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Jazz Fans Ways
Posted by: Diana on June 13th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Oklahoma City has made the Finals and won their first Finals game only fours years into existing in Oklahoma.
I know a lot of Jazz fans LOVE the Thunder. I have never seen any other team elicit so much love from Jazz fans aside from our Jazz. Its something I don’t understand, I as a Jazz fan can’t LOVE any other team. My heart won’t allow it.
I am actually rooting for the Heat. I have always rooted for them when they play other teams. I have family in Miami and its like a second home to me. I am NOT a Heat fan but if I have to chose between the Thunder and the Heat I chose the Heat.
This tweet caught my attention today:
.@sportsguy33 “With the possible exception of Portland, no NBA team (OKC) means more to its city.”http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8047976/thunder-family-values@utahjazz
Do you agree do the Thunder and the Blazers mean more to OKC and Portland than our Utah Jazz mean to us?
I have to disagree with Bill Simmons (it isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time). We have supported our team since they came to Utah over 30 years ago. We have been there through the good times and the bad. OKC has only had their team for four years, only one of those years they didn’t make they didn’t make the playoffs. Where was all the support for the Blazers during the Jail Blazers years?
We may not be where we used to during our finals runs were we were louder than a jet engine but we are still great fans and will continue to be so as our young team grows into contention.
Replies: 20
Views: 1168
20 Responses
As I said on twitter. I don’t understand this new found desire for Jazz fans to feel the need to defend themselves against the praise OKC gets, or the OKC model of building a team, or why Jazz fans like Durant.
At least on twitter it’s kinda starting to feel like a little brother syndrome. OKC gets all the attention lately and we are the sibling crying (hey, don’t forget about us! Look what we can do!)
Why can’t we just like the Jazz as much as as fans of OKC like their team and vice versa? It’s not a competition.
I also don’t think Simmons was making it sound like OKC or Portland have the best fans. He’s just saying he’s been impressed. Even as a Jazz fan I’ve been impressed with OKC’s fans dedication, game demeanor, etc.(Yes, they have a lot to cheer for right now. Hopefully we will too soon).
Its not that Jazz fans are Thunder fans, It’s just that Kevin Durant seems more of a Jazz type player. Low key, hard working, loyal player to a small market franchise. Most Jazz fans can relate to that and so would choose them over a flashy team such as Miami or LA.
Jason- I am so glad you commented. I am not hating on the Thunder fans nor Blazers fan. I just don’t agree with simmons statement that their team means more to those cities than our team means to us.
I have nothing against the Thunder fans. They have been spectacular I have issues with blanket statements of how no team ever has ever supported the team like the Thunder have (ok that was an exaggeration)
John- I see many people tweeting about the Thunder like they love them as much as the Jazz, which is fine I just don’t get it.
I understand the relating to the Thunder more. Maybe I’d root for them against a different team like against the Lakers or when Lebron was in Cleveland.
I don’t like that they were stolen from Seattle. That worries me as a fan of a small market team.
I’m a Jazz fan and always will be, but the Thunder are doing it the right way and I hope they win decisively over the Heat. If the Jazz would have had those two draft picks they would have been closer to the Thunder. The story isn’t over yet. We’ll see what the Jazz do in the “off season”.
I can’t stand the Heat. I hope they get swept..If the heat have success more teams will try what they did. As was mentioned they can’t afford a bench. I hope they never never win. Thunder can thank the Blazers for taking Oden.. There is talk now of moving Kings to Seattle. If that happens Seattle will be in the Northwest Division and probably OKC will be moved to the Southwest. Making that division even tougher..
I typically root against the Thunder….to me, they’re the Boise State of the NBA. And in this NBA championship, its like Boise State is playing Alabama – I can’t ever find it in me to root for Alabama just like I can’t ever find it in me to root for the Heat. I’m just waiting for OKC to win the championship and one of their players propose to their long-time cheerleader girlfriend at half-court afterwards.
OKC is good and most people like to watch them play, but my team first and foremost is the Jazz (and the Utes). I’m as tired of hearing about the ‘OKC Model’ as I was hearing about the Boise State statue of liberty play, and the blue field, and them being the true BCS busters, etc, etc.
I cheered for the Spurs in the WCF because I like Popovich and because I was sick of hearing all the hype about the Thunder. I even surprised myself when I went for the Mavs over OKC in the first round. No matter what happens in the championship, I hope the Jazz take it to the Thunder next year.
I can never root for the teams who buy championships, like the HATED Lakers, the Celtics or the Bulls.
The Heat are trying to “buy” a championship. I hope it fails!
The Spurs tanked and got Duncan, then used good management, not overspending, to get their championships.
Except for the disingenuous Fish Face, I can root for OKC, because the Jazz are out of the playoffs.
Jazzaholic
Wish the kings did go to Seattle, and the west got restructured.
GSW, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Utah
Lakers, Clippers, OKC, Phoenix, Memphis
Lakers have had it easy for way to often; BS Laker schedule: Clippers, @Suns, @Clippers, Bobcats, @Kings, @GSW, @Clippers.
