Sixteen-year-old Paul Nelson of Bountiful was incredulous when notified that he was the grand prize winner of this year's Deseret News Cover A Jazz Game contest. "You mean I'm the winner?" he said.
That's right, Nelson gets to sit on press row with Deseret News sports writer Richard Evans this Saturday night as the Jazz host the Minnesota Timberwolves in their last regular home game.In addition, his parents, Scott and Julie Nelson, get the VIP treatment as well. They'll be sitting in courtside seats to watch the game as their son plays junior Deseret News sports writer.
Nelson was among approximately 65 other entries who submitted brief sports stories about a basketball game. The contest was open to boys and girls from the seventh through eleventh grades in all Utah schools. The stories were judged on writing style, conciseness, clarity and detail and had to be no more than 200 words in length.
Nelson's itinerary is as follows:
5:45 p.m. - Meet Deseret News and Utah Jazz officials at the Delta Center.
6 p.m. - Dinner in the press room with Richard Evans and other sports writers and broadcasters.
6:45 p.m. - Interview on JazzTalk with Dave Blackwell.
7 p.m. - Cover the game on press row with other sports writers.
9:15 p.m. - Attend post-game interviews.
9:30 p.m. - Travel to the Deseret News to write a deadline story about the game.
Nelson's story will appear in the Deseret News on Sunday alongside that of Richard Evans.'
- Second Prize winners receive Utah Jazz ball caps and include the following 10 winners:
Melissa Frandsen, Gunnison; Sid Groutage, Salt Lake; Jamie Weeks, 13, parents are Ron and Louise Weeks, Sandy; John Rosswog, 17, parents are Frank and Patricia Rosswog, Salt Lake; Nicki Hook, Salt Lake; Kathy Heinsohn, Richmond; Katie Moon, Richmond; Eric Smith, 14, parents are Kelly and Melinda Smith, South Jordan; Erin Cook, 15, parents are Lyndon and Debbie Cook, Sandy; Robert Hatch, Layton.
- Third Prize winners receive Utah Jazz T-shirts and include the following 25 winners:
Cindy Maxwell, 14, parents are Robert and Marti Maxwell, South Jordan; James Robertson, 15, Parents are John and Barbara Robertson, Orem; Mindy Rawlins, Smithfield; Dave Mantyla, 16, Salt Lake; Lauren Kennard, 12, parents are Roger and Susan Kennard, Midvale; Heidi Balls, 13, parents are Kevon and Kathleen Balls, South Jordan; Kurtis Millington, 17, parents are Kent and Linda Millington, Highland; Tyson Roby, 14, Richmond; Ian Bassett, 14, Richmond; Quang Ngyuen, Sandy; Scott Walden, 15, Parent, Marion Walden, West Valley City; Natelli Taylor, Richmond; Brandon Watson, 17, parents are Ken and Shelley Watson, Salt Lake; Brad Brown, Ogden; Jonathan Clark; Matt Sullivan, Salt Lake; Matt Gunderson, 15, parents are Donald B. and Beth Gunderson, Taylorsville; Scott Rasmussen, 14, Parent - Steven A. Rasmussen, South Jordan; Brittney Sproat, Richmond; Rachel Sunday, 14, parents are Stan and Lynette Sunday, Centerville; Alisa Smartt, 15, parents are Steve and Marilyn Smartt, Layton; Cameron Diehl, 14, parents are Ray and Rebby Diehl, Murray; Chris Brown, 13, parents are Terry and Hatty Brown, Centerville; Tyson Owen, Richmond; Karla Linford, Ogden.
- Fourth Prize winners receive Utah Jazz HomeCourt magazines and include Angela Petersen, 13, parents are Les and Betty Petersen, Salt Lake; Jeff Dickson, 13, parents are Terry and Clair Dickson, Sandy; Tyler Qyong, 15, parents are Ron and Lupe Fowler, Sandy; Marci Sheffield, 16, parents are Tom and Gerri Sheffield, Bountiful; Dennis Morris, 12, parents are Randy and Liz Morris, Kaysville; Mark Welling, 14, Parent - Steve Welling, Orem; Ben Tullis, 14, parents are Richard and Cindy Tullis, Pleasant Grove; Brett George, 13, parents are Bruce and Jodi George, Salt Lake; Israel M. Larson, parents are Rolf and Jolyn Larson, Salt Lake; Stacey Goodwin, 12, parents are Lenny and Gail Goodwin, Sandy; Jade Smith, 12, parents are Mike and Shawna Smith, Salt Lake; Justin Gingham, 13, Parent - Douglas J. Gingham, Sandy; Ashley Gibbs, 13, parents are Susan and Grant Gibbs, Salt Lake; Stephen Biggs, 15, parents are Gary and Susan Biggs, Sandy; Ian Prescott, 14, parents are Keith and Trudy Prescott, Centerville; Derek Dewey, 13, parents are Dave and Bonnie Dewey, West Jordan; Kendra Stuart, parents are Jeffery and Celeste Lund, Salt Lake; Joshua M. Cohen, 12. parents are Mark and Cleo Cohen, Sandy; Joshua Low, 13, parents are David and Anita Low, Salt Lake; Chris Radack, 13, parents are Roland and Debra Radack, Sandy; Jonathan Shaffer, Salt Lake; Maria Olsen, 14, parents are Roydon and Elisabeth Olsen, Spanish Fork; Alan Hansen, 15, parents are Gary and Paulette Hansen, Taylorsville; Aaron Boyer, 13, parents are Rock and Suzanne Boyer, Salt Lake; Beth Holt, 13, parents are Richard and Susan Holt, Sandy; Tammy Johnson, 13, parent is Craig Johnson, Salt Lake; Asley Garrett, West Valley City.