Friday, March 4, 2011

Love and Basketball.

It has been an emotional roller coaster this past month as a Jazz fan and a BYU basketball fan.  The resignation from Jerry Sloan broke my heart and made me want to break D-Will's face (and yes, I blame him for Jerry's departure).  The recent suspension of Brandon Davies has added to my despair and has led me to reflection and lots of time on my knees.

As for the situation with the Jazz, I am flabbergasted by all these sudden changes.  All and all, I think trading D-Will to the Nets was an excellent move.  To me, he will always be known as the player who ran Coach Sloan out of SLC.  He had no loyalty to the Jazz and threatened to leave if Jerry was still around.  I've been questioning my status as a fan for a while now-- my initial reaction to all this was that I live and die with Jerry (because I really thought he would coach until he died).  However, now that they've made Hornasec an assistant coach, I think I'm on board.  I'm sure Favors and Harris will do great things for the Jazz and I look forward to next season when all this team rebuilding is over. 

Brandon Davies' suspension has hit me hard.  Initially I mourned the fact that we have lost our #3 spot and most likely won't do as well during March Madness as everyone had predicted.  Then, after seeing Davies' personal business being broadcasted all over the news, I mourned for him.  Everyone makes mistakes.  When most 'normal' people transgress, they have the opportunity to confess and forsake their sins in a private manner to the proper authority.  The process of repentance even in secrecy is excruciating enough--add the fact that everyone in the entire world knows what you did.  I don't even know if I could survive that.

I do stand by BYU's decision for suspension.  Ever since I got word about the suspension, I've been scouring the internet and reading most articles and video clips.  the Salt Lake Tribune accused BYU of being "the LDS Church standards on Steroids" and claimed that BYU shouldn't even have an honor code office and all misdeeds should be handled by a bishop.  I see where they are coming from, but at the same time I believe BYU's honor code system is fair.  It works the same way repentance does--for instance, if you mess up badly, you lose your temple recommend.  In Davies' case, he lost the privalege of playing on the team.  But, through the repentance process, you have that opportunity to become clean and once again be worthy of a temple recommend.  I believe the same thing will happen in this situation-- Davies will be given the opportunity to come back next season. 

When Harvey Unga withdrew from the football team last season (because of a similar situation), BYU offered to bring him back next season.  He decided to head to the NFL to take care of his family instead.  I hope Brandon will accept the invitation to come back to the team when that time comes.  All of his teammates stand behind him and call him brother.  From what I've gathered from the articles, no team member harbors resentment towards Davies and all acknowledge that no one is perfect.  The BYU basketball team is a great example of the unconditional love and forgiveness provided by our Savior.  I personally am very grateful for the Atonement and the power it has to heal.  I would be lost without it.  For now, my prayers are with Davies and I look forward to seeing him get back to a good place in life, on and off the court.