Tennor on April 14, 2009 said:

Great post. Our Utah Jazz is such a great team to be a fan of. We don’t have the millions of band-wagon fans, just the hard-core, everyday, loyal fans. Go Jazz!!

Trent on April 14, 2009 said:

Where would I be without the Jazz? They are my favorite sports team to watch. Although many have been disappointed with the end of this season, I still have that fanatic in me saying they will go further than the first round of the playoffs.

Let’s hope the fanatic is right! Go Jazz!

Betty on April 14, 2009 said:

I couldn’t agree more. I will always be a Jazz fan no matter how well or bad they are doing. ESPECIALLY when they aren’t playing at the level we know they can play at. That’s when they need their fans the most! Every team has its ups and downs. We should be grateful that our team has had more ups than downs. So just because we are having a bad few weeks, don’t give up on them. Give them the credit they deserve. They’re a great team. TRUE fans always remember how great they are even when they aren’t playing that way. Remind them why they have the best fans in the league!!

Boondock Saint on April 14, 2009 said:

Chris….dude they gave you your own blogging rights. Rock on bro. Referring back to one of Mal’s previous posts about the type of fans we can be I just want to make it clear (although anybody that has read any of my posts will know) that I never give up on the Jazz. I’ve criticized their defense as of late, their heart, and all that stuff but I’ve never and will never give up on them. I’m what Mal called the coaching kinda fan as opposed to the cheerleader but then again…if someone starts talking poorly about my Jazz well I’ll defend them to the bitter end. So I guess I’m both. Love the Jazz, love the sport, thanks for the great blog and I’m glad you got your own little space. Keep the good stuff coming.

Derrick Daye on April 14, 2009 said:

@ Boondock Saint – we had to add Chris to the Jazzbots Staff. Yes, he’s a walk-on but already making an impact. We enjoy your input too BS. (I mean that, that’s just how your name is abbreviated)

Derrick

Boondock Saint on April 14, 2009 said:

Good call to add him Derrick good call.

Brian McCann on April 14, 2009 said:

Despite my rants as of late, I feel the same way. This is our team. I know what they are capable of at this point, so things can get a little frustrating at times, but I will never give up on them. Let’s beat LA tonight baby!

Mal on April 14, 2009 said:

Welcome aboard Chris! It’s nice to have some new blood flowing!

Boondock, I am right there with you. I will forever be a coach-like fan, but once a stupid Lakers/Suns/Rockets fan starts ripping on our club, I am right there with my pom-poms up high in the air for our Utah Jazz. It’s like how we all make fun of our little siblings and/or boss them around and tell them what to do, but once our friends or anyone else starts speaking ill of them, we immediately go into defend mode. I’m glad to say that the Utah Jazz are the little brother I never had.

Annie Whittaker on April 14, 2009 said:

I’ve written a rant, and I don’t know if it will see the light of day, but I haven’t given up on the team. I’m just really mad at them right now. Maybe it’s similar to the way a parent feels when their kid really ticks them off? I too defend the Jazz, I’ve even defended Carlos Boozer, even though my patience has come really close to being worn too thin for him.

I just wish the players could look at all that they were able to accomplish at the same time that they had what seemed to be insurmountable odds. They overcame them in a scenario a lot less scary than it has been in the last 2 weeks. Maybe they’ll figure it out by tonight.

Nancy Mahler on April 14, 2009 said:

Great post!! Welcome aboard Chirs.

Deb on April 14, 2009 said:

That was a great post, Chris. Sometimes it is hard to be a loyal Jazz fan and not to want someone to break the code of the locker room and let us in on exactly what is wrong. I am not sure I would want someone to know why I have my ups and downs and why i yelled at the lady at the pharmacy today for no good reason. Of course I don’t make millions of dollars a year, but then I am paid for the work I do and it is not always the best. It is easy to look back at the Stockton and Malone days through rose-colored glasses, but there were ups and downs then too. Would Karl be back next year? Were he and Larry fighting over something again? Why doesn’t Stockton ever sweat and shouldn’t Stockton score more? And will Greg Ostertag ever stand up to the Big Cactus, or is it the big Jaberwockky? I believe it is human nature to want our heroes to be better than us. Just try to remember tonight after the game (win or lose) how good it felt to watch Deron pound his chest after making a big shot or Memo imitating Kobe running down the court or Kyle Korver finally really sincerly smilling after making that shot against Houston in the play-offs last year. None of those are quite THE SHOT , but they do bring a smile to the lips and joy to the heart of us Jazz Fans.

DeronWIlliams4President on April 14, 2009 said:

What a good post! Stoked to see more good things to come, Chris!

Boondock Saint I’m right there with ya, man! I’ve had a lot of critiscism to hand the Jazz in the past few weeks; but I still don’t let anybody talk bad about them! It’s kinda like “I can beat up my little bro, but if you touch him I’ll kill you” only my little brother is a collobarative some odd thousand pounds. I screamed just as loud when they beat the Clips, as when they beat the Lakers. They’re still OUR boys in blue.

