The Kazoo Factor
‘Jazz President Randy Rigby presents Farzaneh Ebrahimi, mother of Idin Nikkhah Baharami (Iranian basketball star who was killed in a car accident in Iran) a jersey with the name and number of her son.’ (Michael Brandy - Deseret News)
I had the opportunity to attend the Jazz vs. Iran game last night at the RMR. It was interesting to see how many Iranian fans came to the game. Many of them sported home-made-hand-painted t-shirts with the Iranian flag and “Iran” written on them. One fan painted his face in stripes of red, white and green. But the most attention was put on a man who played a huge, red, white and green kazoo. About 20 minutes prior to the game start, the kazoo man was off and blowing his chant: “toooooo, tooooo, to, to, to, to, to– Ee-rahn!” The Iranian fans seemed to know the drill, waiting for the kazoo’s rhythm to finish, they joined in with “Ee-rahn!” They smiled, danced in place, moving to the swing of the chant.
This definitely charged up the Iranian team. The team and their fans gave it their all throughout the entire game. No, the team couldn’t keep up. Yes, they lost. But that didn’t seem to matter. Their fans remained enthusiastic and proud prior to, during and after the game was over. The Iranian team even tossed red roses into the crowd. How is that for a classy act?
The Utah fans were great. They were respectful, patient and well-mannered. Wouldn’t it be great if everybody could be that respectful of others? Wouldn’t it be great if people could be passionate about their country and still be respected and tolerated by other people? Isn’t it great that the Utah Jazz and the NBA is a place where this can and does happen? Congratulations to the Rocky Mountain Review for making such a delightful and educational experience for all of us.
6 Comments to “The Kazoo Factor”
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great article! it was a great game to attend, i can only hope that next years revue has another, if not more, international presence.
I thought it was a great gesture by the Utah Jazz organization, not only to present the jersey, but to invite the Iranian team in the first place. Kudos!
Maybe we should start to solve our differences on the basketball court instead of the battlefield.
More was done by that gesture than anything the (”big whigs) have done in all their meetings, elections, and fighting. Being a Jazz fan makes a person extremely proud.
Great article Mrs.Chatterton! You are an awesome teacher and it was such a fun year doing Jazz Bots with you! Hope to see you soon! Love, Riley
As an Iranian I’ve to say that was the best thing you’ve done.
Unfortunately the government and those organizations which had to do something for this guy , did NOTHING about ‘Idin Nikkhah Baharami’ here in Iran , but you , Made all of ppl who care ! in my country happy …
Thanks guys , thanks a lot …
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