Did Noah Hartsock go on a Basketball Mission?

[Katy Lied]

Over the weekend I read an interview with his former mish companion. Hartsock served in the South Salt Lake Mission, and his companion said they used to play basketball every single day. (I'm assuming not Sunday). He said that they would play 3-on-1 or 4-on-1 and Noah would always win.

Okay, so they played from 5:30 to 6am, which really isnt enough time to even work up a sweat. And how much better can you get playing 3 dorky slo-whi mission companions? Even if you're playing them 3-on- or 4-on-1?

I brought this up with two ALUFs. It was interesting--their first instinct was to defend Hartsock, minimize the amount of practice he got, and scoff at the notion that he could get any better under his regimen. Almost as if, although they like to point out hypocrisies in BYU players, they have a vested interest in preserving the notion that a mission is two years of dreadful hard work solely in the service of the Lord.

[jay santos]

I got really good at ping pong on my mission.

[Clark Addison]

I got really good at ping pong on my mission.

Me too! Every chapel had a ping pong table, and we would play a lot. Also, there were stone ping pong tables everywhere, with kids playing pick-up games. I would always carry around my paddle and join in games. It was a great way for kids to see us as human and cool, and not as those guys that were trying to recruit the young girls for sex.

[Coach McGuirk]

[CardiacCoug]

I got really good at ping pong on my mission.

I was able to solve a Rubik's cube in less than a minute by the end of the mission.

30 minutes of basketball a day would have been awesome on the mission -- I would have definitely gone for that, and I think that's within the rules.

[Jacob]

I was able to solve a Rubik's cube in less than a minute by the end of the mission.

30 minutes of basketball a day would have been awesome on the mission -- I would have definitely gone for that, and I think that's within the rules.

I would have loved 30 minutes a week.

[Jacob]

. Almost as if, although they like to point out hypocrisies in BYU players, they have a vested interest in preserving the notion that a mission is two years of dreadful hard work solely in the service of the Lord.

Or they are just being honest.

[Commando]

I was able to solve a Rubik's cube in less than a minute by the end of the mission.

30 minutes of basketball a day would have been awesome on the mission -- I would have definitely gone for that, and I think that's within the rules.

Yeah. Nothing wrong with exercise in the morning. We were allowed to go to the gym and lift until someone's wet blanket comp complained about being forced to go to the gym every morning. He got his complaint heard by accompanying it with complaints about scantily clad women at the gym.

[Drunk Tank]

We were allowed to work out as well, from 530-600am.

[jay santos]

I brought this up with two ALUFs. It was interesting--their first instinct was to defend Hartsock, minimize the amount of practice he got, and scoff at the notion that he could get any better under his regimen. Almost as if, although they like to point out hypocrisies in BYU players, they have a vested interest in preserving the notion that a mission is two years of dreadful hard work solely in the service of the Lord.

If I heard he was playing basketball every afternoon for three hours somewhere where it was competitive ball with D1 level players, I would love it. It would mean BYU athletes actually had a chance to improve not regress during their mission years. And it would be a great chance to watch ALUF's freak out about BYU/church hypocrisy.

But 5:30 - 6:00 am half court with missionary companions? How is this an issue, and how is the pro-BYU/mission reaction here interesting or noteworthy?

[Art Vandelay]

The best basketball I played my whole life, both collectively and individually, was on my mission. As strict as my first MP was he let us play full-court ball and since we had such a small geographic mission we would get together for full day Zone vs. Zone competitions. There were several times we would have 6 or 7 guys on the floor who played college ball before their mission.

I also may or may not of spent more than one evening going to a popular outdoor court in suburban DC and playing pick-up games after dark (it was safer than tracting) with my favorite companion.

[Non Sequitur]

I was on a missionary team that played against local club teams. We played in an arena in front of crowds. It brought attention to the missionary program and we got lots of referrals through it.

[Katy Lied]

I was on a missionary team that played against local club teams. We played in an arena in front of crowds. It brought attention to the missionary program and we got lots of referrals through it.

My husband did the same thing. I wonder if you were in his mission.

[Non Sequitur]

My husband did the same thing. I wonder if you were in his mission.

I was in Ecuador. The country where -- as SU will attest -- testimonies go to die.

[Commando]

I was on a missionary team that played against local club teams. We played in an arena in front of crowds. It brought attention to the missionary program and we got lots of referrals through it.

+1. They even let me play. I didn't have b-ball shorts, so I rocked some Guatemalan tipica shorts, which got big LOLZ from the locals.