Latter-day Saint families are focus of NBA team promotion
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
OAKLAND, CALIF.
In an effort to increase attendance, the National Basketball Association's Golden State Warriors wanted to know how they could draw Latter-day Saint families and their friends to a game. Some Church leaders wanted to know how a gathering at a sports arena could benefit the Church. Both groups knew that it had to be about more than just basketball. It turned out to be an evening for families on Friday, Feb. 19.
Full-time missionaries sang the National Anthem. Retired Warriors player and coach Alvin "Al" Attles received a framed copy of his family tree from the Church. LDS boys played in a scrimmage at halftime. Church member Thurl Bailey, a former Utah Jazz player, spoke after the game. And 14 individual stakes and wards were recognized on the Jumbotron under the title "LDS Family Night," organized by the Church's Oakland/San Francisco Public Affairs Council.
The council also presented a fireside the next night with Brother Bailey as the featured speaker.
The evening was a big success for the NBA team. John Beaven, the Warriors' director of group sales said, "The response we received was tremendous. The LDS group was 3,000 strong, easily our largest group night of the season."
Church members were abuzz with excitement from the moment they set foot in the arena for the game.
A small group of security staff paused to gaze at a confident, clean-cut group of 28 elders and sisters from the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission as they walked down the entrance ramp to enter the arena for their sound check. One staff member finally asked, "Who were those people?" A nearby Church official, with tears in her eyes, responded, "Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are here to sing our National Anthem".
Meanwhile, 11-year-old boys from northern California stakes donned "LDS Warriors" t-shirts as they high-fived NBA players before the game and prepared to play a scrimmage at halftime.
Hundreds of people sat with their wards and stakes and nearly filled the entire upper bowl of the arena. Polynesians Saints led the way with over 1,000 attendees. Even though the majority of the Tongan and Samoan members had never attended a professional basketball game, they understood that they were at the game to help represent the Church. Their attendance was such a surprise to the Warriors event staff that they were invited by the Warriors to organize a Polynesian Heritage Night next season.
Brother Bailey presented a personalized family tree to Al Attles, just before tip-off. A zoom-in shot of the framed gift was featured on the Jumbotron and the crowd was invited to visit the concourse to learn more about the gift and how they could explore their own personal history. A 9-by-15 foot display featured large photos of the Oakland Regional Family History Center, Oakland California Temple Visitors Center and a photo of President Barack Obama receiving his family history from President Thomas S. Monson. Volunteers from the family history center were available to answer questions and handed out brochures.
After the game, Bob Fitzgerald, play-by-play announcer for the Warriors, sat down with Brother Bailey at courtside before a crowd of 1,000 to interview him about his career. He opened with a question Brother Bailey's experience playing for coach Jim Valvano on the 1983 NCAA national champion North Carolina State Wolfpack team. Brother Bailey said he will never forget the experience of being part of a winning team and the life lessons that coach Valvano taught about focusing on family and religion before sports. Brother Bailey also gave a preview of the fireside he would deliver the next evening at the Oakland Interstake Center. He encouraged youth to focus on good morals and values and said they're important for everyone no matter what background they come from.
The success of the event was indicated during the post-game wrap-up on the Warriors' flagship radio station KNBR 680. Commentator Damon Bruce talked for several minutes about how impressive the Church's attendance was. He spoke of how much excitement the Church brought to the arena and helped ease the pain of the Warriors' 100-89 loss to the Utah Jazz. He said the Church should come to games more often.
With all the excitement and buzz about record-breaking attendance, staff from the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's at the game paid close attention. The Oakland/San Francisco Public Affairs Council will continue to partner with local sports teams to positively promote the church through LDS events. It's about family, fun and fellowship. Each venue provides a unique opportunity to highlight how the Church is involved in the community – whether through a family history spotlight, a special LDS guest speaker, LDS entertainer or simply the presence of missionaries.
Before the LDS event, many from the Warriors organization and fan base knew little about the Church. After the event, the Warriors community could better understand that family is important to Church members and that they value gathering to have fun.
The next night, Brother Bailey, who is part of the Utah Jazz broadcast team, presented a fireside at the Oakland Interstake Center on "What Matters Most".
The fireside was an opportunity for Church members to invite their friends to hear his story of how he became an NBA player and a convert to the Church. About 750 people attended. Afterward, the crowd was invited to move on the Oakland California Temple grounds from the Interstake Center to the visitors center to meet Brother Bailey personally. While people waited in line to greet him, they were offered tours of the center by sister missionaries. Brother Bailey stayed for two hours to talk to people, sign autographs and have pictures taken.
Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants staff members attended the fireside along with local journalists, civic leaders and other friends of the church. Some of the attendees were invited to the family history center for a brief tour before the fireside and were invited back to explore their personal history.
Both the fireside and the post-fireside reception gave many people the opportunity to learn that Oakland Temple Hill is accessible to the public. Many commented on the beautiful surroundings and serenity that was felt there.
The fireside began with a rendition of "More Holiness Give Me" sung by full-time elders and sisters from the Oakland/San Francisco mission who had sung the National Anthem at the Warriors game.
Brother Bailey, a popular singer, opened with an a capella version of his song "All The While," a testimony of his personal journey to find Christ and His gospel. The peace and spiritual atmosphere of the room continued as Brother Bailey shared his unique life experiences. He told the audience to think about how we're not that different from each other. He said that we all will ask or be asked the questions,"Where did we come from? Why are we here? And Where are we going?" at some point in our lives.
He delighted the audience with several stories from his youth and basketball career and closed with how he eventually was baptized. He explained that when he was alone in Italy playing professional basketball it was hard to wait for his wife, Sindi, to come join him. He decided that while he waited for 60 days he wanted the missionaries to meet with him.
Initially, he just wanted other people who spoke English to visit with him and thought that when his wife arrived, he wouldn't need the missionaries to come over anymore. Before Sindi arrived, he changed his mind and decided to listen to the discussions.
After a visit from the Italy Milan Mission president, his concerns about the gospel were resolved and he felt the spirit prompt him to be baptized. His wife knew when he called her on the phone and she could only hear him sobbing that he must have decided to be baptized.
It was a wonderful experience for him, his wife and his family. He spoke of their struggles and of their triumphs. He inspired many to have the courage to pursue their dreams. He left many thinking more about the Church and their own journey.
Church members left the fireside with a positive boost to have the resolve to continue to share the gospel with their friends and family. Missionaries found new ways to invite people to come learn about the gospel. Missionary contacts were easier to make when they could open conversations with a story about a former NBA player who joined the church.
The mission and public affairs council will continue to team up to offer more joint events that involve sports and firesides over the next year.