DeronWIlliams4President on April 14, 2009 said:

And on a side note: Some friends and I are gonna be at the Iggy’s on Union Heights. Come hang out! I’ll be wearing blue shorts, and probably the Item of the Game shirt from last night!

Levi on April 15, 2009 said:

It was great watching Deron bring it tonight, but the Jazz had better step up the defense if they are going to win a series against the Lakers. Was anyone else impressed with Fez tonight? That hammer dunk was awesome! I know he didn’t play for long tonight, and while he made a couple mistakes, I thought he was playing with more intensity than I’ve seen in the past. That’s what I want to see from the Jazz. If they show up and play intense, physical, never say die basketball, then I’m happy win or lose. It’s watching a talented team play below thier level that is frustrating.

The Jazz proved tonight that they can score against the Lakers. All we need now is stops on defense. I hope Jery Sloan can figure out a rotation that will work in defending LA’s three bigs. I think the mere presence of Fez may be something to try a little more, but I very well could be wrong, it does seem like a big gamble. I hope the Jazz can pull something together on defense. For most of the game tonight the Jazz looked good. This could be a good series.

Jake on April 15, 2009 said:

I totally agree about the Jazz being an underdog team, I always want to prove my friends wrong that the jazz are something, but I wish the Jazz could play a little better ball.

Chris Estey on April 15, 2009 said:

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. I hope you guys enjoy my posts and there are plenty more to come. We have a HUGE series with LA and although I know it may not be what we wanted, crazier things have happened. I am the eternal optimist, to a fault sometimes. But we have seen Dallas, when they were the number one seed get beat by the 8th in the first round. With how tight the playoffs are this year, record wise, there is not a whole lot of separation between us and them. So if Golden State could take out Dallas why can’t we take out LA? It’s unlikely, but if these guys get it together for the playoffs and can pull it off we would be in the high bracket and would face the winner of 4 and 5. I would favor us in a series with anyone but the Lakers. So if we can pull the upset vs. the Lakers I think we could quite possibly come out of the West. It’s a long shot, but look at what New York did back in the late 90’s with their Cinderella run.

Betty on April 15, 2009 said:

Chris, I must say I appreciate your optimism. I still think our boys can take the Lakers. They have it in them, they just need to step it up a notch.

Rebecca Dean on April 15, 2009 said:

I have loved the Jazz for many years. I am a diehard I confess. The Stockton and Malone years were the best. I am sad to see them up against the Lakers this playoff but know I will be watching till the end most faithful.

jessielou on April 15, 2009 said:

Chris-thanks for the great post! It helped us all remember what we love about our boys. The eternal optimism was much needed.

Linda McFarland on April 15, 2009 said:

Keep it up Chris. I am already beginning to have withdrawal (SP) symptoms because the regular season is over. Life without at least a game a week will drive me crazy!! Anne did some comparison to how a mother is with her children. My kids are all gone to other places with their families so maybe the Jazz sort of (in a strange way) take the place of our kids. Now if you take that literally it is rather strange to have someone who is a middle class in about everything have that sort of “protective love” of a man who is famous and makes more money than I can even fatham. I do love our Jazz and always will as long as they keep our organization as it is and has been for a long time. The ups and downs, the losing when we should win, the injuries, and all the personal sadness that Coach has had this year all drive me to the highest highs and the lowest lows but I stay in there and love them all the time. It couldn’t be said any better than you did Chris. I thought the Jazz showed some real promise against the Lakers so we will see……

Eddie Rodriguez on April 15, 2009 said:

GREAT BLOG! Everything you said i can relate to and comprehend. Well SAID! Rep the people. GO JAZZ!!!!!

JayD on April 16, 2009 said:

I am glad that you wrote that post Chris , it reminds us who we are . We are a great nation us Jazz fans . I am a avid Jazz fan too . I get excited when they play well and rant and rave when they dont . too defend them , because most of the people I know dont feel the same as me about this great team . I know that these guys are very capable of beating the Lakers . They have all the talent , they just need to bring it on . hey need to show they want to win .
Win or lose though I will always be here supportng our Jazz .
So as Bolerjack would say , its time to buckle up , its going to be a fun ride .
I have faith that we can win this series with the Lakers , so lets cheer them on .
Go Jazz !!!!!!!!!

Doug Dellwo on April 16, 2009 said:

The Jazz are my team too. I think they have the pieces in place and really…even this year … the experience to move to the championship series. I am a fan, win or lose, but I hate to lose and I hate to make excuses for losing. I think thats why I like Jerry Sloan so much. He is such a good human being. When these men win it all he will be the first one to give them all of the credit and take none himself. And rightly so…I just hope it is this year that they buy in and play in the playoffs like we know they can.