Jazz fans did support the Jazz for the years they were in the playoffs, average attendance was nearly 20,000. However in the non-playoff years the average attendance dropped by nearly 1,000 people a a game. At the games I went to this year there were at least several hundred empty seats if not a thousand. Just because a game is listed as a sell-out does not mean people are in the seats. I am not saying that Jazz fans are not awesome, I’m just saying that fans in other cities can be also. If you truly only root for the Jazz than there is no reason to watch basketball after April the last few years. There is nothing wrong with appreciating another team, the players the coaches etc… I’m pretty sure Jazz coaches, KOC, scouts and others making decisions spend plenty of time observing other teams to see what they can learn to improve their own team and which players might be a good fit here. Jazz fans like OKC because they are the underdogs, small town, players who are not flashy.
I watch basketball for the players and the plays and do not blame the players because the owners did something fishy or unethical. No do I think the referees and David Stern want OKC to win. I have never seen a fan complain about the officials unless their team lost, funny how that works.
Im a Jazz fan plain and simple. When my team isnt playing I root for the team that is playing against the team I dislike most. Any team that knocks the Lakers, Chicago, or Miami out of the playoffs is good by me. The only other teams close to those are portland, and now GSW. Its not that I am rooting for any team, I am actually just rooting for every team that plays one of my Hated teams list.
Why do I dislike these teams. Lakers is a no Brainer. Chicago, falls in that line with one added piece Boozer is on that team. If that dude never earns a ring, I will be happy. Miami, hate everything thinking that just because the dreaded 3 are there, they are a lock to win. So far, noooottttttt. OKC will see to that again this season. Portland, hate people stealing my players. GSW, no tanking team deserves to ever win. Well, that my thoughts. I dont have a second favorite team, but I have several I love to hate.
“Jazz fans like OKC because they are the underdogs, small town, players who are not flashy.”
Tinsel town and the bright lights just make you want to puke. (Laker puke yellow puke)
Players who are nice guys, don’t sell their home team down the drain, jut their jaw, pound their chest should go to the top of everyone’s list.
Jazzaholic
I’m a Jazz fan far and away, but I’m also an NBA fan.
OKC is definitely my number two team although they dropped some when they added Fisher and Perkins. Westbrook I didn’t like at all last year, but he seems to have matured some. Side note: If Westbrook had bright pink long hair that stood straight up he would look exactly like a troll doll.
And since we’re letting the hate flow, here’s my hated teams:
Lakers
Spurs
Miami
Celtics
Portland
Chicago
Golden State (made my list for the first time)
Its basically a list of teams that have been or are in our way for a championship plus Portland and GS for their evil actions.
If OKC outs us from the playoffs three years in a row or something I’m sure I could learn to hate them too.
Teams I like: OKC, Memphis, Phoenix, 76ers, Pacers
@jazzholic, seriously, you cna’t say that OKC is an underdog team ??! just look at their roster, there not underdogs, they probably have one of the most complete and talented roster of the league……. and really better than Miami where Lebron is all alone with the ghost of Wade the overrated and big time loser Bosh and a bunch journey men…..
OKC is the logical favorite, as simple as that
and even if i like Durant, the harden beard, the two french speakers ibaka and sefolosha, i still remember they are the Sonics, and the Sonics are Jazz enemies…….
Logically I hope you’re right.
Emotionally…
The Heat have a championship, with Wade and Shaq, they were in the finals last year and are the most heated story in the league, because of Pat’s recruiting technique and the King James departure/intro.
They certainly have the press clippings to make them the favorites.
I’m not sure what the actual odds were before game one. Anyone know?
At any rate, I hope OKC beats the Heat.
Jazzaholic
@French Dude- I agree with everything you said. I have no idea how people think the Thunder are the underdogs besides the lore of the “Big 3″.
I agree I never loved the Sonics so why should I love the Thunder?
@KC- your list is perfect, I’d add Mavs because of how Dirk treats our players.
The win in OKC would put the Heat back as he “favorite”, with home court advantage, and the Thunder now as as the underdog?
Jazzaholic
Nope, OKC still have a better team, but don’t always win at the end
The Thunder used to be my second favorite team, but when Judas Fisher screwed yet another team over (Houston) and climbed on board the Thunder bandwagon, no doubt hoping to ride their coattails to another championship, they sunk in my estimation.
But as much as i hate him, i can’t fault the Thunder for signing him. If Judas sniffs a championship, he’ll play hard.
I always liked the Sonics, so i kind of always followed the Thunder. I dont think much of Westbrook as a player or a person. He’s arrogant, shoots way too much, usually shoots poorly, and doesnt do a good enough job dishing to Durant.
The media is talking about trading Harden, but I think Westbrook is the most likely candidate to chase a pay check out of the Thunder’s core players.
Still, they remind me of our Jazz, and I always root for the underdogs.
I hope you’re right, but the Heat now have home court advantage and OKC could never return. I’m gussin’ the bookies are favoring the heat.
Judas Fisher, aka, Fish Face…
I love it!!!
Jazzaholic