Random thoughts and unsolicited opinions about Utah sports . . .
This most recent Karl Malone vs. Larry Miller controversy is as ridiculous as it is predictable. Yes, Malone shouldn't have talked to a Sports Illustrated writer about the prospects of changing teams prior to next season with just days remaining in this season, but he did. That's Malone. That's what Karl Malone do.
Miller is actually more to blame for letting this get bigger than it had to be. If he could have simply pulled a John Stockton — i.e. talked to reporters without really saying anything — it wouldn't have become such a big deal. Miller could have said that he didn't want to talk about Malone's status until after the playoffs. The story would have died quickly. Instead, Miller added fuel to the fire. But that's Miller. You know this guy. He cries at press conferences and gets defensive when Malone suggests the Jazz haven't treated him with enough respect. That's what he does.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not criticizing Malone or Miller. Both Federal Heights neighbors are just being who they are. In fact, both are refreshing in that they actually say what they think —even if it will be controversial. That's why sports writers would rather have one interview with Malone or Miller than 10 with Stockton. Malone and Miller actually say something . . .
I'll admit it. The Jazz have far exceeded my expectations this season. I wasn't as dumb as a co-worker of mine (whose name I won't divulge to protect the ignorant). But he made a friendly wager that the Clippers would win more games this season that the Jazz. He had to pay up at about the All-Star break.
While I believed the Jazz would be as good as last year — or even a bit better — I still thought they would finish in ninth place in the brutal Western Conference. Instead, the Jazz are postseason bound for the 20th consecutive year. That's an amazing feat. Jazz fans have been — and still are — being spoiled . . .
Who would have guessed Rick Majerus would still be the University of Utah basketball coach 14 years after being hired? For a few years Majerus was at or near the top of everyone's wish list when a job came open. UNLV, Texas, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Illinois and others all had Majerus as one of the top contenders for their open jobs.
Sure, Majerus occasionally still gets mentioned when a job comes open. His named surfaced as one of a dozen early candidates at UCLA this year, but he was never seriously considered. Instead, Ben Howland, Majerus' younger buddy, got the job.
Let's face it, Majerus, at 55, is no longer the young, up-and-coming coach that every athletic director wants. He may still end up with his dream job when he leaves Utah — at St. Mary's — but look for him to continue at Utah for at least three more seasons . . .
Weber State's Joe Cravens appears to be ready to put down deeper roots after being on the hot-seat in Ogden just one year ago. Cravens, whose contract ran out last week, is expected to sign a new deal after he led the Wildcats to a perfect Big Sky Conference season this year. He'll be getting a nice raise — and he deserves every penny . . .
My favorite quote from last summer was when Bryon Russell's agent Dwight Manley said, "If you work at 7-Eleven nine years, you get more than Bryon Russell got (from the Jazz). At least you'd get a sandwich or something."
The Jazz, you may recall, paid Russell $5 million per season during his final four years in Utah. I know 7-Eleven is overpriced, but you can buy more than a few sandwiches with that.
Now I'm wondering where all the fans of Russell and Donyell Marshall are hiding. When the Jazz failed to keep either of the two free agents (truth be told, the Jazz didn't even try to keep Russell), some fans wanted Kevin O'Connor to be the next to go. Instead, O'Connor replaced Russell and Marshall with Calbert Cheaney and Matt Harpring — and saved millions of dollars in the process. Cheaney and Harpring have averaged a combined 26.4 points per game this year. Russell and Marshall averaged 23.5 last season.
Maybe Jazz fans will give O'Connor the benefit of the doubt now.
E-MAIL: lojo@desnews.com