‘Turn it Up’ (Melissa Majchrzak - NBAE/Getty Images)

What do the band Oingo Boingo and the Utah Jazz have in common? Besides me being a fan of both, the other commonality is their place on the list of some of my most favorite sound memories. You see, I was at the farewell concert in Salt Lake City. There was never a more perfect band to break in a brand new arena. Larry Miller stood anxiously in the corner before things started, I can’t even imagine what was going through his head when he saw the stage set with giant puppets, evil clowns, skulls, bongos, xylophones, horns and of course the freakish lead singer Danny Elfman. (I bet to this day Larry doesn’t even know about the Secret Society).

I’ve heard that since that first concert, things have been greatly improved in the sound department. The Delta Center started out as a cacophonous cave. To those who don’t understand the genius of Boingo music, it would probably sound awful to them whether at the Delta Center or Carnegie Hall.

Some of my other favorite sound memories are also from the Delta Center/Energy Solutions Arena. The ESA has been called the loudest arena by many different players, coaches and announcers. The eruption of the sleeping volcano (meaning the sit on their hands, 3rd quarter lull, Jazz crowd)when Ronnie Brewer stole the ball and took it all the way to the other end for a two hand jam, is one of my favorite new sound memories. This happened just the other night at a home game.

At this same home game I ran into a fun group of friends: Ruth, Morlene, Paulette, Rhea (the cake decorator and instructor extraordinaire) and Lois. Some of them might be described as Jazz Grandmas, however; we won’t tell which ones. I also won’t tell which of them said that their favorite thing about coming to the Jazz games for over 12 years is “the Beer!” Morlene; who was celebrating her 29 again birthday, says that her all-time favorite player is Jeff Hornacek. She also feels that “our Bear is without a doubt, the most caring, wonderful, amazing….I watch him instead of the game.” It just so happens, the Bear found these fun-loving ladies and they had their picture taken with him. Ruth and her bunch have had season tickets for at least 12 years, when they started sitting way up-just below the Pistol Pete sign as a matter of fact. They’ve worked there way down since then. Ruth and Morlene add that they are extremely happy with their season tickets, and really want to complement the ticket center staff for accomodating them every year. Paulette loves to watch Milsap, Kirilenko, and Harpring as well as all of the team who are “good, wholesome guys,” according to her. Someone mentioned that they liked Memo the best, primarily because he’s so cute, and who could forget Stockton to Malone? Lois and Rhea look forward mostly to winning when the come to watch the Jazz games, and the whole group loves being at the games with friends and being amongst the enthusiastic fans–of which they are a part–believe me!