Throughout his career in the NBA, which is going on 13 years, Danny Ainge has become accustomed to a different set of rules.
Ainge, a 34-year-old Suns guard, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - a Mormon.That means being judged differently from other players, fairly or not. It means closer scrutiny. It means not always being understood.
Ainge remembers how the late Johnny Most, longtime voice of the Boston Celtics, used to introduce the team at various functions: "He would say something like; `Larry Bird, one of the greatest players the game has ever seen; Robert Parish, the Chief from Centenary College; Kevin McHale, born in Hibbing, Minnesota, birthplace of Bob Dylan.'
"Then he would introduce me . . . `And Danny Ainge, the Mean Mormon,' or `Danny Ainge, the Mormon Assassin.' "
There also was the time when Ainge, then a budding baseball prospect, was called to the Toronto Blue Jays from the club's Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse, N.Y. The local paper speculated that Ainge at shortstop and Garth Iorg at second base would make up the first Mormon double-play combination in major league history.
"They wouldn't have written that about a Catholic, a Methodist or a Lutheran," Ainge said.
But Ainge said being singled out because of his faith never has bothered him.
"I'm proud of my religion," he said. "I'm grateful for who I am and for the great testimony of The Book of Mormon."
The Mormon Church, though, has been rocked by controversy in recent months:
- Deborah Laake's book, "Secret Ceremonies," set off a debate about how women in the church are treated.
- Several leading church scholars have been excommunicated or "disfellowshipped" for apostasy, or acting in public opposition to the church or its leaders. Critics have called it a purge.
- And last week, Steve Benson, editorial cartoonist at The Republic, and his wife, Mary Ann, announced their resignation from the church.
Benson is a sixth-generation Mormon and the grandson of Ezra Taft Benson, the 94-year-old head and prophet of the Mormon Church. The Bensons resigned for what they perceive as intolerant church leadership.
Ainge has watched the controversies unfold with interest and concern. But he said it hasn't shaken his faith.
"I perceive it as a select few who have problems with the hierarchy of the church and their testimony. But I don't perceive it as a problem with what the church teaches.
"Every religion has its controversies and non-believers. But I also sympathize with some of those people.
"One of the main issues is the women's movement. I've read excerpts of Deborah Laake's book, and I've seen her on `Donahue.' I believe her when she says she was abused. It was to the point where she believed that Mormonism is a male dictatorship.
"But that isn't what the church teaches. In our religion, a marriage is a partnership that lasts for eternity. If anything, Mormonism worships women more than any other religion.
"I don't think her problem was with the teachings of the Mormon Church. I think her problem was that she was abused by some people who happen to be Mormon. They're human, and they made human mistakes."
Ainge said he also sympathizes with the Bensons but adds that the leadership of the Mormon Church will work out its problems in time.
"Our church is one of the only ones on Earth that believes in modern-day revelation," Ainge said. "We all believe we can receive revelations, but we believe we have one prophet who guides the church.
"I believe the church is changing, but it can't change just because of social pressure."
Ainge said he sees a lot of happiness among his friends in the Mormon religion. He's content.
"I approach it this way," he said. "I believe what the Book of Mormon says is true. I don't see how people can change whether the book is true or not.
"Human beings make up the leadership of our church, and you may disagree with their actions at times. But how can you let a person's actions affect whether you believe the church is true? I believe it is true."
But Ainge admits he wasn't always as settled in his beliefs. Coming out of North Eugene (Ore.) High, Ainge was a highly recruited star in football, baseball and basketball. Although raised as a Mormon, he said sports was his religion at that time.
He made the typical recruiting trips to several colleges, but he realized that Brigham Young University was where he wanted to be.
"On a lot of those recruiting visits, everybody just wanted to party just like in high school," Ainge said. "There was a lot of booze and immorality.
"I wasn't a real religious person. I was commited to sports and school work. When I visited BYU, we all went out to a movie and went to a dance where they were serving ice cream and punch.
"I had more fun on that trip, and I decided those were the people I wanted to hang around with and be like. And my testimony has given that to me."
Ainge met his wife, Michelle, at BYU, and he now teaches Sunday School classes to 14-year-olds as often as he can work it into his NBA schedule.
He finds humor now in how others perceive his religion.
"With my religion, people are always trying to catch me at something I'm not supposed to be doing," he said. "I remember when I was with the Celtics playing a card game on the plane called `Tonk.' People were whispering, `Look at what the Mormon's doing.' Or if I cussed on the court they would say, `Did you hear what the Mormon just said?'
"I've learned that people look at me differently. They expect me to set a better example, and I think that's healthy. It keeps you on your toes."