Skip to main content

The Problem

So, BYU is a school owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is known, and the players and students of BYU are held to a standard that others are not. This may be fair or un-, but it true, and the actions of these kids reflects not only on the school but on the Church in general. Surely people know there's a difference between the athletes at any school and the rest of the student body, or the rest of the institution in general (the athletes from Kansas University surely do not represent Kansas or Kansans...) But they become a very visible face on the university and sponsoring institution. And in the case of BYU, it's more acute, perhaps, because the Mormon Church is known for being made up of people of relatively high moral and ethical standards. So when stuff like this happens, it reflects poorly on the athletes, the school, and the Church:




http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2015/12/3/9839950/nick-emery-byu-punch-utah-basketball

The quote at the end of the first story is "Not good, BYU. Not good."

Now, cheap shots are common in any sport, and many players and teams are guilty of such unsportsmanlike conduct, much of which is tacitly approved by coaching staffs. But BYU (again, however fair it may or may not be) is expected to perform to a higher standard. With taglines like "Honor, Spirit, Tradition" and with the idea that the school acts as an ambassador for the Church, it is a lot harder to reconcile these kinds of flagrant, dirty, cheap shots with the desired image...

So, yeah. Lose, BYU, if you must, but lose with grace and honor, rather than tarnish the reputation of the school and the Church with your cheap shots and foul mouths.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Other Art

I'm not sure we appreciate photography as much as we do other art forms. Part of this comes from the reality that surrounds and permeates a photograph - it's very, very real, and the photographer strives for clarity and crispness in the representations. Perhaps this is why black and white images continue to be relevant - they strip away extraneous information (color) and leave us with something that is at once familiar and also non-existent - for nothing exists in black and white. Nothing. I also think that pictures are becoming too common-place... Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and while that's a very democratic thing (everyone can express themselves in a picture easily and readily, and can find an audience for these images, which are casually taken and casually viewed, and perhaps just as casually forgotten) I think that we embrace that casual attitude, and it spills over to all aspects of the media, making it impotent. So I read this article this morning: h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...
4 comments
Read more

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...
18 comments
Read more