As I walked across campus today, the indescribable feeling was back; Duke basketball was once again under way. While I was getting ready to go to the first round game of the NIT tournament, I flipped on my radio. Did I really just hear two North Carolina DJs saying that Chris Burgess, Duke's newest recruit, had disappointed 9 million people, the prophet and the apostles?
I called home to ask my parents whom they were quoting. They confirmed my first guess that it must have been BYU's coach. I certainly hoped that I wasn't grouped into the mass of mourners, because although I am a member of the LDS Church and grew up on BYU sports, I couldn't be happier. Indeed it was a strong statement for a college basketball coach to make about a 17-year-old.Did Shawn Bradley let down the church members and leaders when he left BYU three years early? I am sure countless University of Utah fans in Salt Lake City didn't feel betrayed. Neither did most of the 4.5 million Latter-day Saints outside of the United States, not to mention those here who aren't sports fans. The same is true for Burgess.
Having met Chris at church and at a preseason game a couple weeks ago during his final recruiting trip to Durham, I was asked by one of Duke's assistant coaches if Chris had given any impression which way he may be leaning. I told him that he didn't give any indication which school he would eventually select. I said the best advice they could tell him is that the church isn't just in Provo, it's everywhere and that most importantly he should pray about his decision.
Here at Duke, where the winter months mean trying to study for an organic chemistry test alongside your roommate, who is bundled up in his sleeping bag typing a history paper on his lap top, in tent #156 camping out for standing room only inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, students and people of all faiths are welcoming Chris Burgess.
I'm sure the prophet and apostles won't be disappointed by all the questions people in this part of the country are asking about two LDS basketball players on a powerhouse team that could promise a return of the Duke dynasty. (Matt Christensen is currently serving a mission in Frankfurt, Germany.)
Nine million is a lot of people, but it probably won't seem like that many compared to the number of good-hearted sports fans around the country disgusted by Coach Reid's poorly expressed sentiments. The Duke campus newspaper quoted Burgess as having made his decision "after a lot of thought, prayer and pondering . . . in the end I just followed my heart." I hope that like Chris I can be strong enough to follow my heart even when one, two or a few million people might want to sway me.
Andrew Florence
Duke junior and Salt Lake resident
Rob Westover
BYU graduate, Duke law student