Bryce Harper, Mormon sports star 2.0 - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

MikeWaters · 04-20-2016, 07:26 AM

When I was a kid, for whatever, reason, it was important to me to have Mormons sports heroes. I don't know if I thought of it that way, but that's the way it ended up. Danny White and Dale Murphy. I never liked the Celtics, so I couldn't stomach the most Celtic-y guy of all Danny Ainge.

These days Mormon kids don't have a lot of stars to point to. And I'm beginning to wonder if it even really matters.

Does Jabari Parker move the needle as a Mormon sports star? I'm not sure that many Mormons even know he is Mormon. And what now makes him Mormon vs. non-Mormon? His religious practice and belief seems unknown (currently). And with so many young Mormons abandoning belief and practice, it would almost seem like a surprise if he had any activity (I understand he did attend church at least sometimes at Duke). What would elevate his Mormon-ness to make him a Mormon sports star?

Same thing applies to Harper. Do Mormon kids care? What makes him Mormon versus grew-up-Mormon? The guy is perceived by the larger public to be one of the biggest douchebags in sports. The hardcore BYU fan knows that he publicly dissed BYU.

It seems like the Mormon identity is in flux all around now. Among sports stars, among regular members. What binds us?

I know some of you don't agree. But I think there are large tremors going on in the Mormon body. There are cracks in the identity. And it can be partly understood by how Mormons relate to their fellow Mormons who are celebrities.

04-20-2016, 07:26 AM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Bryce Harper, Mormon sports star 2.0 When I was a kid, for whatever, reason, it was important to me to have Mormons sports heroes. I don't know if I thought of it that way, but that's the way it ended up. Danny White and Dale Murphy. I never liked the Celtics, so I couldn't stomach the most Celtic-y guy of all Danny Ainge. These days Mormon kids don't have a lot of stars to point to. And I'm beginning to wonder if it even really matters. Does Jabari Parker move the needle as a Mormon sports star? I'm not sure that many Mormons even know he is Mormon. And what now makes him Mormon vs. non-Mormon? His religious practice and belief seems unknown (currently). And with so many young Mormons abandoning belief and practice, it would almost seem like a surprise if he had any activity (I understand he did attend church at least sometimes at Duke). What would elevate his Mormon-ness to make him a Mormon sports star? Same thing applies to Harper. Do Mormon kids care? What makes him Mormon versus grew-up-Mormon? The guy is perceived by the larger public to be one of the biggest douchebags in sports. The hardcore BYU fan knows that he publicly dissed BYU. It seems like the Mormon identity is in flux all around now. Among sports stars, among regular members. What binds us? I know some of you don't agree. But I think there are large tremors going on in the Mormon body. There are cracks in the identity. And it can be partly understood by how Mormons relate to their fellow Mormons who are celebrities.