If you were granted the fore-knowledge that the Utah Jazz would never win a title...

[chemdude1232]

While the primary goal, of course, of any professional sports franchise is to win the championship, another aspect of its existence lies in appealing to the fans. Fan bases are different: Boston has always been notoriously blue-collar, the Lakers have always been about pomp and grandeur, the Clippers (in their own odd way) are popular for being so terrible. And on and on.

What the Jazz bring to the table - and what originally attracted me to the franchise - was the unquestioned work ethic the players take on. Originally, both John and Karl appealed to me because I knew, despite the outcome, that they would battle every single second of the game. Also, I knew that even if they lost the game, they were individually rewarded with largely excellent stat lines. That is important to young people: that hard work does in fact pay off.

Fast forward to today, and I see essentially the same thing - at least in Deron, Paul, and AJ. Hayward is quickly reaping the benefits of hard work and intelligence. Evans too. And on and on.

So would I stop being a fan if the Jazz never won it all? No. Because if I was not a fan, I would not have been exposed to John, Karl, Jerry, Horny, Deron, etc., all who embody the very same work ethic that I have adopted as my own in my own life. They helped mold me into the person I am today.

In short, the journey has been well worth it no matter the outcome.

 

[Jeditiger]

While the primary goal, of course, of any professional sports franchise is to win the championship, another aspect of its existence lies in appealing to the fans. Fan bases are different: Boston has always been notoriously blue-collar, the Lakers have always been about pomp and grandeur, the Clippers (in their own odd way) are popular for being so terrible. And on and on.

What the Jazz bring to the table - and what originally attracted me to the franchise - was the unquestioned work ethic the players take on. Originally, both John and Karl appealed to me because I knew, despite the outcome, that they would battle every single second of the game. Also, I knew that even if they lost the game, they were individually rewarded with largely excellent stat lines. That is important to young people: that hard work does in fact pay off.

Fast forward to today, and I see essentially the same thing - at least in Deron, Paul, and AJ. Hayward is quickly reaping the benefits of hard work and intelligence. Evans too. And on and on.

So would I stop being a fan if the Jazz never won it all? No. Because if I was not a fan, I would not have been exposed to John, Karl, Jerry, Horny, Deron, etc., all who embody the very same work ethic that I have adopted as my own in my own life. They helped mold me into the person I am today.

In short, the journey has been well worth it no matter the outcome.

Good post.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

While the primary goal, of course, of any professional sports franchise is to win the championship, another aspect of its existence lies in appealing to the fans. Fan bases are different: Boston has always been notoriously blue-collar, the Lakers have always been about pomp and grandeur, the Clippers (in their own odd way) are popular for being so terrible. And on and on.

What the Jazz bring to the table - and what originally attracted me to the franchise - was the unquestioned work ethic the players take on. Originally, both John and Karl appealed to me because I knew, despite the outcome, that they would battle every single second of the game. Also, I knew that even if they lost the game, they were individually rewarded with largely excellent stat lines. That is important to young people: that hard work does in fact pay off.

Fast forward to today, and I see essentially the same thing - at least in Deron, Paul, and AJ. Hayward is quickly reaping the benefits of hard work and intelligence. Evans too. And on and on.

So would I stop being a fan if the Jazz never won it all? No. Because if I was not a fan, I would not have been exposed to John, Karl, Jerry, Horny, Deron, etc., all who embody the very same work ethic that I have adopted as my own in my own life. They helped mold me into the person I am today.

In short, the journey has been well worth it no matter the outcome.

Great post. This guy's got it right.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I was in SF when the Giants won the Series this year, but it's not that big a deal to me. The Jazz winning though, that would be historic.

 

[MichaelJordan23]

So are you Jazz fans content with a team built to always lose in the 2nd round? I love the tremendous effort and coaching but when do you realize every year is the same story? Lose to the Lakers over and over and over again. When is enough? Guess you guys share something in common with the Nuggets. But after this year, they'll be a bottom feeder which is great for you guys. But how FRUSTRATING is it to be a Jazz fan? All this effort for what? A beat down in the 2nd round. (Here's a spoiler. Al Jefferson isn't your savior and nor is Millsap.)

I guess as long as you guys accept you'll never win a ring just like the Nuggets fans have, it's all good in the hood. Someone mentioned that the Clippers will never win a ring? That's true, same goes for the Jazz too.

 

[chemdude1232]

I know it's fun and all to stalk message boards, but, uh, you need something else to do.

