Sweet Music 11:34 AM

The first rule of streaks: you don't talk about streaks! At the risk of messing up the mojo, the following presentation is a Utah Jazz work of art. Why do I watch the NBA? Why do I like the Jazz? I submit exhibits "a" and "b".

King Quote 10:59 PM

In the twilight of their careers (if there ever was such a thing), Stockton and Malone's coming-down-mountain Jazz met the trekking-up-the-hill Sacramento Kings in several epic battles. The comparative color schemes contrasted with the on-court style - chest-passing Stockton against no-looking turnover "White Chocolate" Jason Williams; "Crybaby" (my nickname) Chris Webber vs. Stoic Karl Malone; White and Pasty Greg Ostertag vs. "The Terrorist" (FBI search warning!) Vlade Divac. Divac in particular had mastered drawing the offensive foul and looking like every bad guy in every single 80s military themed movie. "Pack a Day" Divac always looked like he had just wired explosives to a bus and demanded 5 million dollars.

But underneath the permanent five o'clock shadow, Divac is a class act. With regards to never winning a championship (like Stockton and Malone), Divac said this.

"People here [in America] are making a big deal about ring or no ring. I was playing against the Lakers and I remember someone [in the crowd] shouted, 'How many rings you got?' I told him one. He looked at me [funny], so I said, 'I got one in '89 when I got married, I got a ring from my wife.' That's the most important thing."

My next child will still not be named "Vlade."

Class Dismissed 3:24 PM

Two years ago (has it been that long?), about this time, I was enamored with an undersized Utah Jazz guard. He played like he spoke, with passion and class. Sadly, the gaudy purple and gold of Los Angeles can turn even Fine Derek Fisher into Douchy Derek Fisher.



Fisher later explained he was going to run through the pick and couldn't stop himself once he started going. Unfortunately for the Douchy Deuce (since he wears number 2, get it?), his dome got injured when he lifted it into Luis Scola's chin.


P.S. Dig Yao's Middle-school fu-manchu.

Hall of Fame 4:45 PM

Already in my Hall of Fame, John Stockton is officially part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.



The story of Stockton's career- he will be inducted alongside / overshadowed by Michael Jordan. It was good to see him again. He looks like he could average 10 points and 5 assists as a 47 year old.

Don't Believe in Twitter 11:51 PM

As it turns out, Twitter KyleKorver is not the real life Kyle Korver. Please disregard the excitement of the previous post.

I feel used.

Palm face.

Believe in Twitter (part 2) 2:32 PM

Here is my exclusive twitterview (twitter interview) with Utah Jazz Shooting Guard Kyle Korver (or someone claiming to be him).


Jason: @KyleKorver - teach me to shoot like you! Who do you like in the tournament?
Kyle Korver: @jasontbrown Memphis
Jason: @KyleKorver when you guys travel on the road, do you have roommates? If so, who do you end up with?
Kyle Korver: @jasontbrown When we do it's usually with Harpring
KyleKorver: I need to starting getting ready for tonight. I will stay on for 5 more minutes.
Jason: @KyleKorver thanks for the impromptu inside access - good luck tonight


(this is as big as I could get the screen capture - sorry)

Believe in Twitter 1:35 PM

I ran into a great story on an NBA blog I follow. check it out.

Whenever a celebrity has a blog, or a Twitter feed, or even writes a column -- you have to wonder: Is this really the celebrity writing?

Shaquille O'Neal's Twitter feed has been vouched for every which way. But that didn't stop Phoenix's Jesse Bearden from doubting. It was something he and his friend Sean had debated many times. Jesse writes about what happened next on his blog a Foot and a Half.

"You realize that 'The Real Shaq' is probably a 5-4, white, 14-year-old emo kid who's getting his jollies from the attention, right?" I asked him.

"I don't know. I think it's really him"

Today Sean and I were discussing rumored trade situations over IM, and the possibility of Shaq being traded to Cleveland.

"Well, I just got a twitter from The Real Shaq, and he's at 5 & Diner right now," Sean informed me.

"Let's go then" I said, assuming that I'd finally put this "Real Shaq" crap to rest.

Twenty minutes later we were pulling up to the restaurant and looking for the big black truck that he's rumored to drive around town. "Maybe that's it" Sean said, pointing at an older, but nice van and laughing. As we pulled up I saw the Superman symbol on the grill.

Maybe that is it?

We went in, and to my surprise the MDE (Most Dominant Ever) was sitting in the corner booth by himself. We gave the man a nod and "Hey" as we walked to our table and were soon whispering back and forth like 12-year-old girls at the seventh grade dance.

"You go talk to him" I said, while tugging nervously on my dress.

"No, you go talk to him" Sean replied while flipping his hair.

