Shirts or Skins?
So, I’ve had an interesting issue come up twice now and I thought I’d solicit your opinions. In my previous ward, I played basketball quite a bit. At the beginning of one game the referees noticed that the white jerseys we had looked like the other teams white jerseys and thought they would have a difficult time telling the two teams apart (never mind the fact that if there was a dispute, we would be happy to clarify). Their solution was to have our team take off our undershirts and just wear the jersey.
Well, this presented a conundrum to me.
You see, I was wearing garments. I was told when I took out my endowments that I should never wear the garment bottom without the top and vice-versa. Easy solution, right? Take off the top and the bottom.
Not so fast.
I had been giving temple recommend interviews recently and one of the things we were asked to read was about when we should wear the garment. Basically, we shouldn’t take the garment off at a time when it might reasonably be worn.
I felt like the garment could reasonably be worn.
So, I told the refs I wouldn’t take off my undershirt. “Why,” they asked.
“I’m wearing garments”.
“Oh, it’s fine,” said one ref (with whom I had previously served on the high council).
I definitely didn’t feel right about it. I knew I should either refuse to take it off or just go home.
I caved and took off my shirt and my garment top.
I played pretty poorly that game (no surprise) and felt terrible about that decision. I felt like I had caved under pressure and chosen the wrong path. Well, I told myself, if it ever happens again, I’ll know what to do.
It happened again this past Thanksgiving.
My brothers-in-law were playing basketball at a school in the town we were vacationing in. One of them had hurt his foot, so I stepped in and took his place. He had been on the skins team, so I should have taken my shirt off. I realized that I had my garments on. My experience before came flooding back and I felt that nervous tension creep up. Would I explain my dilemma to them? What would they say? I think they were all mormons, so they probably would have understood.
I chose to say nothing.
I donned the jersey they threw me and left my shirts on. They hemmed and hawed uncomfortably until one guy decided to switch to skins.
So, I chose the right. What happened? I played the best basketball of my life. I scored 15 points in the first game (out of 21) and 12 in the second. I stole the ball about half the time and never ran out of breath.
Okay, that’s a lie. I sucked. I did score the first basket in each of the first two games, but that was about it. It’s hard to run in jeans and shoes that are hurting your feet. Plus, we were at high altitude instead of the sea level I’m used to. Plus, I suck at basketball, which was the only real problem.
But, I still did what I felt was right and I felt good about that.
Incidentally, it occurred to me as I’m writing this that the guy who switched from shirts to skins was probably an endowed member. I wonder if he took off his garment top to switch teams.
Shoot!
So, what do you think? Is it okay to take your garment top off when playing basketball?
[poll=2]
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December 6, 2007 3:57 pm
By Charlotte, December 6, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
First of all - Good for you for sticking to your principles m! (Who knew Heidi’s family was such a bad influence?!? J/k:)) Next time the issue comes up, follow standard Church Ball procedure: choke anyone who approaches you and yell at anyone who questions you. Then tell the ref where to go. I’ve seen it done - I know it works!
Second of all - this is a highly personal topic and I’m a little uncomfortable with the idea of a “poll” about it.
And hey, I suck at basketball too!
By Chip (via AmyLynn's blog), December 6, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
Get onesies. No one ever questions me
OK just kidding. Actually anytime I’ve ever had to question the spirit I felt, I always got my immediate answer…. because I was questioning
By m, December 6, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
Good call on the onesies! I loved those! I used to get them four sizes too big because they were so comfy.
By m, December 6, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
That’s exactly what I’ll do Charlotte!
I agree that the idea of whether or not you should do what’s right is highly personal, but that’s not what the poll is. The poll is asking what you think is right, which I think is a fair question, since I’m interested in other people’s input.
Also, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a poll for highly personal questions, as long as I’m not forcing anybody to answer.
By Ailene Hert, December 6, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
The standard set for the garment, is that it should not be removed for activities that can be reasonably performed while wearing the garment. So you’ll likely remove it for showering, swimming, and certain bedroom activities… but basketball can reasonably be played while wearing the garment, so yes, you should wear it.
A suggestion for avoiding this in the future… whenever you get together for a basketball game… if the games are prearranged… have everyone bring one light colored shirt and one dark colored shirt… and then the light colored shirts can be one team and the dark colored shirts can be another team… Would that work?
By Ailene Hert, December 8, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
Actually, I’ve found an easier solution to your problem… just bring this shirt to all of your basketball games… and if you’re ever asked to play on the skins team, wear it…
http://www.brandsonsale.com/ca-008434.html
By Jesse, December 11, 2007 @ 9:25 am
I think you did the right thing. My mission president asked us not to remove our garments for athletic stuff for the same reason that Ailene sited. Funny that you would get pressured about it at church and with family. Those are the hardest places to say no.