Of Jealousy and All-Stars

Posted by Mallory Meyer on February 16, 2009

Honesty is the best policy–or atleast that’s what I’ve always been told. But that’s one of those ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ kinda things, because no one is honest 100 percent of the time.

When dishonesty hits, occasionally it’s that we aren’t being honest with others, but most of the time, it’s that we aren’t being honest with ourselves. We rationalize, suppress, and defend to cover up those frightening pieces of us that we don’t want to admit are there. Think about it–the moment we feel afraid, intimidated, or insecure we immediately shoot up walls to keep those ‘weaker’ pieces from showing.

Fans do this all the time, and I’ll admit that I’m usually right in the middle of it. I like a nice brawl with a Laker or Suns fan, and secretly I like dealing with the overly ignorant ones. But as we banter back and forth, each attack and counterattack is to cover and conceal our feelings of insecurity about our own team. You can’t tell me that it doesn’t sting when Laker’s fans throw out the “And how many championship rings do you have?” My response usually begins with “Uh, uh, yeah, well so? Uh, how many has Kobe won on his own?” My stumble proves that they do have a point. The fact that we have no rings is a sore spot for me and I naturally go in defend mode when opposing fans hit at my insecurity.

I’ve never wanted to admit this, but I really realized yesterday that some of my hatred for teams has a small element of jealousy intertwined in it. No, I don’t want to admit it, but I’d be a liar if I didn’t acknowledge that it’s there. It hit me hard yesterday afternoon as I was listening to the “Meet the All-Stars” show on ESPN radio on my drive up to Salt Lake. The first guest I heard was none other than Mr. Kobe Bryant. NO, I am not a Kobe fan–and I never will be–but I searched deep in my soul and realized that I was a little jealous by some of the things he had to say.

–I’m jealous of Kobe’s on the court demeanor and the intensity he brings into the locker room. The interviewers were talking and joking with him about how even when he was a 17 or 18 year old rookie, he would call people out at practice if they weren’t running at full speed. He laughed that no one liked getting yelled at by a punk kid, but he said that’s just the kind of person he is. I am jealous of his intensity. I am jealous that he holds his teammates accountable. I am jealous that the Lakers have such a vocal leader. I wish our leader was more vocal at times. I once heard him say, though, that that just isn’t who he is.

–I’m jealous of Phil Jackson’s coaching ability. I HATE, HATE, HATE this man, but honestly, he must be doing something right. Kobe talked about how he has really evolved as a coach and has adapted as new players have come in. He said that he has changed over the years to mesh better with players and do things differently to become a better coach. I’m jealous that the Lakers have seen this coaching progression. While I love our coach, I sometimes wish the words flexible and personable were actually parts of his repetoire.

–I’m jealous of how much fun the Blazers are having. Brandon Roy was the guest following Bryant, and you know what–those Blazers really seem to be having fun! They are a bunch of young guys who seem to really play as a united whole and they seem to really be enjoying themselves out there. Roy talked about how they emphasize that they have to play together because they are all too young and inexperienced to do it on their own. Young, united, fun basketball is great basketball. Sometimes I wish our own squad could be just a little less uptight. I wish we could enjoy the game of basketball a little more. I wish we could play like a united team no matter what NBA city we happened to be playing in.

It scares me to death to admit that I have been bit by the jealousy bug a time or two in my career as a fan. But for some reason, I feel more secure than ever in my fandom after having let it all out. So next time a Laker fan pulls out the “You Have No Rings” slam, I’m just going to look at him and say, “ You know what? You are right, I wish we had a ring. That’s gotta be a good feeling. And I will cheer for my Jazz til the day I die because nothing will be sweeter than when that day comes.” End of story. Case closed. What could my Laker friend possibly say to that?

I love you Jazz, even if others do make me a little jealous,

–Mal

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Caderade on February 16, 2009 said:

Phil Jackson’s overrated. Anyone can win championships with MJ, Kobe, and Shaq on their team. I’ll take Sloan any day of the week.

Brian McCann on February 16, 2009 said:

Mal, good post, but don’t give up on them yet…we are just about as young as the Blazers, and have had some great success in the past couple of years. Plus, where do you think Portland would be if they lost Roy for the first half of the season? My guess is they would not be having so much fun.

My point is, Deron is 24, Carlos is 27 (and may very well be back next year:), and the rest of the team aren’t exactly old either. We will bounce back from this year (hopefully starting tomorrow).

As for Philip- Great coach, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see him take on a team without an established superstar to see how good he really is. Only choosing to coach teams that are poised to win can have a pretty obvious outcome-although he does a good job of taking them to the next level. What would happen though if he took over for the Clips, Thunder, or Bobcats? I have a lot of respect for Larry Brown for taking on that challenge, but Philip would never do it.

