White Sox DH Adam LaRoche, P Zach Duke and 3B Gordon Beckham on Sunday after the team's game against the Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field "will take part in Faith Day, a new venture for the Sox, though certainly not new among major-league teams," according to Colleen Kane of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Christian group Vertical Church Band "will play before the game and the players, along with 'Duck Dynasty' star Willie Robertson, LaRoche's friend, will share their stories of faith after the game." White Sox Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Brooks Boyer said that the team does promotions "aimed at people from all walks of life and those who aren't interested in the program can leave after the game is over." He said that he "doesn't expect protests for that reason." Boyer: "The messaging is postgame, so if ... they don't want to listen, game's over, they can leave. If you look at our group nights, we service a lot of different groups, some of which would be controversial to some on their own merits. ... It's a choice. If someone wants to stay for it, it's certainly their prerogative, and if they don't, hopefully they'll leave after a White Sox winner." Boyer added that they "sent out information on the day to hundreds of churches and have sold 'a good number' of group tickets" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/28).
