A remarkable inner-city ministry has been given a Hollywood makeover – and the man whose life story forms the basis for a forthcoming Keanu Reeves movie is very unhappy about it.
Bob Muzikowski has even considered a lawsuit against the makers of “Hardball,” due out in September.
While the drama about an inner-city Little League program has a disclaimer at the end saying it is a work of fiction, Muzikowski maintains that it draws largely from a 1994 book about his work in some of Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods.
Near West Little League – the largest inner-city baseball program in the country, which Muzikowski helped found – has run for 12 years and was recognized by President George Bush Sr. with one of his “Points of Light” awards. Muzikowski is furious that “Hardball” features a lot of bad language from the young black characters, reinforcing racial stereotypes.
“You never see the white kids in ‘Bad News Bears’ or ‘Mighty Ducks’ using this language,” said the man profiled in the book “Hardball: A season in the Projects.” “I have never been cursed out once. None of the coaches have been addressed like this. These kids are unbelievably respectful to their coaches.”
Muzikowski also is troubled that the movie shows white coaches mistreating black children. “Right now all the gangbangers like us,” he said. “They’re saying, ‘Hey coach, how you doin?’ But put out a movie that shows a white, drunk coach hitting a black kid in a Little League uniform? Give me a flak jacket. Thanks, Hollywood.”
Having battled substance abuse and served prison time before giving his life to Christ, Muzikowski now says: “I knew Satan so intimately myself I can spot him a mile away out here.” He carries over a no-nonsense approach to ministry from his tough background and is critical of most Christians’ avoidance of the inner cities.
“It’s a stain on American Christianity,” he said. “Despite what the Bible says, we tend to flock in groups and go where it’s safest and best for us. That’s really the antithesis of what Christ did for us when He chose to come down to earth.” Muzikowski has even turned away groups that wanted to visit with an evangelistic program.
“If you’re not going to stay for the whole summer, don’t come,” he said. “That sounds harsh, but I’ve seen kids pray to receive Christ on Friday who will blow your head off Monday. You have to disciple them. If you don’t have any intention of being open to a long-term relationship, don’t do it. Discipleship is a long process. It takes time.”
In addition to running the league, Muzikowski is trying to start a Christian school. Most of his ministry funding comes from local businessmen, but he believes in using federal funds being made available to faith-based programs, too. “We should accept the money if there aren’t any real strings attached. The most effective, long-term, positive, life-changing works being done in the inner city nationally are faith-based and Christ-based. Almost everything that’s effective is faith-based. To ignore that is ridiculous.”
The full story of Bob Muzikowski’s ministry is told in the July/August issue of “New Man” magazine, out this week.
