Chicago sports talk radio host Lawrence Holmes slammed the Bears for bringing out a pastor to pray during a press conference announcing plans for a new stadium in the city.
On Wednesday, the Bears unveiled plans to build a new multibillion-dollar venue on Chicago’s lakefront, just south of Soldier Field.
Also participating in the press conference was Pastor Dr. Charlie E. Deitz, who led prayers for the project to be completed.
“Thank you to all those who will benefit from the Bears’ stay in Chicago,” the pastor said in his message to God.
“I don’t know if you played football, but please help us — help us win some games, help us get to the Super Bowl here. Please help us play in the Super Bowl and bring back the 1985 game.” The fans scream and cheer that we had for your glory and our benefit. ”
He spoke with a twinkle in his eye, and those at the news conference burst into laughter when a camera from the local Fox affiliate showed Bears president Kevin Warren and Bears president George McCaskey clasping their hands together in prayer.
Not everyone thought it was a laughing matter.
670 On The Score, Holmes spoke about franchises and church leadership.
“The area where his church is located is the area where I grew up. There are a lot of people living there. that These are people in the community and around Chicago who need prayers,” Holmes said.
“You have chosen to seek God’s grace for the stadium. Pastor, you should be ashamed, and your congregation should be ashamed to follow you.
Holmes went on to tell the pastor to “repent” and said this was an abdication of his Biblical obligation to bring grace to “the poor and downtrodden.”
“You’re trying to use the word of God to extort money from a bunch of wealthy people,” Holmes said, referring to the publicly funded portion of the stadium project.
The Bears paid nearly $200 million last year to buy land outside Arlington Heights, demolishing a popular racetrack in the process.
Nevertheless, property tax battles continue in the suburbs, and Warren said Wednesday that the current “focus” is on building a new stadium in Chicago.
The plan was also endorsed by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at a press conference.
But the idea has been met with skepticism from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and it remains unclear whether the new plan will actually come to fruition.
