Deseret News | BYU basketball: Player, companion hurt in attack

Reader comments
BYU basketball: Player, companion hurt in attack

149 comments | Read story

Colorado | 1:15 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Thank You missionaries for your service. It is sad that the world has so many people in it that are so lost that they would do something like they did just to be mean. They need the gospel more than anybody.

Troubled people | 1:17 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

There are really some troubled people out there who are constantly looking for opportunities to express their biases and hatred; some of them frequent newspaper blogs.

Some of them will eventually find a way to purge themselves of their animosity. Most of them, unfortunately, will simply allow their hatred to go on festering the rest of their lives.

How sad.

Best wishes on a speedy recovery Elders! Our prayers are with you and your attackers.

Family Weez | 1:19 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

To Colinsworth and Ferguson families we wish you our best and a speedy recovery to your sons. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and you.

Comments continue below

Concerned Mom | 1:21 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

In addition to my feelings of shock and sorrow over the attack on the Elders, and their subsequent injuries, it saddened me to find that Elder Ferguson didn't even rate a first name in this article. Probably Mrs. Ferguson won't notice the lack of reference to her son's first name in her fear for her son's injuries, but then again - she might.

Poorly Written | 1:24 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

"an Elder Ferguson" in parenthesis??? What's up with that DesNews? Elder Ferguson is every bit as important as the basketball player. This is "news" whether a BYU player was involved or not. To say "an Elder Ferguson" infers that a BYU basketball player was mugged...oh, and by the way, we think "an Elder Ferguson" happened to be there with him.

Pathetic writing, as usual, Deseret News...

Another Ken | 1:29 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

It's been mentioned before but the hero of this story is the bystander who got involved. I hope I would have the courage to do the same in a frightening and potentially dangerous situation.

My prayers are with these elders. They are doing a great work.

kathyn | 1:38 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I would hope the reporter of this story would try to find out more about Elder Ferguson.

I am very grateful that these young men will be okay. I pray for all of the missionaries nightly because it is a dangerous world out there and they need all of our prayers.

Very Sad | 1:42 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Dear VF,

They made the front page because "He" was a BYU BBall Player. Otherwise the story would have been about both young men. You wouldn't have Quotes from just the Collinsworth family and coach. The incident itself is well worth the front page. The article was poorly written and DNews needs to rectify the situation by apologizing to Elder Ferguson's Family. We don't need to know his playing stats... I mean come on

Offended | 1:42 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I'm from Montana and am offended at the "(an Elder Ferguson)" as if he's inconsequential...

Re: Offended | 1:57 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

To "an offended person in Montana." Wow, you get offended easily.

very sad indeed | 1:57 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Playing stats? What on earth does that have to do with anything? What, because of his stab wound we an expect more or less production out him when he returns to basketball.

I'd like to know some more about Elder Ferguson. What's his story? How is he handling things? What do his parents and mentors have to say?

Offended Too | 1:58 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I'm from California and I was offended there was no mention of California in the article. The insensitivity of these people writing about an Elder from the BYU Basketball team getting injured and not talking about California.

Jack | 1:59 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Anonymous
The officials are unsure of the motive for the attack? You dont attack a 6'9'' guy just for money. Its obviously for the religion.

OH Boy here we go with the persecution complex!!!

To: Offended | 2:00 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Get over yourself. They could have easily just talked about Elder Collinsworth, but they did not. They gave details about both missionaries and their injuries.

Curious | 2:01 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

It would be interesting to know statistics relating to safety and/or deaths of 19 to 21-year-old males in the US versus LDS missionaries.

yet another attack | 2:04 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Every year there is a violent attack against LDS missionaries. I don't ever remember hearing of attacks 20 years ago but today it seems this ugly stuff happens yearly. Thank heaven the young men are going to be ok although being stabbed is very serious and life threatening. My son served in Miami Florida and returned this year and told us of many "close calls" he had while working in the inner cities. It seems to me that the Church needs to take better care of its missionaries by making some policy changes.

alm | 2:06 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

It doesn't matter who writes what about who, someone will be right there to criticize how it was done or not done. Don't these people have anything to do?

Arizona Reader | 2:10 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Sad story, but very glad that the Elders are alright. Are we really squabling over how good the writers are, why the story made the news and a bad statement about the Elder from Montana? Who are we really concerned about friends, the Elders or ourselves?

From the way the story was portrayed, what a blessing it is to have a good companion. Those young men were there for a reason as was the driver who stopped by. I cringe when I hear these stories, but am so glad when the missionaries will recover. Keep up the good work Elders!

SeattleCougarBlue | 2:11 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Elder Collinsworth is a Utah kid. The deseret news is a Utah paper. I'm sure Elder Ferguson is a fine young man. Maybe the newspapers in Montana can publish his height, weight, and playing statistics if it's important to the folks in Montana. BYU fans are especially interested in the safety of athletes that choose to go on missions - strictly from a sports perspective. And, since BYU sports are heavily covered in the Deseret News it's appropriate to report on this situation.

