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Through tough times, true Jazz fans see a bright future
Posted by: Kaleb on June 29th, 2011
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.I don’t live in Utah, but I have some family there and was visiting last weekend. I had an interesting experience. I noticed that one of my cousins, whose family is full of Jazz fans, had his keys on a LA Lakers keychain. I asked, “How can you live this close to the Jazz and be a Lakers fan?” His response? “Well, I used to be a Jazz fan, but I got irritated with the whole not-winning thing, so I became a Lakers fan.” He added that this was in the days of the Shaq/Kobe tandum, which also told me that it was in the days of seemingly never-ending championships.
This is something that Jazz fans have to deal with. As good as we have been in the history of the franchise, the back-to-back-to-back-to-back playoff appearances and the perennially contending teams, we have zero titles to the name of the Jazz. It would be so easy to ditch the small-market hometown team for the bright lights of the big-market franchises.
If ever there was a time that the Jazz would lose fans, it was last season. Mid-season we lost our rock and our guide for 20+ years when Jerry Sloan stepped down unexpectedly. Shortly thereafter, we lost our star point guard in a trade for a veteran, less talented point guard, an unproven rookie, and some draft picks. The rest of the season tailspun and we limped into the first losing season in quite a long time. The Jazz scene after these events seemed desolate. If ever there was a time to bail on the franchise, it was then (and I’m sure some people did).
Now, after the 2011 NBA draft, I feel like the Utah Jazz have turned a corner on the way back from their short vacation from respectability. It’s hard to believe that Tyrone Corbin, a l0ng-time student of Sloan, won’t have success coaching in this league. We are collecting some pieces to a brand-new championship-contending roster. While some teams (particularly the big-market franchises) are constructed to win now, the Jazz are building themselves up to win in the future.
When I think of the future of the Jazz, I see visions of what could be. Devin Harris driving the lane, drawing defenders and kicking it out to Hayward for the open 3. Derrick Favors anchoring the defense and Al Jefferson blocking shots like the beast that he is. In an ideal world, I see nearly never-ending Early-Oops (pending on the availability of Earl, that is) and Paul Millsap as an annual contender for Sixth Man of the Year. Yes, through tough times, true Jazz fans (like the ones I suspect are reading this post) see a bright future.
Replies: 6
Views: 481
6 Responses
Oh, yeah. Bright Future, very much so indeed. I for one am not a band wagon fan. I can prove it. Ever since I have watched professional Basketball I have been a Jazz Fan. As long as I can remember, I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan. Thick and thin, bad and the good, rain and snow and falling roofs and everything. Kind of made me sick to go to the Lakers game last yr to see more gold jerseys than Blue Green or White ones. I dont know who will be on the court at the start of the season for sure, but I do know that I will be watching, cheering, and hoping that this yr will finally be the yr we win a ring.
I totaly agree with you. but some peple love to be on the band wagon when you win, but when you loose it is a lonesome place. These fans are not Jazz fans and we don’t need them, they are fans of who ever is winning and jump from team to team according to the won lost record.
Yes, I am certainly not a band wagon fan either. Ever since I can remember I have been a Jazz fan as well as a Tennessee Titans fan. Great teams with a combined number of championships equalling 0. But the day will come!
agree 100% with all of you. the only thing that bugs me more than Lakers bandwagoners in utah, is all the Miami fans, but its a near draw. i HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE BANWAGON FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now that i got that off of my chest, we’ll be the ones celebrating in june next year, and not Lebron, Kobe, Melo, Dwight, Dwayne, Niholson, Amar’e, etc.
****BANDWAGON****
Patrick I won’t lie, our view on what’s best for the jazz isn’t always the same but you are officially kick @$$ now. I’m true blue through and through since birth. The Cowboys ARE football! I am way past ready for some football, me and you had a rough 2010-11 for sports, to say the least. Here’s to a 2011-12 full of w’s for the jazz and the Cowboys!