Prior to Mike Weir’s win at the Masters, I had been receiving reaction to Weir’s inclusion on our LDS athletes list. It was an error, is basically what people were saying. I decided to not include Weir on the list because of the uncertainty of his “LDS-ness.”

A convincing e-mail came from a Meridian reader, Mike Conway, on Monday, April 14. “I have been told by those in his Draper (Utah) ward that Mike Weir is not LDS. His wife apparently is. (I am) still very proud to have Mike as an Utahan.” Several e-mails similar to Brother Conway’s followed and I was convinced that Weir needed to come off the list.

Then came Tuesday’s LDS News e-mail that identified Weir as LDS and linked to two articles that referred to Weir as a “devout Mormon.” I decided to put him back on the list.

Then came Wednesday’s LDS News e-mail that read, “Correction: In yesterday's LDS News Update (15 April), we incorrectly indicated that golfer Mike Weir is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We apologize for the error.”

No explanation was given as to who offered the corrective information, but it was enough for me. You’ll notice that Weir is nowhere to be found in this week’s listing.

Muchasimas gracias to all that made additions to our list. A check of the tally board shows that our listing has grown to 262 LDS athletes and coaches that are competing at the amateur, collegiate and professional levels of a wide range of sports. Keep those names coming!

“Click here to see The List”.

More…
May we never lose sight of the fact that sports are games and meant to be sources of entertainment and fun. With that in mind …

News I’d like to see…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After three months of retirement, Michael Jordan announced today that he will make yet another comeback to professional basketball. Minus the customary flash of cameras, Jordan’s voice, choked with emotion, echoed off the back wall of the vacant media room at the MCI Center.

“I don’t think it’s because nobody’s interested,” said Jordan via telephone early this morning. “I think that people thought it (the press conference) was being held today instead of yesterday.” Jordan has expressed interest in joining the Los Angeles Lakers.

When reached by cell phone, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak expressed surprise at Jordan’s announcement. “I think I speak for most GMs in the NBA when I say that Mike’s lost a step,” said Kupchak who has stayed retired from playing pro basketball since 1986. When asked if the Lakers would pursue Jordan, Kupchak said, “Hey, Mike! You said no Mulligans!”

SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA Finals on Sunday will have to wait, say Utah Jazz fans. After qualifying for the NBA Finals for the third time in seven seasons, Jazz fans have made a stand.

Minutes before the start of Game 1, only 25 people occupied the stands at the Delta Center, an abnormality for games played on Sunday in the past. By the end of the first quarter, the “crowd” had swelled to 54 and NBA officials decided to postpone the game and replay it in its entirety on Monday night.

“The message the fans are sending,” said Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, “is that the Sabbath day is important to them.” In the past, Jazz fans flocked to games at the Delta Center – and the Salt Palace – regardless of the day of the week.

Salt Lake City, a predominantly Mormon community, has seemingly taken to heart the advice of LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley who has told church members, “The time has come for each of us to stand a little taller. This is a season to be strong.”

LOS ANGELES – After eight seasons of not having an NFL team, business tycoon Bill Gates has landed an expansion team for Los Angeles. The terms of the purchase were not disclosed, however, one of the clauses implemented by the league require that all current franchises return to their city of origin.

Some of the teams affected include: Arizona (St. Louis), Indianapolis (Baltimore), San Diego (Los Angeles), Tennessee (Houston), Baltimore (Cleveland), and St. Louis (Cleveland).

It is unclear whether Gates had any influence on the league directive, but inside sources have reported that the computers in each of the affected teams’ front offices mysteriously crashed within an hour of the league announcement. Directions to contact the Microsoft Customer Service department upon arrival in each of their respective cities of origin inexplicably appeared on each computer screen.