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Thoughts On Jazz Getting National TV Time This Past Week

MeloTheJazzKiller

MeloTheJazzKiller

Well-Known Member
I am a fan of NBA. That means I like to watch teams other than my Knicks.

One team that I enjoy is the Utah Jazz. I paid good money to see them when they came to their one stop at the Garden. Very nice team the Jazz have. Some very good young players, seem to be well coached, play hard...but they are never on TV.

NBA TV, TNT, and ESPN do a very good job with the NBA. But, man, if I have to see another Clippers game! It is always the same teams on national TV: Clippers, Warriors, Cavs, Spurs, OKC, Bulls...and the friggin' Lakers! Yes, last year the Lakers were on national TV more than the playoff teams Hawks, Grizz, and Raptors combined!

Well, this past week has been a treat. Jazz have been on TV three times. Celt game and extensive live cut ins for Portland and Houston. Good to see. What I found interesting was some of the comments by the ESPN/NBA TV announcers regarding the Jazz:

- all said the Jazz are the best young team out there,
- Hayward is not All Star level but a top player in NBA,
- Hood is the man to watch on the team...superstar in the making,
- no blue chip free agent will ever go to the Jazz so the team has to develop their young players into contenders.

That last one was remarkable to hear. I believe it was Brad Daugherty who said it. No top free agent will sign with the Jazz! Man, that was harsh. But why? Why wouldn't a Durant want to join that team? He signs with Jazz and I feel Jazz move up to level of Conference finalist. So why won't free agents go to Utah? How do you Jazz fans feel about not being in the free agent hunt? How about rarely being on national TV?
 
Hot shot QBS want to bang the prom queen. We're a red headed step child, and I'm ecstatic I've made this my home for the past 25 years.
 
Not being on TV doesn't bother me too much. It keeps this group hungry to prove themselves because they haven't done anything of note yet. They're still a long ways from being relevant in the NBA (although there's some talent finally starting to hit stride.) Start winning consistently and the exposure will follow.

As far as Utah not being a free agent destination. . . I think it's a common theme that comes up. Due to the overwhelming demographic differences between NBA players and the dominant population in Utah, many young NBA players think Salt Lake City is boring. Euro players and family men tend to like it more than the young, single players. It's a great place to live. Certainly not the same level of endorsements as LA and NY, and not the weather perks of California, Florida or even Texas, but it's the only show in town. A star for the Jazz is revered. Look at Stockton, Malone, Sloan, AK47 and even DWill. Those guys are still loved by a ton of people out here.

I've lived in New York City, Chicago, and Atlanta - and I LOVE living in Utah. My wife and I have turned down job opportunities in New York, Montana, the Bahamas, Hawaii and Virginia because this is such a wonderful place to raise kids. DL has talked about finding a free agent like "Utah's Reggie White" - a guy who shares the team's core values and wants to lead a championship caliber team. That might be wishful thinking, but I'm a Packers fan as well and I remember watching the team chase Reggie White against all odds and seeing how it transformed them into a yearly contender.
 
Entice free agents with hookers and blow. Or the family-friendly atmosphere of Utah. Maybe a guaranteed statue outside of Vivent.
 
Sirkickyass said:
Trolls eventually just turn into regular posters once they've been around for awhile (except for special cases like aintnuthin).
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I wonder, is it better to come in as a troll until you find your place or to come in like a regular person and have most of the regulars abuse you because they assume you're an alt?
 
Ellis269 said:
As far as Utah not being a free agent destination. . . I think it's a common theme that comes up. Due to the overwhelming demographic differences between NBA players and the dominant population in Utah, many young NBA players think Salt Lake City is boring. Euro players and family men tend to like it more than the young, single players. It's a great place to live. Certainly not the same level of endorsements as LA and NY, and not the weather perks of California, Florida or even Texas, but it's the only show in town. A star for the Jazz is revered. Look at Stockton, Malone, Sloan, AK47 and even DWill. Those guys are still loved by a ton of people out here.
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I could be grasping at straws here but generally speaking the latter part of the Millennial Generation (born after 1990) do not strike me as big time party/club types. They seem content staying home, smoking a bowl, hanging out on social media or playing video games. Maybe the things that have been viewed as negatives associated with playing in Utah won't be as applicable to the young guys in the future.

Then again, being a young millionaire is something that would change anyone - what good is it if you can't flaunt it?
 
candrew said:
I could be grasping at straws here but generally speaking the latter part of the Millennial Generation (born after 1990) do not strike me as big time party/club types. They seem content staying home, smoking a bowl, hanging out on social media or playing video games. Maybe the things that have been viewed as negatives associated with playing in Utah won't be as applicable to the young guys in the future.

Then again, being a young millionaire is something that would change anyone - what good is it if you can't flaunt it?
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when you're a young millionaire celebrity, then your social circle can get pretty small -- that is, unless you like getting mobbed every time you get out of the house. I think a big thing working against small market teams that rarely gets talked about is this simple raw size of social pools these guys can just be a part of without being the center of. Online lives may help mitigate some of this, but it'll continue to be a main problem, IMO
 
Whether the connection is accurate or not, NBA stardom is culturally associated with hip hop culture. Salt Lake City never has, nor ever will have a significant footing in hip hop culture because it has never had a large black population. Hence, it will never be the setting for NBA players who want their brand to be cross referenced with either classic or cutting edge hip hop culture.

Don't get me wrong. There is certainly a rap, tagging, and breakin' element in the 801. But it has always been small time. Most stars are always going to want to contextualize their brand in an environment that is deeply steeped in either urban hip hop history (NY, Brooklyn, DET, CHI, PHI, SF/Oakland), the sun belt (MIA, ORL, NOLA) or both (LA). And therein lies the reason why LA will always be the most preferred NBA city.
 
Engorged On Unborn Gore said:
Whether the connection is accurate or not, NBA stardom is culturally associated with hip hop culture. Salt Lake City never has, nor ever will have a significant footing in hip hop culture because it has never had a large black population. Hence, it will never be the setting for NBA players who want their brand to be cross referenced with either classic or cutting edge hip hop culture.

Don't get me wrong. There is certainly a rap, tagging, and breakin' element in the 801. But it has always been small time. Most stars are always going to want to contextualize their brand in an environment that is deeply steeped in either urban hip hop history (NY, Brooklyn, DET, CHI, PHI, SF/Oakland), the sun belt (MIA, ORL, NOLA) or both (LA). And therein lies the reason why LA will always be the most preferred NBA city.
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It's all about dat Jazz thou, screw dat rap :cool:
 
Durant shouldn't even have 2nd thoughts about coming here if offered that possibility. Look at the size of that sax:

ori-jazzman-wall-stickers-195_214.jpg
 
Wouldn't it be cool if Durant realized what a buffoon Kanter is and that's what drove him to Utah? Yeah, it's not gunna happen, but if it did it would be super cool.
 
Joe Bagadonuts said:
Wouldn't it be cool if Durant realized what a buffoon Kanter is and that's what drove him to Utah? Yeah, it's not gunna happen, but if it did it would be super cool.
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I too think that durant joining the jazz would be super cool.
 
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