From as early as i can remember i have been a dedicated fan of the Utah Jazz. As a kid i played on a Jr. Jazz team. I remember going to games at the old Salt Palace. I meticulously maintained the quality of my John Crotty, Mark Eaton, Delany Rudd, and Blue Edwards basketball cards. I was there when the Jazz eliminated Mutumbo and the upstart Nuggets from the playoffs. I watched as the Jazz beat MJ and the Bulls in triple overtime. I think i have heard Marv Albert say "Yes, Yes, John Stockton sends the Utah Jazz to the NBA finals" at least 1,000 times. Durning the late 90's i looked forward to the annual sweep of Kobe, Shaq, and the Lakers.
I have giggled with joy as i have watched Deron Williams cross-over a multiplicity of defenders. I have yet to receive an acceptable answer to the question "Why has Jerry Sloan never won the Coach of the Year Award?"
I watched as John and Karl were named Co-MVP's of the All-Star game in SLC.I have enjoyed listening to Hot-Rod call numerous games. There is something soothing about the the sound of: "...hippety-hops left goes right, pulls up for the 15-foot jumper, and with a gently push and a mild arc the cow-hide-globe hits home." I tried to become a 90% free-throw shooter just by wiping the side of my face twice before each shot (just for clarity, it did not work). On the other side of the coin, i can still hear my brother Andy scream
"KARL WATCH OUT...KARL!!!" just before MJ steals the ball only to finish off the jazz with a cold-blooded jumper over Bryon Russell. I am still amazed that the Jazz we unable to win a championship during Jordan's Baseball "Career." Over the last 7 years i look forward to hearing my friend Jeff rattle off the 5-10 draft picks that the Jazz passed on only to pick up Deshawn Stevenson, Raul Lopez, Kris Humphries, Curtis Borchardt or Kirk Snyder. Just to name a few that we missed: J.R. Smith, Kevin Martin, Boris Diaw, Josh Howard, Leandro Barbosa, Rodger Mason, and Luis Scola. I have suffered as i have watched talented free-agents go to other teams because hardly anyone wants to come play in SLC. To put it simply i have seen/experienced/felt the highs and lows of Jazz Fandom.
However, recently it has become too much. Over the last month i have watched as the Jazz have looked like my 4th grade Jr. Jazz team. Coughing up 20+ point leads, losing to Minnesota at home, losing to any capable team on the road. But it is not just the losing, it is that they do it such painful ways. The net result is....I am done! I can't do it. I can't keep watching a team that i think should be in the western conference finals, play like a team that deserves a lottery pick. Now this is not a permanent change. I will try again next year, but for now it has become more than i can bear.
So i have picked a new team....The Clevland Cavaliers.
Hey if i am going to cheer for team i may as well pick a winner. They have the best record in the NBA, they have Lebron, they play defense, the have Lebron, they have sweet throwback jerseys, they have Lebron. But thats not all they have al lot in common with the Jazz. During their best years in the 90's they were beat two years in a row by Jordan and the Bulls. They have a long history of players that painfully tan-free. So untill next year....Goodbye John Stockton, Karl Malone and Jeff Horneck - and Hello Mark Price, Brad Daughtry, and Craig Ehlo. Goodbye Boozer, Memo and Deron - and Hello Lebron, Mo, and Big Z. WE ARE ALL WITNESSES!
