My First Boxscore

Posted by Morris Almond on November 23, 2007

‘Filling up the Stat Line’ (D. Lippitt/Einstein -NBAE/Getty Images)

The month has been flying by, and it’s hard to believe that it’s the end of November already. I wanted to get this entry submitted a lot sooner, but with all the traveling and time zone switching, I didn’t realize that its been almost two weeks since my last entry.

(My apologies to the good folks at Jazzbots and NBA.com - I won’t let it happen again.)

Got a few new things to report since my last entry. I’ve digested the whole “Inactive List” situation that I addressed in the last blog. I found out that I’m in fact not about to get traded, and that the world isn’t coming to an end. A reporter asked me recently if I would rather be on a lottery team and play right away, or be on a contender and not play much right away. Good question, but I’m in this for the long run, so I wouldn’t change a thing - everything’s already in perfect order.

My first regular season game was a memorable one. Sure I’d played plenty of minutes during the preseason - even started a game or two. But those were just exhibition games; they don’t count. It wasn’t until the regular season started that the “Inactive” monkey jumped on my back, so I didn’t play in the first couple official contests. My dad had been in town for the first week of the season, and one morning, he woke up and told me and my roommate Greg that he was going on a fast:

Me: “What’s the occasion?”

Willie Almond: “You know, just for a little cleansing. Just gonna go on a liquid diet for a few days. Water, juices, tea.”

Greg: “How long?”

Willie Almond: “You know what? I think I’m gonna fast until he plays his first NBA minute.”

Greg: “You sure about that? Hey Mo, how long can humans live without food?”

We got a good laugh out of that one. There was no telling when I’d log that first minute of burn. The universe must have been on my old man’s side though, because that same night, I suited up for the first time this season. And sure enough, I checked in the game with 1:09 left in the first quarter.

We won the game on a buzzer-beater, so it was a good night for everybody. Two or three people from the team gave me box score sheets afterwards, and told me that you always have to keep the one from your first game. Right before I hit the shower, two of our veteran players snuck up behind me and dumped a cooler of ice and water on me, college football style:

“First game, Rook - alright young fella!!”

Everybody got a kick out of that whole scene. And even though all this was almost three weeks ago, and we’ve played a lot of games since then– I can remember it like it was last night. Its old news now, but I thought I’d share that one.

Because hey, everybody remembers their first time, right?

4 Comments

Susan on November 26, 2007 said:

Hang in there! Look at Brewer today! The games you are watching you are “playing” in your head and you are with the best! You will be one of those too!
Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the Lords purposes that stand. Prov.

Linda McFarland on November 27, 2007 said:

Your attitude is great and that is a lot of what it seems like the Jazz coaches like.
The other response you got was right on when it talked about watching the other games. You aren’t learning as much as when you are playing but you ARE learning the difficult plays, passes, and moves. I would rather have my son on the bench learning a lot and getting ready to play than being out there making a bunch of stupid mistakes. You have a lot of fans behind you so keep up the good attitude and you will be there when Sloan feels like it is right.

John P on November 27, 2007 said:

Mo,

The Jazz are in desparate need of a consistent 3-point shooter. Every team we play has at least a couple guys who can consistently bang clutch 3-pointers. (Heck, look at the Knicks last night.) I presently don’t see that amongst the Jazz players who get the vast majority of playing time, and in my opinion, that has cost us more than 1 game. D-Will has the best 3-pt percentage, but that ain’t his job.

Why am I babbling on about this? ‘Cuz ever since you were drafted by the Jazz, I felt that you were that guy. We need you, bud. Don’t give up. Keep practicing hard, and when you get playing time, shoot the freekin’ lights out so Sloan can see that “you da man”. I’m looking forward to it.

L.Clark on December 01, 2007 said:

Morris-
You’re a class act. That all that matters. You’ll have your day. I am impressed by your level-headedness. I throw you in the category of other heroes of mine: John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek, Thurl Bailey, and your teammate Paul Brewer. Glad to have you here. I look forward to you lighting up the scoreboard. School ‘em.