Well, it happened, and we all survived. Jimmer Fredette came to town and left and the Utah Jazz pretty much remained intact. I'll admit, that I don't get what all the hullabaloo was about. If you didn't know that there was going to be some craziness, or fans who only came to the Jazz game to cheer Jimmer, then I'm not sure you've been paying attention. I think we can all agree, that it is probably for the best that the Jazz didn't draft Jimmer, just from all the attention it would have taken away from professional basketball and the Utah Jazz. But for two nights a season, I don't mind a little ridiculous excitement. Everyone comes to professional sporting events for different reasons and no reason is better than another. According to the SLTrib, Alec Burks was a little taken aback by all the commotion.
"I have never seen anything like that. That’s crazy the way he gets that recognition. I thought Jay-Z or someone had walked up, but it was just Jimmer. So it’s crazy."
Gordon Hayward had a similar response*, with one difference. Hayward said, "It's crazy how everyone loves Jimmer. I thought all-star rapper TJ Fredette had walked up, but it was just his little brother Jimmer. It was crazy."
I found this tweet by fellow Jazz fan Dustin Turner interesting:
Besides Dustin being the first Jazz fan I've ever heard claiming to have correctly predicted the Deron Williams trade, I thought the idea behind this particular trade he alludes to was interesting. The trade wouldn't work by just being a swap of Marion and Beaubois for Howard or Miles under the rules of the CBA. But the Mavs could trade Beaubois and Brian Cardinal for Josh Howard as long as the Jazz agreed to take Shawn Marion and his 3 years/$25 million contract into their trade exception in a seperate trade. But even if I don't think the Mavs would make this trade, I do think it brings up a good point. The Jazz are in a position to absorb somebody's bad contract for a couple of years, WHILE taking on a talented young player or draft picks along with it, much like Oklahoma City did for us with Matt Harpring and Eric Maynor. So take that to the trade machine with you. Go find some bad contracts (where the first year is under $10.8 million) and trade them to the Jazz along with some picks or young talent on that same roster. It's fun. i'll see you in an hour.
The play, or really the overall energy of the team was a little discouraging this weekend. They looked tired and apathetic at times against the Mavericks and sloppy and distracted against the Kings. I saw Paul Millsap take some heat for his lackadaisical play and I agree that he looked disinterested for the first time this season. But I think we assume that Millsap gets worn down as the season progresses, or as games are played closer together, but as you can see from this graphic, that isn't the case.
You can take away my Jazz fan card, but I have yet to get a chance to listen to the Karl Malone appearance on 1280 the Zone from Friday. I have heard bits and pieces of what was said, but I would love to be filled in a little more. So tell me (and others) what I missed. What did Karl Malone say that rang true to you? What was the funniest thing? What was the most ludicrous thing he said?
Congrats to rxmike, who correctly guessed the last Utah Jazz trivia question. The answer was "Utah Jazz players with a colorful nickname." For his efforts, rxmike won this bib:
0 recs | 41 comments
All star rapper TJ Freddette
lmao, too bad this wasn’t actually said. The love he gets is a bit ridiculous to say the least.
Bebop - January 30, 2012
trivia answer
they were all selected 19th overall by the jazz
tjm538 - January 30, 2012
Early bird catches the worm. Great job.
Email me your details and I’ll get you your gift.
clarkpojo - January 30, 2012 via mobile
I was gonna say
They were all picks of guys we had never heard of, which gave us that hopeful sense of “maybe this guy is going to be awesome!” even though they probably wouldn’t be. I suppose that’s par for the course on a #19 pick.
MTN - January 30, 2012
I had a dream that the Jazz traded D-Will
We sent him to the Blazers for Andre Miller and two (fictional) Japanese players. All the U of U fans were celebrating about us getting Miller, and saying the Japanese guys would give our team some much needed toughness. I was so sure that it was real that I woke up and checked ESPN. Nothing. Two hours later, news broke that we really did trade D-Will.
Also, I didn’t catch the whole interview, but I really liked the story Karl told about Dick Bavetta coming up to him on the first game back after the ’98 Finals, saying how sorry he was about the missed calls and how he had a terrible summer just thinking about that game. Goes to show that, for all our complaints, refs really do worry about getting calls right.
Caderade - January 30, 2012
Awesome. Thanks for sharing.
clarkpojo - January 30, 2012 via mobile
I love that bib
Could I get a link so I can buy it for my nephew?
