Meet
True Fans Only
Posted by: Josh Thompson on November 14th, 2010
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.There’s not a single Jazz fan out there that’s not excited about the road trip the Jazz just wrapped up. Beating the Heat followed by a solid win against the Magic was euphoric. We then saw them come back again. . .and again.
The question is though, how many of you picked the Jazz to win all four of those games? I’ll be the first to admit, I did not. Is there is anybody out there who really truly picked the Jazz to win all four of those games? Of course we all hoped that they would, but to really really believe that they would pull it off. . .you would be hard pressed to find a Jazz fan that did. If you are one of those fans, my hat is off to you.
It’s made me question myself, does a true fan EVER pick against their team? There are degrees of fanhood of course, but ultimately what does it take to reach the level of a black belt fan? Is there really ever a good reason to pick against the Jazz?
I have a coworker who has a level of fanhood for a team that I currently can only wish for. I don’t want to stray too much from the Jazz, but he is a fan of the Utah State football team. If you’re not familiar with USU’s recent successes (or lack thereof) let me explain: The USU football team is consistently AWFUL. They’ve been featured on ESPN’s Bottom 10 many times. This coworker is fully aware of their history. He is an expert about USU football because he follows them religiously. Every year though, he tells me that the Aggies will be bowl eligible. It’s an incredible phenomenon. Knowing what he knows he STILL thinks they will make it to a bowl game.
That’s the kind of Jazz fan I would like to be. I want to be able to pick them to beat the Heat and the Magic on consecutive nights. I want to pick them to beat the Lakers in LA this year. I want to pick them to finish first in the conference and I want to pick them as NBA CHAMPS!
Too many of us are scared of investing in a relationship with them. We’re afraid of getting hurt. We don’t set our expectations too high because we don’t want to have to deal with a broken heart and disappointment. We settle for our usual playoff appearance and call it good. This is no way to be a true fan and no way to live life.
So this is a call to all those who want to join up and be TRUE BLUE JAZZ FANS! Let’s expect greater things from our Jazz team. Let us never pick against our team! This weekend has shown us that they are capable of virtually anything.
I made some predictions at the first of the year. I am going to amend them now. The Jazz will be crowned as NBA champions this year. When this happens I’ll be able to look back and say with all the other true fans and say, “I knew it.”
Replies: 11
Views: 901
11 Responses
I get what you are saying but if you walk around saying they will win every game you end up looking like the boy who cried wolf. Sometimes you have to look at things realistically. Seriously, If the Jazz did not just pull of these amazing wins, I am not so sure you come out with a post like this. Nice thought though. This year, with the talent on this team, and their resilience I do think they can beat anyone, including the hated Lakers in LA.
Interesting post. I definitely think the Jazz could win a Championship with this team I’m not ready for the bold prediction. Its easy to make predictions when we’re winning. I enjoyed the post and your enthusiasm.
Josh,
Great words Josh, and i think you make a really great point. Being the son of a Jazz fan, i inherited this team by default but it soon grew into passion. I also live in NYC and have been here for over 13 years. Let me tell you Josh, i’m the only guy wearing Jazz gear in this city of millions. I pay a ridiculous amount to see the Jazz play against the Knicks and am heckled right as i set foot into MSG.
With my (ah-hem) qualifications aside, when this season first started and we went down two games, i was bracing myself for more pain, agony and torture. The team looked anemic and deficient and D Will looked so frustrated. Now fuse this together with my ambivalence about the NBA in general, big market teams and corruption on the executive level, I found myself needing serious re-examination. It’s like a guy who gets his ass kicked by someone twice his size because he took his wallet. Then i realize i am obsessed with trying to take the wallet, so the cycle just spins and spins…i digress.
