I believe that most Jazz fans appreciate as I do the collective high character of the Jazz players and organization. From owner Larry Miller, the players and throughout the entire organization, the Jazz are the best. One of their more admirable traits is their ability to keep an even keel through the inevitable highs and lows of a season. They don't get giddy with a win, nor do they get morose with a loss. The tone for this mature stature has been set by coach Jerry Sloan. It is a characteristic that has enabled the Jazz to be the most consistent winner in the NBA for at least 10 years (and counting).
It was, therefore, a slight disappointment to me after the recent Denver game to hear Mr. Miller refer to the Jazz loss as an embarrassment to the franchise. A disappointing loss, perhaps, but an embarrassment? C'mon, Larry, cut a little slack. Everyone gets off their game once in a while and sometimes it's several players at the same time. But that doesn't mark them for public humiliation. Perhaps Larry shouldn't have gone to the game - there's just something about Denver. . . .The mighty Bulls just lost to a Miami team in disarray and the Spurs just dropped one to the lowly (17-37) Clippers. If those losses were embarrassing to their owners, I hope that the teams were told privately.
The understandable negative response of Karl Malone and other players to their owner's public reaction to the Denver game could have been anticipated; the professional indignation of the team was vindicated in their subsequent thumping of a good Suns team. If that was the ruse, OK, but personally, I don't think that public embarrassment is ever the wise course.
Thanks, Jazz, for playing great ball and for being good citizens.
John T. Parkinson
Spanish Fork