The first time I realized there are LDS Church leaders who love and follow sports was a few days after BYU won its first postseason football game. I had covered the 1980 Holiday Bowl, and President Thomas S. Monson, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, sent me a gracious letter. I was surprised he had the time to even read about such things.
Over the ensuing years, I saw him at Utah, BYU and Jazz games and spoke with him on occasion. He was a worldwide church leader, as well as a follower of sports.