Mexican Jazz Fan - January 30, 2012 via Android app
Absolutely.
http://www.amazon.com/ENOUGH-LAKERS-REALLY-PROTECT-AWESOME/dp/B003JF9LQM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327937058&sr=8-3
clarkpojo - January 30, 2012
I thought you photoshopped that.
moni - January 30, 2012
The downbeat is like my morning coffee
I’m just not ready to start the day until I’ve had it.
flibbidy - January 30, 2012
Those noon posts by BBJ must have just killed your productivity then, huh?
I know it did for me.
JazzHype - January 31, 2012
#2 I called the Boozer signing six weeks before it happened.
I emailed the Jazz beat writer at the time (can’t come up with his name at the moment – he was there forever) and he said Boozer was getting re-signed with Cleveland. Then he had to email me back and eat crow. It seemed far more satisfying at the time than it does in retrospect now.
MTN - January 30, 2012
#4 - Excellent write up by Moni on the Karl Malone interview
http://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/the-wonderfulness-that-is-karl-malone-talking/
Kurt Adison - January 30, 2012
"You can’t beat the fart out of a dead mule."
This is what makes Karl entertaining.
flibbidy - January 30, 2012
this
MTN - January 30, 2012
Silly me. I read Monis blog all the time but haven't been there since Thursday.
Sorry Mon.
clarkpojo - January 30, 2012 via mobile
[in Karl voice] If you readin, I ain't gonna complain about when you do it.
And thanks to you, Kurt Adison.
moni - January 30, 2012
"If I shoot like that, YOU play defense"
loved this quote about Jimmer.
MTN - January 30, 2012
People who love BYU or Utah
tend to have an irrational hatred for the other team. I’ve been a fan of college sports, and possibly would shade a bit toward BYU if forced to pledge allegiance.
What happened at the game was a simple case of the BYU/Utah hate spilling over to the court. There was no reason for Jimmer to be cheered like he was, except that it was a reaction to Jimmer being booed like there was no reason to be booed.
I think it is fine to boo or cheer a former college great, but in Jimmer’s case it would have been nice for the fans to just limit their booing and cheering to introductions, and maybe when he hit his first shot. After that if something about his play warrants booing (like a cheap elbow, or other thuggery) then treat him like a normal player.
The interesting thing for me to thing about is if the cheering would have happened without the booing… I just don’t know about that one, but when they started chanting for Jimmer in the 4th I was a little embarrassed.
davidthecomposer - January 30, 2012
I was at the Nets game
and even though it’s a different situation, it was a similar kind of thing. People booed every time Deron touched the ball (a lot, obviously), though it was drowning out some cheers as well. I would have been happier if it was confined to just the introductions.
It was kind of funny though, everyone cheered when Memo hit his first shot.
At any rate, it’s kind of silly to carry that Utah/BYU hatred to the pros. I’m a Ute fan, but also a 49ers fan. I cheered Steve Young for many years, even though he had played for BYU. I’ve also had a fair share of frustration with former Ute QB Alex Smith lol
flibbidy - January 30, 2012
That game reminded me
That’s one of the reasons why stars don’t want to play here. Jazz “fans” rooting for Jimmer, the opposing team? It was embarrassing, and we weren’t at SLCC playing a college game(per Earl Watson lol). Then all those “fanzz” will become Jazz fans once again, and that game also reminded me why I don’t like going to games too often as it’s best to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
Karl Malone was awesome. Does anyone know where we can get recording of that interview?
KaBar6 - January 30, 2012
So you were ok with the Jazz "fans" booing Deron then, right?
I openly admit that I didn’t have a big problem with it. Didn’t think it was very classy, but prefer it over D Will getting cheered while having an amazing game to beat the Jazz.
JazzHype - January 31, 2012
my last comment about the Jimmer fans
there are many jimmer fans that are not Jazz fans. As someone who lives in Provo, graduated from BYU, I was a rare Jazz fan on campus. Lets not assume that the fans cheering Jimmer during the game were actual Jazz fans.
It happened with Hayward in Indiana and I remember Chicago fans chanting for Dee brown in a close close game in Chicago. So OTHER fans do it too.
Its not that big of a deal.
dianaallen - January 30, 2012
This is the Truth
BYU gets its students from all over the world, so there’s a ton of BYU fans who have no ties to the Jazz at all. Probably more so than with the other schools in Utah.
Those freaking out are just being silly.
Yucca Man - January 30, 2012
#3
In other words, Millsap’s an even bigger stud than we already think he is.
nel812 - January 30, 2012
4. I love the Mailman
There really wasn’t a bad moment the whole time he was on. I loved when Malone said that Shaq probably is listening to him on Twitter.