If anyone knows Elder Ferguson's background, education, musical or athletic talents, I'll more than gladly read about them - in this paper or any other. My prayers go out to both missionaries, their families, and friends. I hope that they can put this experience behind them and move forward with the work they went to do in Australia.

Former Aussie Missionary | 2:11 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Having walked the same streets and lived in the same apartments that these elders in this story lived in, I feel I am somewhat an authority on this subject. The missionaries aren't being put in harms way. The streets of Sydney are no more violent than those of Salt Lake. These things happen.

'Celebrity' mean anything? | 2:19 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

One of the missionaries is from Provo, is more likely to have contacts with local press and plays basketball on television. One of the missionaries has more name recognition than the other. Shocking.

RE: Anonymous | 2:20 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

If you weren't aware, the Deseret News is OWNED by the LDS Church. No matter where they put the story, it is in the Church News. And 70% of the state of Utah, like it or not, is LDS. Perhaps you should be reading the SL Tribune if you want anti-Mormon stories instead.

Former Aussie Missionary | 2:20 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

my last post got cut off.

I just wanted to defend Australia a bit. My condolences to the families. I hope they heal fast, and get back out there. Load 'em up with tim-tams and meat pies and they'll pull through in no time.

A few years ago in this same mission an Elder on a "day off" or p-day, feel off of a cliff. He fell nearly 300 ft, and he landed on his face. This Elder later returned to BYU and competed on the track and field team. The Lord doesn't stop bad things from happening, but he can and does do miracles.

Re: Anonymous | 2:21 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

You are alive... you are in harm's way.

skip21al | 2:23 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

19 and 20 years old men shouldnt go to college either. They could get beat up or killed there. I think the government should shut down ALL public universities.

... sheesh... how can people POSSIBLY blame the church?

nona | 2:26 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

But this is not a hate crime. Oh no.

Thker | 2:26 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I bet Elder Collinsworth was much easier to find out information about seeing as the newspaper new people connected to him. I bet the church doesn't just give out family contact information to journalists when missionaries are assaulted. Can you imagine having to deal with the press as well as dealing with the heartache.

Sarah | 2:28 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I too am very concerned for Elder Ferguson, who was so badly injured that he required surgery and is still hospitalized.

I realize that this article was written with the basketball slant so that it would grab the sports fans as well, but come on. At least mention the other guy's name and how he's doing, and how his family is holding up under the strain.

As per the questions about why they listed his stats, as a former staff member of my college paper, I can tell you that any article relating to an athlete, or even an actor or actress, will list their career highlights to refresh people of who they are. It doesn't matter if it has anything to do with the rest of the article, but it's one of the rules of journalism to have a paragraph or two at the end of the article spotlighting memorable info about the person involved.

Anti-PC Infidel | 2:34 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Didn't they implement strict gun control laws in Australia so nobody would get hurt by them when they decided to shoot people on their own? Oh, wait a minute, the bad guys used knives...

Elviejo | 2:46 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

There is an eternal principal that we will love those whom we serve. It is that simple. Try it, you will like it.

shem | 2:49 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I like the good ole days when missionarys could pack heat. Go Cougs!!!

a hate crime? | 2:50 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

good luck proving that.
its near impossible to get the "hate crime" label put on a KKK member when he attacks another ethnicity.
I feel bad for the missionaries, but since it was in Austrailia i dont find this relevent enough to be front page material (but hey, he had that name tag on so of course it goes there)

Cherie | 2:57 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Elder's Collinsworth and Ferguson you and your family will be in my prayers and I will put your names in the Los Angeles Temple tomorrow.

Bless you for your service and I know the lord will heal you and sustain you.

Those who tresspassed against you will be held accountable in the eyes of the lord. I wouldnt want to be in thier shoes.

John Pack Lambert | 3:02 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

To anonymous at 12:19,
The chances that they previously had an encounter earlier in a restraunt or a club are next to nill.
Rules very from mission to mission, but in my mission we were supposed to be home by 9:30. I have known people who served in missions where they stayed out latter, but as far as I know being on your way home at 8:30 does not qualify as being out late. Unless you were at one end of your area and it takes an hour and a half to walk to the other end of your area where your apartment is, but that would be a large area.
On other issues, mission presidents expend large amounts of effort trying to maintain the safety of missionaries. This is one reason they hold so stringently to being home on time and always being with your companion.
I think we should avoid the hate crime claim. There is no evidence as far as I have seen that the attackers knew these guys were LDS missionaries. If you attack a missionary from behind you do not see his nametag.

missionaries' mom | 3:03 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Two of my sons served foreign missions--one in Cali, Colombia (the drug area), and one in northern Spain (the Basque separatist area) 20 years ago. Both chose to go to areas that they knew were dangerous. One was attacked and stabbed on his mission and if it hadn't been for his watch, he'd have also had his hand severed. But they were glad to go and serve. And, while we knew the danger, we were pleased they had chosen to go. Both saw many lives changed and people become happier.
And both felt blessed to be returning to the U.S., even though we have many problems here, too.
Our prayers are with both elders and their families. I don't care where they are from or what they did before, or will do after, their missions--they are ours, too!

