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Crazy Utah Jazz Facts From Wikipedia
Posted by: Joey Parker on December 17th, 2010
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.I have, at random times, searched Wikipedia for random questions I have had on the Utah Jazz and Jazz players. It seems that each time I visit Jazz-related pages, I learn something new. I thought it would be fun to visit as many pages as possible and collect some interesting and/or weird Utah Jazz facts. So…that’s what I did! Some of these facts are fairly well known and some are pretty random. I was already aware of about half of these items and the other half were news to me!
On venue issues with the New Orleans Jazz:
Venue issues were a continual problem for the team while in New Orleans. In the Jazz’s first season, when they played in the Loyola University Fieldhouse, the basketball court was raised so high that the players’ association made the team put a net around the court so that players wouldn’t fall off of the court and into the stands.[2] Later, they played games in the Louisiana Superdome, but things were no better; due to high demand for the stadium, onerous lease terms and Maravich’s constant knee problems. For instance, during the 1977–78 season, the Jazz were in the midst of a playoff drive when Mardi Gras festivities forced the team on a month-long road trip. Even if they had made the playoffs that year, they would have been forced to find another place to play in the event of a conflict.[1][3]
Why the Human Highlight Film never suited up for the Jazz:
The 1982 NBA Draft saw the Jazz pick forward Dominique Wilkins, who was reluctant to play for them. Combined with the cash-strapped ownership, this produced another trade to improve cash flow – Atlanta gave up guards John Drew and Freeman Williams, plus $1 million in cash, for the rights to Wilkins.
Which teams have the Jazz played the most in the playoffs?:
The Jazz have not had a natural or fierce rival throughout their history, where each team has been competitive with the other over a long period of time. There have been several teams they have ran into many times in the playoffs, however:
Houston (7) – 1985, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008.
Los Angeles Lakers (6) – 1988, 1997, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2010
Portland (5) – 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000
Interesting fact about the long-term greatness and consistency of the Utah Jazz:
The Jazz are one of only 3 teams to have never lost 60 games in a season. The other teams are the New York Knicks and the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.
Apparently there is a music producer who goes by the stage name “Utah Jazz.” Now THAT is just WEIRD!
Sexy Raja likes his veggies!:
Bell has been a vegetarian since early childhood and appeared on the ballot for PETA’s 2007 “World’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity” poll.[14]
Facts regarding everyone’s favorite 7-foot Dutchman:
Currently Elson is the captain of the Netherlands national basketball team.
Elson is fluent in Dutch, Spanish, and English and maintains an off-season home in Amsterdam.
Gordon could have been the next Pete Sampras if he wasn’t so darn tall!:
His father, Gordon Scott, is 5′10″ (1.78 m), as is his mother Jody. Believing that Gordon Daniel was destined to be average sized, his father, according to Forde, “continually pushed his son to develop a guard’s skill set.”[4] The younger Hayward’s first appearance in the sports pages was not in basketball but in tennis; he and his twin sister Heather were featured in a regional edition of the Indianapolis Star when they played mixed doubles together at the Indiana State Open in 2005.
Does Al Jefferson’s childhood sound eerily similar to another famous Jazz power forward?
While his mother Laura worked as an assistant teacher in Prentice Elementary School, Al’s father was killed in a work-related accident when he was very young, leaving him without the guidance and discipline a father figure provides. He had a strong support system around him – his grandmother, Gladys Jefferson, lived on the same property as Al and his mother, and several other family members lived in the nearby town of Progress. But not having a father in his life allowed Al to find his way into trouble as a boy.
Memo’s family life:
He is married to actress and former Miss Turkey finalist Yeliz Çalışkan. They have a daughter, Melisa, born on March 21, 2007, and a son, Yiğit Mehmet, born on February 19, 2010.
Earl Watson has two chances to make an Olympic team:
Watson’s father is African American and his mother is Mexican American. Because his maternal grandparents were born in Mexico, Watson is eligible to play for the Mexico national basketball team.[2][3]
Deron Williams: Future WWE star?
In elementary school and middle school, Williams won two state wrestling championships. In 1993, as an eight-year-old, he won the 67 lb. weight class Texas State championship. Four years later in 1997, he won the twelve-year-old 116 lb. weight class championship.[2][3]
Another sign of greatness for D-Will:
On April 28, Deron Williams became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and 10 or more assists in five straight games in a playoff series. Williams points/assists through the first five games, in order, were 26/11, 33/14, 24/10, 24/13, and 34/10.[34][35]
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2 Responses
Great post Joey I love to do this when I have a few extra minutes. I often look up former Jazz players to see where they are and what they have been doing. Some succeed after leaving the Jazz but often they are out of the League within a few years.
Great post!