J R Stewart on February 02, 2009 said:

Pretty soon you’ll have to put up with “young whipper snapper” doctors. How could those youngsters know enough to treat your illness.

Then, when you hit my age, you’ll start wondering what the “youngster” (a few days younger than I am) is doing while he coaches the Jazz.

Enjoy your youth, such as it is.

Jazzaholic

Derek on February 02, 2009 said:

Great post.

I feel exactly the same way. This time around is worse than when I realized I was older than even a senior BYU quarterback.

The Roommate on February 02, 2009 said:

Again, as the roommate, I can attest that while the calendar pages continue to fall away like dying leaves on an autumn tree, my boy James is forever young. I just bought him a Utah helmet and brought it to him at our Friday speakeasy. He didn’t act 30 that night!

Helen on February 02, 2009 said:

Love this post James. It’s all so true. You are one of my two favorite Jazz bloggers.

MattC on February 03, 2009 said:

I think a subtle but undeniable shift in our fandom occurs as we leave our 20s behind. No longer do we try to emulate our favorite players and dream that one day maybe we will have the ball in our hands with the clock running down and the game on the line. Instead, we appreciate their abilities and root for their success. But more than anything we dream of the day when they win the big one and we can share the joy with our family and friends alike.

Trina on February 03, 2009 said:

Oh James. It is hard to grow older. You really do start to feel your age in moments like these, yet with maturity you also see the big picture. I like the big picture better. Great blog, you were always a great writer!!

Aubrey Thomsen on February 03, 2009 said:

Oh man! That really hit home! Happy 30th James! I still have 3 months, but I did see a gray hair the other day. Ahhh! I remember thinking 30 was so old! However, I do enjoy life more and more every day, so I’m guessing the 30’s are not so bad. Glad to hear from you, and I will let you know how mine goes in April! Aub

Linda McFarland on February 03, 2009 said:

Then there comes the time when you get a little worried because “that old fart” is flying your airplane or is your physician or anything of importance since they went to school with you and can’t possibly be “up” on the newest things. I have encountered that several times but more often have wondered about that “kid who will be operating on me. I want to ask a question and mention Monday’s game. We had wonderful tickets and I was sooo excited to be going to a game. Well, rather than a game, I went to the Emergency Room at midnight really sick.A 102 temperature, a right leg swollen like a basketball from the knee down. Well, it turned out to be a cellulitis and I had to have IV antbiotics every 4 hours. That put an end to heading to Salt Lake. My husband tried about every friend he could get in touch with and everyone was already tied up. We tried to give away great Jazz tickets and couldn’t do it!!!!! Is there a way that we could have tickets here in Idaho and have someone use them the same day in Utah?If this happens again NOT, I don’t want them to go to waste. This is not selling them, this is giving them away.. Comments on game will have to be another glog.

Linda McFarland on February 03, 2009 said:

I was somewhat unhappy with the first half of the game and then later in the second half they put in the second half ( that used to be the scrubs) and they played all. Collings didn’t mind getting beat on a little and gave it back in doubles. He “gave it to them” under the basket and played like he wanted to win. They may be a little scraggley but right now they are the bench and they did well in this game. Little funny to talk about who comes off the bench.

Aja on February 04, 2009 said:

hahahahahaa! Love it James! Yes, my friend, you are correct. My favorite part is the part about feeling self-conscious. I don’t think I have ever felt as self-conscious as I do now. I think I identified so much more with my heroes, that I essentially was my hero. I was invited to dance with my old College Dance team for Homecoming and shamefully, I did. It was fun and exciting to be on the field again. However, it was almost equally awkward and embarrassing. hahahahaha! But you can bet I will do it again next year because “I look good for an old lady!!”

ah on February 05, 2009 said:

I know exactly what you mean. It’s like how I love Louie Sakoda so much that I want to leave my husband and run away with him. And we would talk about business marketing and dan brown novels and how much we love the U and live happily ever after. But instead of being romantic, that dream is actually really creepy because I’m like five years older than him. That’s half a decade. Yuck.

Jill Thackeray on February 05, 2009 said:

Think how old I feel when James, my former student, laments his loss of youth. Age, while affecting the body, is all in the mind. I still feel 18 – just wiser.

Allegra on February 06, 2009 said:

So well put – a really lovely piece.

Joe Speredon on February 06, 2009 said:

I’m glad it’s not just me James. I find myself gravitating towards the “older” players because I can still remember being a fan of theirs in high school. Now we have the opportunity to compare the players that are now in the NBA with the memory we have of the ol’ days (just like my dad used to do with me)

Ben on February 09, 2009 said:

Appreciate this post? Well if by appreciate you mean “like”, then I’m not sure. However, if by appreciate you mean “relate”, then yes, I can relate, and painfully so. I am starting to realize that when I look in the mirror I still see the younger version of me, while everyone else sees the aging version. And, by and large, I share your sports heroes, except Scott Mitchell. Scott Mitchell, really? One thing about heroes as I grow older though, I find it has less to do with the best athletes and more to do with the athletes who exhibit the most admirable qualities. What 30+ year old can say they don’t respect Harpring? There is a hero I can appreciate.

James Seaman on February 09, 2009 said:

Ben,
Yeah, I’m a Harpring fan as well, though his best days have clearly passed him by. But he’s a dude who managed to squeeze every drop of productivity from his body before it finally just gave out. As for Scott Mitchell, he will always be a hero of mine for lowering the boom on the cougars in the Rice Bowl of 1988. 57-28, baby!

JayD on February 19, 2009 said:

I can remember when I was turning 30 , it really didnt sink in that I was getting older , I was to busy worrying about life . Now I am in my 40s and I am not in the shape I was in my 20s . I am reminded evry day that I cant do things like I did in my 20s without paying for it . But I know that I am not even close to being done yet . I have alot of good years left , so do you all.

As for my Heroes , I would have to say that my Dad tops them all , for what he tried to do to support a family of 6 kids . To me he is who I want to be like . Yes I wish that I could have had the talent that all those players have , but I learned a very valuable lesson with my father .
Oh yea , I am definately getting my gray hairs , so I hope that the saying is true that it is a sign of maturity , Ha Ha .

Great post James even if you are a Utes fan. I am glad that they beat Alabama for all the world to see. Maybe now our teams can get recognition .
Lets go Jazz !!!!