BobbyD31 - January 30, 2012
#2 I'm thinking exactly the opposite on who would and wouldn't make that deal
I think Dallas would do this trade in a heartbeat but Utah wouldn’t. Dallas is looking to dump Marion and then use their amnesty on Haywood. That would give them enough cap space to sign Dwight Howard and DWill to max deals this summer. A core of Dirk, Dwight, and Deron would be a pretty nice big 3. Dwight wants to play with Deron and vice versa. Dallas is on both of their wish lists. Cuban is going to try to make it happen, he just needs some outside help in the form of a team to take Marion for an expiring contract or trade exception.
I just don’t see Beaubois as being enough to overpay Marion for the next 2 1/2 years. That’s not even considering that O’Connor would be a fool to help the Mavs assemble a super-team that would stand in the way for years to come. Western GM’s would hate his guts as much as Chris Wallace when he traded Pau to the Lakers.
In the end, I don’t see it happening either but for different reasons.
Shiner Bock - January 30, 2012
All of this is true. Great point.
BobbyD31 - January 30, 2012
Except...
the fact that know one knows what will happen to Dwight or DWill, while its probable that they both end up in Dallas it if far from a guarantee. KOC would be foolish to pass up to improve his team based on a hypothetical that he could be aiding in the creation of a super-team. For anyone who follows the Mavs it has been known for a while that Beaubois is considered untouchable much like Nicolas Batum is in Portland. Why, I don’t know. I do know that I would be shocked if the Mavs agreed to give up Beaubois for a shot at two max players. Heck if I was KOC I would throw a first round pick along with J Howard to get this deal done.
jusorenson - January 30, 2012
*no
jusorenson - January 30, 2012
I pretty much agree.
For a long time Beaubois has been treasured beyond what he probably realistically should be. The mavs would have to almost know they were getting deron to do this. I honestly think Dwight is going to get traded before the deadline, and koc would be silly not to jump on that trade.
hamfist - January 30, 2012 via mobile
KOC would never do that trade
EcERyda69 - January 30, 2012
Great Analysis
jusorenson - January 30, 2012
Thanks I try my best
EcERyda69 - January 30, 2012
Not sure how Beaubois wold fit on our team, he is a 2 guard, correct? I have always liked him though. Also, if im the Jazz, I would trade Howard for these two guys in a second considering Howard is likely going to demand a lot more money next year that we probably shouldn’t offer him. Marion is a stud defensively and can be productive offensively as well. After watching Beaubois torch us, it’s easy to see how valuable he could be to our team. Overall I think both teams would be happy with this trade.
TurboJazz224 - January 30, 2012
But if Dallas is overvaluing Roddy why would KOC make the same mistake?
He shows some great flashes but he’s still a big risk because of injury and consistency concerns. The Mavs were really big on Devin Harris for awhile too.
I think Cuban would take the risk. He seems to know that if you want to get lucky you have to first put yourself in a position to get lucky, i.e., you can’t win if you don’t play. The upside is simply too big for him not to try and he’s not exactly risk averse. If Dallas manages to dump Marion’s contract, it’s going to create a nice little story line for the media to trumpet and there’s a good chance that it will become a self fulfilling prophecy. You know Deron and Dwight would exchange some texts about it.
Shiner Bock - January 30, 2012
The Jazz really like Beaubois.
Dallas offered Kris Humphries and cap savings for Boozers expiring deal and the Jazz said that Beaubois would have to be included but Dallas balked. But Jazz would’ve traded Boozer for Hump and Beaubois.
clarkpojo - January 30, 2012 via mobile
"KOC would be foolish to pass up to improve his team based on a hypothetical that he could be aiding in the creation of a super-team"
Disagree.
JazzHype - January 31, 2012
Big BYU fan, and Jimmer fan
I wanted the Jazz to draft Jimmer with their 2nd pick. Leading up to the draft I started to change my mind on wanting Jimmer in a Jazz uni because of the UTAH/BYU rivalry, and how split the Jazz fan base would get at ESA. Saturday night showed it. It was weird. Hope to never see it again, it takes the attention away from our own Jazz players.
EcERyda69 - January 30, 2012 via mobile
I wasn't there, but I think it's funny.
It can’t be any worse than the Lakers fans invading ESA.
And I have a really hard time believing that BYU fans would boo Andre Miller if he were on the Jazz. I really think the booing made the cheering happen. On TV, it certainly seemed like a point-counterpoint situation. A small contingent of BYU fans were cheering Jimmer. Then a larger contingent started booing. In response, the group cheering grew in numbers and volume and drowned out the booing.
JazzHype - January 31, 2012
Correction
Karl Malone is a radio star a radio starrrrrrrrr.
neds - January 30, 2012
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