J R Stewart on February 16, 2009 said:

I hate the Lakers because of their ‘entitlement.’ Pill goes to the teams with the best players. Put those players on any other team and watch the rings migrate. Pill’s arrogance is unending. Kobe’s humility is nonexistent. The Lakers buy their championships by grossly overspending and disregarding the luxury tax. A ring at any cost! They feel entitled to free gifts like Pau and Fish, giving up nothing in return. They seem to cheat the system any way they can.
Contrast that with the Blazers, since they’ve got rid of all their thugs, or the Jazz.
There are teams/coaches/organizations you can cheer for and those you hate.

Jazzaholic

Linda McFarland on February 16, 2009 said:

Really great blog Mal, and so very true about a lot of us. The only thing is that I can’t share is the admiration of Phil. Like other bloggers said, he has had great talent all along and you can’t convince me that in that locality there isn’t some “under the table” money that crosses hands. If Jack Nicholson thinks his Lakers are wonderful and they need maybe several thousand dollars for something I am sure it comes about. That place is $,$,$ and they are people who are used to getting what they want. It is just me but I have often wondered if there wasn’t some money that was given to Fisher to entice him to come their way Money talks and even if it is against the NBA rules, it wouldn’t matter to those people. They get what they want no matter what. Oh well, I am thrilled with our organization and also wish our coach had those two traits, but I will take him with the traits he has over Phil anyday!!!!!

Boondock Saint on February 16, 2009 said:

I feel ya Mal. I don’t agree with what you admire in Kobe or Phil but I feel where you are coming from. My issues with the Jazz’s lack of leadership and intensity run deep because I feel that it is our last hurdle to get that ring. The problem is that we might well lose the pieces they have put together to win that ring before we learn to be intense on the road and against sub par teams. I feel the jealousy Mal and I’m with ya that the day will come when we will all feel the sweetness of that championship.

Mal on February 16, 2009 said:

Woah, woah, woah Mr. Brian McCann. How in any way did I indicate I was giving up on my Utah Jazz?

It seems like some people are going into ‘defend mode’ as we speak. It sounds like you yourself might be a little jealous JR that the Lakers will spend over the luxury tax while our organization will not.

Don’t be afraid of jealousy–it’s just a natural part of life.

James Seaman on February 16, 2009 said:

Mal,
Jealous? No way. Of course I’d love to win a championship. But I’d rather lose gloriously and with a ton of guts and go down with my ship than be winning somewhere else. And every bitter year–every heartbreaking spring–even as I have to choke back the sadness and anger, there still isn’t a place on Earth I’d rather be than alongside my Jazz. And that’s what will make the promised land worth it when we finally make it there.

Mal on February 17, 2009 said:

Hey Boondock, I didn’t see your comment til after I already made my last one, but I have to comment back to you because I love that you have courageously admitted your jealousy as a fan! No one else has had that same courage Everyone else is still hiding from that piece of them . I love that you get it that you can be jealous yet can still be the BIGGEST fan in the whole world. Good work Boondock. We are the same kind of fan. Keep reading and posting. I always love what you have to say.

Boondock Saint on February 17, 2009 said:

I must admit that I feel the same way as James though….rather lose gloriously with guts, heart and the rest of the world against us than win with star treatment and a bigger bank roll. My jealousy stems from traits that other players/teams have like intensity and leadership and that the Jazz are still working on. I think Deron is doing his best but he needs another voice in that locker room (ESPECIALLY on the road). Nothing was better than being at the Lakers vs. Jazz game and Deron took the mantle and handled business. James, I think that you’ll find that “every bitter year–every heartbreaking spring–even as we have to choke back the sadness and anger, there still isn’t a place on Earth” you’ll find fans like you, me and Mal (and anyone else that comments on this blog) would rather be then right by each other and behind our Jazz.

drew on February 17, 2009 said:

refreshing objective blog… best one iv read on the jazz forums. well done.

and think about the phil jackson thing this way, to some of you rebutting mal – you may think he is a horrible coach, or overrated but his coaching style is spot on for teams that have one superstar and then mediocre players, not for teams like the jazz or spurs who are more well rounded. some coaches and organizations function better off of well rounded teams and some better off of a superstar with a few more less qualified players. i support the jazz but i also think the nba has moved into an era where the teams with superstars like kobe, lebron, kg, and howard are most likely to win championships. and it is kind of leaving behind the overall well rounded conservative teams.

Mal on February 18, 2009 said:

Thanks Drew! The homerism here at the Bot is kinda getting to me too . Thanks for contributing to the honest conversation.

Brian McCann on February 18, 2009 said:

Mal- Is that a direct shot at me?:)

Jenn Sokia on February 20, 2009 said:

I had to learn to admit the jealousy a while ago since I am living with a Laker fan. I find myself less angry and more supportive when I can admit my jealousy of other players/teams.

Mal on February 20, 2009 said:

Brian, no direct shots, just a general statement . The only person I take direct shots at on this site is the one and only Carlos Boozer.

Marielle on February 23, 2009 said:

Mal- I’m so proud to have a NBA know-it-all as a best friend. And I mean that as a compliment. I am so happy with the progress you have made as a Jazz fan. GO JAZZ!

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