Sorry. I’m tired and that was a awful analogy. Cut to the chase Damien. When the Jazz beat Miami, i was so happy to see that team of bloated ego and money slowly deflate! Now, when they beat Orlando, i was like, “Holy Cow”!! Back to back games. That was the game, against Orlando, where i doubted. When they went to play Atlanta, at the beginning of the game i texted my friends who were at the game “Jazz by 7″. As the game progressed, i found myself overcome with something. A certain confidence, not quite a swagger, but a faith of sorts. A belief that the tides had changed. As the fourth quarter started, texts flew at me from down south. Heckling and full of sarcasm..”What’s happening to your boys?”. I was steadfast in my response. “Jazz by 7″. Though i didn’t get the exact spread ( they won by 4), something felt different. I saw it in the team and it resonated within me. When they played the Bobcats, i was steadfast in the victory. Of course i nearly broke my coffee table when D-Will scored the last shot, it was out of excitement, out of KNOWING.
Josh, did i think they would have a perfect road trip? Nope. Yet you are right on the money. The thing that is missing is what you address. We can look at stats, the probability of outcomes and educated scenarios, but when you BELIEVE in something, there is no room for intellect, spreads, stat sheets or superstars. Save that for your brain. Belief comes from the heart. Belief is simple, like Forrest Gump simple. For the past few years i’ve been using my brain too much. Keep it simple. I join you Josh and ask all Jazz fan to rise and join together. From the heart, simple and sweet. The jazz go all the way this season and win their first championship. GO JAZZ!!!
Being delusional or ultra biased doesn’t make u any more of a fan than anyone else… I too didn’t pick the jazz to sweep the road trip. In fact. I figured if they split it it would be a success.
So let me submit this: I think the truest form of fan are the realistic kinds. They aren’t negative… They aren’t pesamistic… They just call things how they see it! So who is more loyal? The fan that truly believes that we will win 70 games. That thinks we’ll win the championship? That thinks that everyone on our roster is the best at that position? OR… The fan that Is objective. That can admit that we have some major holes on offense, that knows our defense kinda sucks right now, that can see that our chances of taking the championship this year is slim and so on BUT continues to support them day in and day out. That despite knowing all their faults will stand behind them no matter what?… I think that the latter is the TRUE FAN!
Love the optimism Josh…good advice!
I won’t predict a championship this year. There is still growth to be had. That’s not to say that I don’t think it could happen, or that I hope it happens.
My prediction for this year, though, is this:
The Jazz will NOT get beat out of the playoffs by the Lakers.
beautiful prediction KCJones. :] and the part about committing Josh, that hit me like a Dr. Phil truth. I would like to pledge my belief in our team. And go with KC on the fact that WE WILL NOT FALL TO THE LAKERS THIS YEAR!
I have commitment issues too…scared of getting hurt and having another dagger thrust into my Jazz heart by the likes of Michael Jordan. But I keep coming back, year after year, hoping this will be that year when we defy even my expectations but if you want my real prediction here it is: The only team in the West that can beat the Jazz the way they play in a 7 game series is the Lakers and if we can get past them we are finals bound but the teams in the East present problems but I’d love to see us back in the finals while Kobe is home crying.
Thanks for the responses everybody! I think that Damien said it better than I did, “We can look at stats, the probability of outcomes and educated scenarios, but when you BELIEVE in something, there is no room for intellect, spreads, stat sheets or superstars.” My brain still tells me that the Jazz might not do all the things that I’ve said. Having said that, and having seen what they did this past week, the question still remains – is it ever ok to pick against them? They will not go through the rest of the season undefeated – but which games do you pick them to lose? You can’t really pick any of them. It is quite the quandary
I mean sometimes I look at the schedule like in January, five road games and then a back to back playing the Spurs at home, or February when we’re on the road and then come home to play Boston, and think they might be too “tired” to win the home games after that… but after last week, I don’t think they get tired. I don’t think any fan is safe to bet against a team like the Jazz…
Love it, Lowery. Never bet against the Jazz. Great post,Josh! Also, thank you for having a beard!