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Dick Harmon: Tavernari's soul touched by Hinckley

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SJ Bobkins | 8:11 a.m. Jan. 31, 2008
Very NIce Dick,
I appreciate being reminded that my favorite university's mens basketball team is composed of some very fine, young men. College athletes don't give up the many parts of their character to become basketball shooting robots, without feelings and emotions, once they begin their first classes. It warms my heart to see the spiritual element mentioned, rather than just getting player stats. This team makes me crazy at times, when I can't understand their horrible weakness on the road, playing like rag-dolls. They are kids 18-20 something playing for fun and college scholarships. They aren't perfect, they are not receiving millions like the pros. I appreciate all the kids at any school trying to be students, and doing their best on the court.
Some may object but I love learning that basketball isn't the most important part of Tavenari's life, nor is football the most important part of Austins life.
Dam the whiners Dick, full speed ahead.

duhverl | 10:11 a.m. Jan. 31, 2008
Dick,
What a GREAT article. You have warmed my heart.
Nyron | 10:43 a.m. Jan. 31, 2008
Mr. Harmon, these comments above, are excellent selections to publish. I have always appeciated your work. President Hinckly had the same affect upon me when he spoke. He made me want to become a better person, and do better in life as a servant.
Comments continue below
George C | 11:23 a.m. Jan. 31, 2008
I really enjoyed this article. It's nice to read about an athlete who has good values. We will all miss President Gordon B. Hinckley, but never forget the good influence he was he many of our lives.
ralph in ak | 11:31 a.m. Jan. 31, 2008
That was one of the best articles I've read in a while. I really appreciated learning about a deeper side to an athlete that is bigger than their sport.
Thanks Dick for a job well done and thanks JT for being willing to share something so personal as a piece of your testimony with us.
Allright! | 1:22 p.m. Jan. 31, 2008
Dick,
Nice article, more meaningful stories with great messages like this would be nice unlike the finding a girl for a BYU football player artile.! Very good article and a very nice touch.
Snake Eye | 5:03 p.m. Jan. 31, 2008
Thank you for writing a meaningful article without mentioning "4th and 18"
Cougars | 10:11 p.m. Jan. 31, 2008
Tavernari is pretty streaky with his jumper but he is steady and constant here, atta boy JT, Gordan B. Hinckley was an amazing person and i love him with all my heart
Lame | 12:50 a.m. Feb. 1, 2008
No disrespect to the prophet but I don't see the relevence of asking Tavanari's opinion on the subject cause he plays for BYU. It's okay, I'm sure this comment won't get posted anyway.
Hollywood | 10:27 a.m. Feb. 1, 2008
Well, Lame, BYU is a Mormon school - in case you hadn't heard;-) Oh and it's even named after a Mormon prophet. So, yeah, I'd expect LDS athletes to offer their reflections and condolences upon the death of Gordon B.

Yes, I am LDS, but whatever the faith of an athlete has, I appreciate hearing about the better side of people (like the stories re: Kyle Korver). It offsets all the reports we get re: drug use, shootings outside of night clubs, etc.

Thanks, Mr. Harmon.
jeffblue | 1:21 p.m. Feb. 1, 2008
Well said JT, and well written, Mr Harmon. It is a nice break from the routine about reading of salary negotiations and dealing with egos in general, and the smack between rival schools. I appreciate many things about President Hinckley but what stands out was his endless optimism and appreciation for living at this time. Have a good day everybody.
knizst | 1:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 2008
Great article. I can confirm that Jonathan is not only a good athlete but a fine young man. I've had him in three classes at BYU and he has done well in all of them. He is very conscientious about his schoolwork and is truly a scholar-athlete. I've known him for four years and I'm greatly impressed by him. Just as Jonathan loved Pres. Hinckley, if Pres. Hinckley had known Jonathan he would have loved him.
re: Hollywood | 1:29 p.m. Feb. 1, 2008
I hadn't heard of that, I thought it was the Lord's School. With the Lord's players who win because they live right and are more rightous than other teams in the state. All I'm saying is I'm sure there are LDS players on the U of U, USU, UVSC basketball teams that were touched by the Prophets death but not interviewed.
Clovisfan | 3:36 p.m. Feb. 1, 2008
Thank you Dick for a great article. Articles like these are why I read the Deseret News online most every day. Sometimes I forget that athletes are real people. What a great young man Jonathan is. I'll have more tolerance for him now the next time he goes 0 for 10 on the road.
b-rad | 9:36 a.m. Feb. 2, 2008
Good article. I could definitely feel the same things spoken of in the article as I read it. He seems to have felt what we all did when president Hinkley spoke, and I appreciate the way this article was written. Thank you for writting this to distract me from all of the stressful, unspirited news I've read today.

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