The Stormin Mormons and Suspensions

(Note: This blogpost contains a Top Chef spoiler. Reader beware)

He got some and then got suspended.

He got some and got interviews

The Brandon Davies suspension from the BYU basketball team for having premarital sex with his girlfriend has been discussed by nearly anyone and everyone from all sorts of backgrounds - sports figures, religious leaders, leaders in academia, BYU grads, BYU haters, atheists, whites, blacks, mexicans, Charlie Sheen, smurfs, etc. Now it's my turn.
 
BYU, being a Mormon University, has a stricter honor code than most other universities. This includes no consumption of caffeinated beverages, alcohol, drugs, or premarital sex (probably a reason why many BYU athletes are married...). The issue here is not the honor code itself - no college or university is going to promote promiscuity, shitshows, and recreational drug use; the issue is rather the decision by BYU administrators to suspend Davies, when they easily could have turned the other way. Could you see Duke suspending Kyle Singler or North Carolina suspending Tyler Zeller for the same reason?  No, neither can I.

The more admirable thing here is the impact the suspension of Davies is bound to have on BYU's chances in the tourney. BYU, the No. 3 team in the country, and largely a perimeter-oriented team led by eventual National Player of the Year and future Nobel Prize, Academy Award, and Grammy winner Jimmer Fredette, was largely dependent on Davies in the post. Now, without him, they seem very vulnerable. After losing to New Mexico last night, they go into their conference tournament where teams like San Diego State (who BYU beat twice) are chomping at the bit to get at them. This will probably drop BYU's seeding down to a 3 seed and Davies, to prolong his basketball career will probably transfer to a school with a less stringent honor code (M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D).


The fact of the matter is NCAA student-athletes are representatives of the school they play for. We've all heard it growing up through middle school, high school, etc.: "You are representing us. Don't do something we wouldn't want you to do." The same applies here to Davies. Whether you agree or disagree with the rules the school put down and the rules of the Mormon religion, Davies still knew about them when he signed his letter of intent to play for BYU. When he got caught, he owned up and paid the consequences. It's a sad story for Davies and could cost the Cougars dearly in the tournament, but at the end of the day, it's refreshing to see an institution stick to their word - take note Tennessee, USC, UConn, and countless other NCAA rule violators.


What to Watch For:

• Danica Mendivil - Davies' girlfriend and Freshman on Arizona State's Volleyball Team. I wonder if she gets some hate mail this week (without cursing of course - the Mormon way)

Will this young man be enough to cure cancer?

• Jimmer Fredette's stats - I expect him to start averaging 300 ppg, 100 rpg, and 4 lives saved per game as well.
• Gus Johnson mentioning Davies in the NCAA tournament - This should be a drinking game. 
• India vs. Ireland World Cup match on Sunday - Can Ireland follow up a once in a lifetime win vs. England with a win against the hosts?
• Lebron James' renewed focus - James tweeted that his focus was renewed for the last twenty games...so that's the reason the Heat have struggled this season.....
• NFL Labor negotiations - Props to Obama for staying out of it. While the owners and players are deciding how to split billions of dollars, millions of Americans remain jobless. Stay tuned...perhaps next they can decide who gets the private jets on what days.
• Randon NFL Free Agent signings - In the midst of this standoff, there will be a few signings in and between the negotiations including Shaun Rogers, OJ Atogwe, etc. Where's Bambale Osby when you need him?
• Chipotle running out of food - This buy one get one deal is the doom of America. How do you fight obesity when you're promoting it ON FACEBOOK?!
• Top Chef Finale - 5 qualified finalists. 5 beasts in the kitchen. My money's on Mike Isabella to win it and then hire me as a sous chef (people who have tasted my pasta agree)

My future employer/the object of my parents' wrath

      Good night and War Eagle