Ernest T. Bass | 3:05 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

The Lord will punish the perps.

Alternate | 3:13 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Thanks to all the get well soon comments. Good Stuff. To you haters out there. Get a life! Hate all you want to, it is your right, but please respect the serious nature of this incident. Perhaps some sensitivity training is in order. I guess in life there is a time when hate is appropriate, this is not one of them for you.

SoCalRm | 3:17 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

It's obviosly a bravado thing. Sure, they're both LDS, than on top of that, they're probably from the US, than if it couldn't get any "better"(don't get all politically correct on me), he was 6'9" and athletic. For all of you who have ever wanted to climb a mountain, you will probably understand that this was a bunch of guys drinking, and thinking,"If I was a lumberjack, I bet I could chop that tree down." My idea is just an idea, but I'll bet that's what it was. The primal urge of men to fight is pretty sickening, but real...again, this is just my opinion.

Prayers with them | 3:20 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Thankfully these young men will be okay. I hope it was not a hate crime, but would not be surprised. I had several knives pulled on me, hit by rocks &fists, etc...and they were all because I was American not an LDS missionary. God be with you and your families.

John Pack Lambert | 3:23 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

To the 1:13 commentator,
You seem never to have read the Church News and to have no clue what it is.
The Church News is a weekly publication. Although it does publish stories about what happens to missionaries in at least some cases, people want to hear this story as quickly as possible.

Anonymous | 3:28 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

If the article focused more on Elder Collingsworth, it's because the general reading public is going to be more interested in hearing about what happened to a BYU athlete. Pat Tillman (Arizona Cardinals) got a lot more attention that any other war on terror death so far--because the general public found it interesting. It doesn't make Elder Ferguson is less important, but when it comes to selling newspapers, Collingsworth made it more newsworthy. That's reality. If Max hall got hurt in a car accident, it would get a lot more coverage than if I got hurt in a car accident. The general reading public would buy more newspapers to read about Max Hall, I wouldn't help sell papers. Outside my family and friends, interest would be low. That's fine. It's a newspaper meant to report news in a way that will sell newspapers and interest readers.

Scott | 3:32 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

The headline and the bulk of the story focuses on the "BYU Basketball Player." Collinsworth primary identity should be as a missionary. His companion, who seems to have also received serious injuries should not be an after thought just because he did not play basketball for BYU.

Would the D News have called it "breaking news" if they were "just" missionaries?

Basketball Mom | 3:55 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I am very glad that Chris will be ok. It will be good for him to get back to his work as soon as possible. He played with my son in basketball and Chris is a very strong determined young man. One of the reasons he was probably able to combat this men was his strength and athleticism from playing basketball. (Provo High athletes go through extensive weight training, etc.) For all we know that saved their lives as well as the bystander. His companion may have also been able to withstand these guys because of his stature. I know the work in Austraila will continue to go forward, and with this little bit of incident; the work might even get a little bit more busy. It usually does after an attack of any kind. It is great the Lord watches out for our missionaries. Elder Collingsworth and Elder Ferguson - Get back to work as soon as you are able. Good luck at your recovery.

Danger | 3:57 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

My missionary children were in harms way occasionally, both in the US and foreign countries. It is a choice for a worthy cause, our prayers are with all of you. BTW, getting stabbed in Utah isn't that rare either.

anonymous | 4:00 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Its probably those rascally conservatives. You've seen how mean they can be at political events.

RE: The Lord | 4:09 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

I suppose the protection came in the form of the man in the car....

john L | 4:12 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Elder David Furgeson is a fine young man. I know him from his volunteer work with the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research where he helped defend the church from critics. He is very intelligent and can keep up with the best LDS scholars. I am not surprised he rushed to the aid of his companion and suffered serious injury, as I have never known him to fear for himself. Rather, it is his nature to run to the defense of others.

My thoughts and prayers go out to both Elders and their families.

John L.

Wombat | 4:29 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Unfortunatley this can happen in any country anywhere & at anytime. As an aussie I am disgusted that this has happened, at least both missionaries are on the mend. An aussie 21 year old tourist just got murdered in Croatia 2 days ago. I beleive this was not a religous attack, but a random one. I am not of LDS faith but I do have many LDS friends in Kaysville & Fruit Heights which I have just visited 4 weeks ago.

All the best to the missionarys to a quick recovery.

Cheers Mark Roffey

David | 4:35 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

Lord Bless, keep and heal you Elder Ferguson and companion.
Love Elder Fanene 87-89 CA Sacramento Mission.

reader | 4:42 p.m. Oct. 15, 2008

In another article it states that Elder Ferguson was not Collinsworth's regular companion, but was working with him on a 'split'. If the D News contacted Chris' family for information, they may not have known too much about Ferguson.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

1 photo

Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Chris Collinsworth, right, played in all 35 games last year for BYU, averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. He's been in Australia on a mission for about six months.