and other parts of Ohio. I’ve followed the Browns, Indians, now Guardians [No, I didn’t like the rebranding, and still wish Chief Wahoo wasn’t forced to retire, but I accept it, and like it or not, I’ll always pledge my 72 year (and counting) allegiance to my select Cleveland, and other favorite Ohio Sports teams, (not necessarily all ownerships, managers, coaches, and/or the character of some players, but the teams I’ve supported all my life.)] I sometimes refer to “The Land” as “our summer home away from home.” I joke at times that I was born in Cleveland, and the stork mistakenly delivered me to Joe and Mary Lombardo’s Jamestown, NY house. (Couldn’t have picked two better people). [At one time I found seven Paul Lombardos in the Cleveland Phone Directory (remember those), two of them, I actually met some years ago]. So, I have some side stories of my love for, and connections with, the city of Cleveland.

Some may not know, Cleveland was founded in 1796, by a man traveling through Ashtabula County, OH, enroute to a certain territory to make a survey of the area where Cleveland now sits, for the Connecticut Land Company. His name was Moses Cleveland. A statue of him, erected in 1888, now stands in Cleveland Public Square. (The statue was featured in the ’89 movie, “Major League,” sporting an Indians batting helmet.)

At the first Rest Area on I-90 after crossing the Pennsylvania boarder into Ohio, I came upon a wall with the large photo of Moses Cleveland with the following information: “Moses Cleveland planned to name the settlement, “Cuyahoga” after the nearby river, but his surveying party convinced him to name it after himself. Over the next few decades, both the “Cleaveland” and “Cleveland” spellings were used until the 1830s. The Cleveland Advertiser and Cleveland Herald and Gazette dropped the “a” in their newspapers’ headings making the spelling more common place. The abbreviated spelling is what we use today.”

There’s a little bit of history on Moses Cleveland, and not knowing if he was named after the Moses of Biblical Times, he was a huge part of the story of Cleveland. There’s no record of him being placed in a basket and set afloat on Lake Erie, or climbing one of the Seven Hills just outside of Cleveland and receiving two stones tablets with some ways to live our lives written on them, but if a connection to the real Moses could be drawn, and Moses Cleveland was named for Biblical Moses, and was selected to climb Seven Hills and receive rules for those devoted to the CLE, do you think the tablets he may have brought down might read:

Thou shalt not forget “Red Right 88.”

Thou shalt not forget “The Drive.”

Thou shalt not forget “The Fumble.”

Thou shalt not forget “The Shot” (Michael Jordan).

Thou shalt not forget “The Move. (Thanks, Art).”

Thou shalt not forget “The Catch” (Willie Mays ’54).

Thou shalt not forget “The Trade” (Rocky Colavito ’60).

Thou shalt not forget the numerous times the Cuyahoga River caught Fire (’69 being the most remembered). (O. I. C… Only in Cleveland, a popular saying in the 216 and 440).

Thou shalt not forget the following World Series’: ’54 (swept), ’95, ’97 (extra innings loss- Game 7), and ’16 [another Game 7 extra innings loss. (We were there!)].

Thou shalt not forget the forced “retirement” of Chief Wahoo (’22).

I can honestly say I’ve never had to seek Reconciliation for breaking any of these “commandments” possibly given to Moses Cleveland atop Seven Hills. I guess, if you do believe/practice, religion could show up many times and in many situations in our lives, in varieties of settings, and circumstances, even humorous ones.

[BTW, the City of Cleveland not only offers all Sports, it’s a noted place of Medicine, Education, Culture, Theater/Music Entertainment, an amazing Orchestra, Museums of all genres, a Wonderful Zoo and Rainforest, a Great Science Center, Casino, a fabulous Little Italy, an amazing Air Show (early September), Ralphie’s House, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, delicious foods available to satisfy most every taste, great food markets, churches of all denominations (shout out to St. Michael Church in Independence), much history, many landmarks, some of the greatest people (now friends) we’ve met, and much more. It’s also close to Cedar Point, Put-in-Bay, Pro Football HOF, Tony Paco’s Hot Dog Restaurant (Maxx Klinger), and more. It’s just a short ride from Jamestown to the “CLE” with pretty good gas prices ($2.72/gal last trip) along the way.] Try it!