We placed our order, and spent 10 minutes trying to work up the sack to go say something.

"Should I tell him I'm glad he's sticking around?"

"Go tell him you're his twitter buddy."

"Should I ask for a picture?"

Given another two or three years, I'm sure we would have worked up the nerve to go talk to him, but before that could happen Sean's iPhone buzzed with a "tweet" from Shaq.

I feel twitterers around me, r there any twitterers in 5 n diner wit me, say somethin

[Editor's note: You can see this on Shaq's Twitter feed right now.]

"Hey" Sean said, with a slight bit of confidence.

Returning to our hushed whispers I asked Sean, "Should we go talk to him now?"
"I don't know, should we?"

"Yes, you should" a very deep voice entered our conversation from two booths over.

We quickly hopped up and rushed over like like two eight-year-olds who had just heard the ice cream truck pass by.

The rest of the story goes just like you'd like it to. O'Neal was extremely gracious, and a little gadget-oriented. He tipped about 6,000%, and everyone went home happy. Worth reading the whole thing.

And by all means doubt all kinds of things. But I, for one, will never again doubt the authenticity of Shaquille O'Neal's Twitter feed.

Believe in Twitter 1:35 PM

I ran into a great story on an NBA blog I follow.

NBA = JOB? 12:53 PM

I have been conflicted in my support for professional sports in general lately, given that people are losing jobs at an alarming rate while we pay people exorbitant amounts of money to catch and throw balls. An NBA franchise, however, is doing something about the receding economy, by not only offering fans free tickets, but also access to a career fair and a job bank for merely submitting an application.

From the article: "Unemployed fans who submit resumes to the Nets Job Bank will receive up to four free tickets, plus access to a career fair at the Izod Center on Nov. 22, Nets team president and chief executive Brett Yormark announced Tuesday."

Good to see a professional sports franchise investing in a local economy beyond "civic pride." In an era where taxpayers foot the bill for billion dollar stadiums and arenas they will never enjoy to the fullest, it is refreshing to see a franchise with a sense of civic responsibility.

Go Nets!

New School is Old School 12:37 AM

It has been hard to get excited about the upcoming NBA season - economy in the ditch, pending student loan payments, cheering for millionaires while selecting from the dollar menu. Nonetheless, the NBA season is nearly upon us, and my beloved Utah Jazz are picked by at least one (exactly one) analyst to play in the NBA Finals. In preparation for their title run, the Jazz have ditched the 80s color bleed and reintroduced a recolored music note / basketball / "J" logo I fell in love with those years ago.

Check it out.

In.














Out.

I am not a Mormon. I am not from Utah. 7:26 PM

When the actual question comes varies. Sometimes it's when people see me sporting the shorts (home whites and away blues! - thanks Ebay!) or when they spot the action figures. Since I don't take my action figures to class (most of the time), the question comes when people see my laptop wallpaper.

Regardless of when it comes, it always comes the same way. People sort of scrunch up their face and cock their head and say something to the effect of "the Utah Jazz?! Why the Jazz?"

Let me put some things to rest before we delve into the greatness of the Utah Jazz. I am neither a Mormon, nor am I from Utah. (though I have been there with my super awesome wife who got me INCREDIBLE tickets for Christmas! - yay Jesus!)

I'm not sure exactly when it was - sometime in middle school - but I remember flipping on the TV and watching the beauty of the Jazz. I was instantly hooked, with alot of credit going to the man-made moxie that motored the team.

The Jazz offense is artwork in motion. It is five guys committed to a common cause - each moving with precision and vigor to either get themselves or a teammate open. The Jazz offense is constant cutting and ball movement, with screens and backscreens designed to open up the floor for a layup or an open jumper. DO take your eye off the ball - you'll miss out on how that shooter got so beautifully wide open before draining that pretty j. There are no egos here - everyone is active whether they're pulling the trigger or not.

I could, in this space, deliver to you the playbooks of about 25 of the NBA's 30 teams. Here's a sample:
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Cleveland: Give the ball to LeBron.

Houston: Give the ball to Tracy McGrady. If Tracy covered, pass to Yao Ming. If double team comes, kick ball to open shooter. Rinse. Repeat as necessary.

Orlando (for Jeremiah): Throw up akward shot. Trust Dwight Howard will rebound and slam home.

Washington (for Dana): Give the ball to Gilbert Arenas. Get out of way.
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I have way too many papers to write to delve into the theological and life lessons held in the intricacies the Jazz offense. But if you get a chance to put down whatever you're doing tonight, you should definitely set aside some time to appreciate art tonight at 9:00 against the Golden State Warriors on TNT. If you can't do that, check out some quality video capturing and commentary here.



Other stuff: Saw this coming; how ridiculous is this?; this is pretty cool I guess. This band makes me want to be from California.