Wherein I actually approach the subject of sports | dooce®
[Via dooce]
I’ve been asked by countless readers if I’d weigh in on the story of BYU suspending Brandon Davies from the basketball team (which earlier this week was ranked No. 3 in the country) for violating its honor code, one that prohibits consumption of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, premarital sex, and also reaches far into a student’s wardrobe (no tank tops for women) and whether or not men can have facial hair (only if it is medically necessary).
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A very balanced and thoughtful discussion from someone who lived BYU’s honor code. I hope the young man, and his girlfriend, have some strong support to help him because no one should have to deal with this at such a young age on a national stage.
A month ago he was just a basketball player. Now he is an opinion for all America. He did the right thing by fessing up. Now I hope he is strong enough to overcome his mistake and lead a strong life.
A Man With A Ph.D. 
Oh come on! All you guys in the comment section couldn’t wait until you were considered old enough to go to college and run your own lives. Now you want to give a college “man” a break because he is “just a sophomore”. Make up your minds. If a kid can still be on his parents insurance until he is 26, he is still a kid and not responsible for his own life apparently. When, exactly, do you think someone should accept personal responsibility?
No one said anything about giving him a break from the consequences of his mistake. The article was not about avoiding personal responsibility. Far from it. The point was being sympathetic that few of us would want a mistake we made at 20 to become cannon fodder for national gossips and sports maniacs. It should not mark our lives and we should be able to have the ability to not only make amends but have the opportunity for redemption.
Much harder to do when your life is now a part of the national discussion, with people who have the faintest clue about the facts weighing with their judgements. I hope he can take Kiplings’ great poem, If, to heart.