Of Bailey, Bloggers, and Bingo

Posted by D. Chris Estey on June 26, 2009

So I guess the plan was to meet at the ESA around 4:30ish, in a full posse with 10-15 Jazzbots bloggers and writers, eat some hot dogs, drink some free soda, play a little draft Bingo and cheer the Jazz through another series of A+ draft selections.

Then there were clouds; big, black clouds. And wind. And rain.

Penni (that’s my lovely girlfriend) and I arrived at the ESA at around 4 PM just as the forbidding clouds and wind began enshrouding the Salt Lake Valley. A very tall Annie (Whittaker) would arrive shortly after and as luck would have it the doors opened in time to spare us what looked like would be a very aquatic and miserable wait outside the building.

After locating my free hotdog and soda and finding a nice secluded area to sit with my lovely lady, big Thurl Bailey made an appearance in front of portal E. (pictured above, watching the draft) In my trademark fanatical fashion I walked right up and put my hand out, introduced myself and asked, “So have you read any of my articles on the site?”

“Chris Estey? Yes actually I have read a few of them,” he says.

“Cool, I will be sure to mention you on my next post, nice to meet you Thurl.”

Cool!! What a nice guy. Do I believe that he actually read and remembered my articles? No. But that’s ok. How excited was I to have a chance to shake hands with the Utah Jazz celebrity? Call me a lame-o but I was pretty star struck at the moment. That’s right baby. So, go me. I finally located Annie (Hi Annie) and James (Seaman) (Hi James) inside the arena at which point we locked down a row of seats at center court. A few minutes later Andy Larsen (Hi Andy) arrived and thus the yapping began. If you’re ever looking for a group of people who know how to flap their gums, find some writers and put them in their element. And the thing about it is that everyone had something interesting to say. I can admit that as a walk on to the team, it was a little bit intimidating. But I also must admit that it was really a lot of fun.

We were all handed a draft player Bingo type of game at the door and with the odds well against us none of us were able to win anything. Andy was virtually spot-on throughout the first 20 with his predictions and after 20 picks and two or three Bud lights we meandered over to the Skybox for dinner. Long story short, we ate we talked, I made some great friends and I’m pumped to see more of these guys in the future. I will be vacationing to New Orleans in August. See you there James. I’m going to try my absolute hardest not to get into a D-Will vs. CP3 fight with a Hornets fan. I will keep you posted on that. In the interim I shall keep everyone updated on my twisted thoughts and ideas about the eminent and major changes we will be seeing over the next week with the organization. Thanks to all who came for a great time.

Oh yeah, and I think the Jazz drafted a few players somewhere in the middle of all of that stuff. Go Jazz baby!!

9 Comments

JayD on June 26, 2009 said:

Wow Chris I bet that was cool to actually meet Thurl Bailey . I would love to meet him in person . It sounds like you all had a great time at the party . I wish that I could have been there . I would love to meet some of you from the blog , I am sure that it would be a hoot too . Thanks and keep up the good work , Jay

montgump on June 26, 2009 said:

Why did we not take Dejuan Blair?

mike on June 27, 2009 said:

maybe its a sign that we are keeping millsap. not to mention blair was taken 37th by the spurs.

James Seaman on June 27, 2009 said:

Chris, it was great meeting you. Holler at me when you’re in New Orleans.

James

Linda Kay on June 27, 2009 said:

Wow, I missed something that sounds like great fun. I guess that either I missed knowing about this when my computer was gone (forever and ever) or I knew about it and my pea sized brain let it slip by. If there is another time that the bloggers are together let me know and I will be there with bells on. Well anyway I wil be there!! As for the draft, I couldn’t quite figure out why we took another point guard and then whymy husband and I were talking about it I could look back last year at the injuries and see why we needed a good guard to take care of the spot if DWill wasn’t there. He also made me realize that there weren’t many really good power forwards or centers that were within out reach. Number 20 in a less than stunning draft doesn’t leave a lot. We know about the draft now what I am more anxious about is what about the preent roster. Who will stay, who will go and by what date will we know. Any fellow bloggers who know the answers? We paid the last installment on the tickets we purchased whiched was a Big pinch yesterday but it made me very, very anxious to get everything going. Go Jazz.

J R Stewart on June 27, 2009 said:

Thurl was my neighbor for several years, before moving to the Alpine area.

He is really a great guy. When he would come to church, he was usually mobbed, so I would just stand back, but he would always come over and say hi and shake my hand, and we’d talk for a few minutes.

I have shrunk at least 1″, possibly 2″, as I have gotten older, or maybe it’s just that memory thing! But, it’s really unbelievable how tall he, or someone like Mark Eaton, really is until you’re right next to them for a few minutes. We used to have seats on the 5th row, back when I had more money than good sense, and even then, you just can’t get the true feel for their dominance.

Thurl will always take a minute to talk to a fan and actually be interested in you as a person.

If you get the opportunity, say hi, he’s very approachable.

Jazzaholic

Pelon on June 27, 2009 said:

Saw Thurl going into a gas station in Alpine once. I was actully wearing a cheap Jazz T-shirt at the time so I had him autograph it for me.

Boondock Saint on June 29, 2009 said:

Man, sounds like a good time all around. Hanging with Thurl and the Jazzbots. I’m with JayD I think it’d be a good time to hang out with some of you from the Bot.

jessielou on June 29, 2009 said:

I met Thurl before a game last season. He was so nice and even let us stop and get a picture with him. such a great guy!

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