Game One Thoughts

Bordy, Jr. and I had the fortune of attending the first Jazz pre-season game on Wednesday. A few notes:

- Parking prices have nearly doubled. $8 to park two blocks away? I got these tickets for free (thanks to Uncle Youngblood), and I wasn't about to cheapen the experience by paying for it. We found some 2-hour-parking somewhere around 9th South. A parking patrol officer immediately marked the car. The clock was ticking.

- We arrived at the ESA about midway through the first quarter (BYU fan style). Walking into the Sec. 127 portal, I heard a sudden outburst of wild applause. We rushed through the tunnel only to be met (blocked) by the timeout promotions dude (the guy whose hair is bleached some variant of "blinding"), and his sidekick who were handing out free coupons. The loudness and proudness of the fans was unparalleled.

- AK make basket. Cheering abounds. Half of it in the mock variety.

- One glance into the lower bowl, and it immediately becomes apparent that it is comprised of 1) upper bowlers who moved down, and 2) lower bowlers who gave their tickets away, generally to people who can't afford implants.

- One glance back at the game, and it immediately becomes apparent that all in attendance are 1) suckers. Gary Coleman plays better basketball than this.

- AK make behind-the-back pass for layup. "Oohs" and "aahs" cascade throughout the arena. Jerry puts his face in his hands.

- 3-year-old Bordy, Jr. sits up and takes notice as the cheerleaders take the floor after the first period. "This is my favorite", he says. It's one of those bonding father-son moments. I'm so proud.

- The scoreboard is broken. Huh. Good thing they didn't have four months to test that out.

- Ronnie Price checks in, proceeds to act out a near flawless "Dee Brown" impersonation. CJ, Hart, Fess, Giri, and some incarnation of Araujo (#52?) all join the party. Either my negativity is in mid-season form, or these guys really suck. We're talking beyond Harpringsucks-esque levels. Ok, it's the first pre-season, some of these guys are new to the system, and I shouldn't read too much into it, sure. But anyone who sees anything positive out there just isn't reading at all. Twenty minutes into the pre-season, and it's glaringly obvious who our 2-guard is. Or should be, anyway. I hope that Brewer gets at least 10 starts before Sloan decides to go with the veteran Hart at the 2. Wishful thinking, I know.

- Fess has some decent offensive moves, gets a gimme block, but just doesn't look like the promising player that the post-game show and many fans are making him out to be. Keep in mind, he's also playing against the Bucks 3rd string. Rebounding is apparently not part of the game in the Ukraine. It's not his fault, really. It's the hair. He had several moments where he had to brush his hair aside or kick his head back to get the hair out of his eyes simply so that he could see where he was. Jerry needs to get him to tuck his hair into his shorts as well.

- According to the half-time printed box-score, Collins is still on the team. I turn to Bordy, Jr. to ask him if he remembers Jarron coming in, but he's busy standing on his seat, focused intensely on the Utah Flash Dancers.

- AK brick 3. Immediately the anti-AK machine wakes up, seizing the moment that they had been waiting for. "There's your touch, AK!", "Don't cry, AK, you'll make one this season!", "AK eats babies!", and other similar one-liners start spilling out of the 127.

- AK stuff shot. Ball go out of bounds. Bucks make 3 on next play. Somewhere across the arena, I swear I hear John Middleton (Mr. "Blocks Aren't Defense!") yell "See!"

- Okur takes 6 shots in a row, makes the final one. Anti-AK crowd: "Money!"

- I really wish that Harpring was playing.

- And I miss Derek Fisher, as well. Jerry hears my concerns, and sends Hart back into the game.

- The stadium begins to empty, as it's clear that the D-Team is back on the court. But wait! Bear runs onto the court with a T-shirt cannon! Everyone does a 180, and begins to fight each other for "Cafe Rio" shirts. The loudness/proudness is nearly unbearable.

- No, seriously. Collins is still on the team.

Onward to game 2