 

[Hitman]

If a different team won the NBA title every year, on average it would take 30 years for a team to win a Championship.

However, in the 30 years since 1980, only 8 teams have won an NBA Championship: Lakers (9), Bulls (6), Celtics (4), Spurs (4), Pistons (3), Rockets (2), 76ers (1), Heat (1).

During the same time period, the Blazers, Suns, Magic, Sonics, Jazz, Knicks, Pacers, Nets, Mavericks, and Cavaliers (10 teams) have all made the Finals without also winning a Championship in that time (although the Blazers, Sonics and Knicks all won in the '70s), leaving 12 teams that have never even made the Finals in the last 30 years.

In other words, if you are an NBA fan, you are more likely to follow a team that NEVER made the Finals in the last 30 years than one that made the Finals at all, and least likely to follow a team that won a Championship. Yet, the Clippers, Nuggets, Raptors, Wizards, etc still have fans, although history says they have no hope.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

So are you Jazz fans content with a team built to always lose in the 2nd round? I love the tremendous effort and coaching but when do you realize every year is the same story? Lose to the Lakers over and over and over again. When is enough? Guess you guys share something in common with the Nuggets. But after this year, they'll be a bottom feeder which is great for you guys. But how FRUSTRATING is it to be a Jazz fan? All this effort for what? A beat down in the 2nd round. (Here's a spoiler. Al Jefferson isn't your savior and nor is Millsap.)

I guess as long as you guys accept you'll never win a ring just like the Nuggets fans have, it's all good in the hood. Someone mentioned that the Clippers will never win a ring? That's true, same goes for the Jazz too.

The Jazz are as close to winning a ring this year as the Lakers are.

You're right though. In those years when the Jazz were sweeping the Lakers year after year, they couldn't get that one last piece that would get them past the Bulls.

 

[vj_74]

pointless question.
The whole point of being a fan is hope. Take away that hope and what is the point?
Yeah, sometimes, crappy teams' fans pretty much know they wont win, but they still watch and come, because of hope.

iawtp

 

[vj_74]

I probably would.

Is there any alternative? I'm pretty sure I wouldn't follow the NBA at all if it wasn't for The Jazz.

But would you still be following them 5 or 7 years from now, when Sloan is no longer there, Deron might or might not be here and the Jazz system, say, undergoes a dramatic change and we have a mediocre coach coaching this team? And with the knowledge that they are not going to win at all? I'll be surprised that if you think there wont be any alternatives for you even then. Even now, if the Jazz magically cased to exist(another hypothetical scenario) why would it be difficult for you to root for a team like, say, the Spurs? Classy organization, good coach, system patterned after ours, and no-nonsense stars who just go about doing their job.

 

[UB]

So are you Jazz fans content with a team built to always lose in the 2nd round? I love the tremendous effort and coaching but when do you realize every year is the same story? Lose to the Lakers over and over and over again. When is enough? Guess you guys share something in common with the Nuggets. But after this year, they'll be a bottom feeder which is great for you guys. But how FRUSTRATING is it to be a Jazz fan? All this effort for what? A beat down in the 2nd round. (Here's a spoiler. Al Jefferson isn't your savior and nor is Millsap.)

I guess as long as you guys accept you'll never win a ring just like the Nuggets fans have, it's all good in the hood. Someone mentioned that the Clippers will never win a ring? That's true, same goes for the Jazz too.

we don't like to feed the trolls here. but if you're hungry, i got something that's about 4 inches long for you to feast on.

 

[vj_74]

Fast forward to today, and I see essentially the same thing - at least in Deron, Paul, and AJ. Hayward is quickly reaping the benefits of hard work and intelligence. Evans too. And on and on.

So would I stop being a fan if the Jazz never won it all? No. Because if I was not a fan, I would not have been exposed to John, Karl, Jerry, Horny, Deron, etc., all who embody the very same work ethic that I have adopted as my own in my own life. They helped mold me into the person I am today.

In short, the journey has been well worth it no matter the outcome.

the journey so far has been well worth it, I agree, But we are talking about the future. In 5-7 years from now there is no guarantee that the things that you love about the Jazz today will still be there.

I desperately want to see Sloan winning it all although the odds are not in his favor. But thats the kind of hope and wish that drives me as a fan. If I know already that he is going to retire ringless(not that he cares about it) it would be a bit painful to watch him coach every night. Same with players like Deron. Every night you'll keep wondering that if this is the last contract Deron is going to sign in Utah and if he is going to bolt. Some of us are already wondering that, but still.

BTW, good thread Jedi.