OUCH! First Game, First Loss

That is not the way I had hoped that the Utah Jazz would begin the 2009-2010 season - with a loss. And not just a loss, but with a lead for most of the game and a loss in the fourth quarter. That has happened all too many times in Jazz history and I really am hoping that this year will be different. It hasn't started out that way though with the team letting Denver outscore them 32-25 and outrebound them 15-11 in the final quarter. It was a scare to see Okur go down after only 14 seconds of play with what appeared to be a twisted ankle. He left the game for a time but returned and played although he was limping a bit. He finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Thankfully, he appears to be o.k. We can't really afford to lose anyone else to injury for quite a while. The Jazz have their home opener tomorrow night against the Clippers. Let's hope for a better outcome. WE WANT A WINNING SEASON!!

Last Day Of Preseason

Tomorrow starts the 82 game season for the Utah Jazz and I couldn't be happer. I so enjoy building a nice fire in the fireplace and settling down to cheer the team on. I am a bit nervous as we start this season because of early injury problems but I am hoping that our players will step up and play their hearts out each and every game. That is, after all, what they are getting paid a lot of money to do. I'm encouraged by the solid preseason play of the team and would like to think that they will continue those efforts into the regular season. According to Jerry Sloan, players will be heading back to the bench for some unwanted rest if they do not play good defense. One thing for sure, I'll be in position and ready for the first tip off of the new season.

I'm Concerned

Here we are almost at the tail end of preseason and so far the Jazz have made a pretty good showing. They have won most of their preseason games and looked fairly sharp doing so. However the concern is once again, health issues. We are due to start the regular season this week and already we'll be short handed. Kyle Korver will have to undergo surgery on his knee this week and will be out of action for a while. Meanwhile C.J. Miles is still recovering from the surgery on his ruptured thumb and Ronnie Brewer has been suffering from back spasms. To add to the mixture, Ronnie Price has missed four games due to a strained hamstring. This is worrisome indeed because it is all to reminiscent of last year and our continual long list of injured players. We would love to start a season with a healthy team and be able to have them stay that way for a while. Wednesday night we'll be starting the 82 regular season game in Denver. Here's hoping!!

So Few Are So Humble

It was so refreshing to hear the words of John Stockton as he accepted his induction into the basketball hall of fame last week. While other athletes go on and on about how great they are and their own wonderful achievements, this humble yet ultra talented guy gave praise to almost everyone else but himself in his speech. He credited his great coach and his awesome teammates and just about everyone else and said that he was never the best player on any team he had ever played on! Can you imagine this being said by the man who holds some basketball records that may never be matched? He is truly an inspiration to the sport. Jerry Sloan was also a model of humility in his acceptance speech. Oh, that there could be more of their ilk.

Great Things Are Happening

I've been remiss about keeping this blog current lately and I don't really have a good excuse except that during the summertime there isn't a lot going on in the basketball world. Things are beginning to change in that respect, however. This big news this week has to do with the induction of Jerry Sloan along with John Stockton to the Basketball Hall of Fame. I am thrilled about this honor that both Jerry and John are so deserving of getting. Both of them are humble, understated guys who perform extremely well in their chosen field.
The years of Stockton-Malone were awesome for the fans of the Utah Jazz. They were a consistent, fierce, highly competitive duo that gave all they had. You didn't see them missing games because of a bruised muscle or a strained ligament. Those guys came to play each and every time they stepped on the floor. I'm thinking that there's a very good chance we may never see their likes again. As for Jerry, yes he can be a bit crusty at times and has a mouth that can make most anyone blush if they're sitting very nearby and yet he has been and continues to be a great coach for the team. He is as consistent in his own way as Karl and John were in there's. Congratulations and well done to two of the best in the sport.

82 days to go!

The schedule has been released and says that the Jazz will play their first regular season game on October 29 - only 82 days from now! I am excited about that as it is one of my favorite past times during the winter months. What could be better than curling up in front of a roaring fire on a cold winter evening to watch a couple of hours of Jazz basketball. Awesome.

Where Will Boozer Go?

Reading the sports news is interesting lately - there's a lot of talk about Boozer - mostly by himself. It seems all the sweet talk he did about Chicago has had no effect thus far and even Miami, the city he call paradise and says that he'd LOVE to play in has given him no encouraging signs. In fact, Pat Riley (the General Manager) said he feels very uncomfortable with the remarks made by Boozer and that he hasn't been seriously considered at all. Interesting......