ReAL Phoenix? And Utah as a "big" league sports town.

In today's Tribune, Kurt Kragthorpe says that losing Real Salt Lake will hurt Salt Lake City's image as being a big-league sports team.

It's an image that we don't have.

RSL says that they will make a profit in 5 years if they have their own stadium they don't have to build to rent out for concerts (because that's what this city lacks is concert venues), and has 20,000 fans per game (near-sellout crowds, BTW).

I'm not surprised they aren't doing as hot. The Blitzz sure didn't sell any tickets, and they put a winning product on the field.

It's the problem the WNBA had when they brought the Starzz here: They overestimated the market for women's basketball. They figured the Jazz sold out nearly every game, and lots of people in town play bball. But, the UofU women's team got 1,000 people per game, and those were free.

Right now, sports in Utah aren't doing real well financially, and it's probably because there's an oversaturation of sports in town.

The Jazz had their smallest crowds since the Delta Center opened. The Grizzlies averaged 1/4 capacity, and they were a playoff team. The Bees worse than that.

The only team to do well lately has been the Blaze, and the jury's still out on that one. Will the newness wear off? It's hard to know.

But this I do know: It's hard to call yourself a major league town when you can't even support minor league teams.

-Bob

Rocky Mountain Raceways

Yesterday, I attended the opener for Rocky Mountain Raceways' 2006 season. It was fun, except for one thing.

Some of their classes are really small.

For instance, the figure-8s consisted of 4 cars.

And, the most they had on the track at a time was 3.

That's not fun for anybody.

However, in the Modifieds, Lynn Hardy was back to his beating and banging self. Some people were really getting into it, some arguing he wasn't being penalized enough, others saying he shouldn't be penalized.

This should be good.

-Bob

Springtime

Ah, spring is in the air. I'm writing this from the third floor of the main salt lake library, looking out the window at the fresh snow-capped mountains. The sky is a beatuiful blue, and things are good. The Jazz season is done after tonight, and we're two weeks into the Bees season. Not to mention 3/4ths of the Blaze and the start of Real Salt Lake's season.

Life is good.

-Bob

Blaze Opener

I'm sorry that it's been so long since my last post. My life is a little too crazy at the moment to write on 3 blogs, so I make do with what I have.

For the Blaze home opener last Saturday, I was positioned near the players' wives' room, so I didn't get to really see anything. However, the crowd seemed good-sized, and was loud. I did enjoy KJZZ's broadcast of the game.

-Bob

Blaze Home Opener in 10 Days!!

The Utah Blaze open in 10 days, and I am so excited!!!

Oh, and Bob on Sports has learned that Lt Governor Gary Herbert will do the opening coin flip.

-Bob

Antonio Davis

At first, I thought Antonio Davis was a hero for going into the stands to protect his wife, and that the NBA would be foolish to punish him.

However, as I thought about it, I realized that Davis could have gotten himself into big trouble. He painted a large target on his back, just asking for a fan to throw a punch. Also, this was shortly after a heated fistfight on the court between players, much like the start of the Artest thing a year ago.

Players need to be aware that if there is a problem, the security and guest services staff at the arena will take care of things. We keep an eye on the crowd, and if anything seems unusual, we watch closely. If you see something happening, grab someone from security. They'll go get it. That's their job. Your job is to play basketball, and ignore the stands.

Do I think he deserved a five game suspension? No. 1-2 would have sent the message.

Also, the story about what was going on in the stands is coming out, and what hapopened depends on who you ask.

We'll start ladies first, from the Chicago Sun-Times:

New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis said his wife, Kendra, was physically assaulted Wednesday at the United Center, and that was the reason he waded into the stands.

''First of all, the guy did swing at her and did grab her,'' Davis, who was hit with a five-game suspension, said Thursday on Sporting News Radio. ''My wife said the guy was rude and all that, and that's understandable. You can't control what a guy is saying.

''But when it becomes a physical matter where someone is placing his hands on my wife, then that's a whole [different] matter.

''I think there was an usher, a security guard, that came down and said something to him. And then someone else jumped into the conversation and began to call my wife names and came over and, I think, grabbed her, from what my understanding is.''

And, now for the Gentleman, from the Seattle Times:

Michael Axelrod, the 22-year-old fan that Davis confronted, said he did nothing wrong — and he plans to file a $1 million battery and slander suit against Davis and his wife, Kendra. Axelrod said Kendra Davis tried to scratch him after he protested a call. He said he never laid a hand on her and he was not drunk, as the Knicks forward contended.

...

"Once the ref blows his whistle, I yell out, 'That's a terrible call,' and then I start booing with everybody else," Axelrod said.

"She gets in my face and says, 'These are his kids. Shut your ... mouth,' " said Axelrod.

"She has her finger on me, on my cheek. She was digging her finger in. I thought she might start scratching me," Axelrod said. "I say, 'Get your hands off me. Don't touch me, I'm trying to watch the game.' "

He said she then started rubbing his cheek and mocking him, saying, " 'I'm not touching you. It's OK, baby.' "

"I felt like hitting her, but you can't — she's a woman," he said

FanFest

Last Night, the Utah Blaze had their FanFest at the Delta Center. I was going to bring my digital camera, but I forgot.

Anywho, the feild looked great, and it was fun to see a football practice. The team spent an hour signing autographs after the game. the feild was covered with fans seeking those autographs.

While the crowd was small, they were devoted to the Blaze and arena football. Many of theose I talked to had been fans of the Warriors.

I heard that we've sold 7,000 season tickets.

3 weeks until the season opener.

-Bob

Utah Blaze

Hey, am I the only one excited about the upcoming Utah Blaze season? Maybe it's the fact that I work at the Delta Center, and so I get to see the games for free, but I'd be geeked about it anyway, I think.

Anyway, here's some important dates to know about, along with the Blaze's TV schedule:

January 12: Fan Fest at the Delta Center. Free to the Public, 4-8PM. Watch the team practice, and then get autographs afterward. Also, check out your seats.

January 28: Season Opener @ San Jose, 8:30 PM on FSN Utah.

January 4: Home Opener vs. Dallas, 7:00 PM on KJZZ.

The rest of the TV schedule:

Feb 25: @ Los Angeles 8:30 FSN Utah
March 4: vs. San Jose 7:00 FSN Utah
March 16: @ Grand Rapids 5:00 FSN Utah
March 24: vs. Las Vegas 7:00 KJZZ
April 7: vs Arizona 7:00 PM FSN Utah
April 15: vs. Los Angeles 7:00 FSN Utah
April 21: @ Colorado 7:00 FSN Utah
May 6: @ Chicago 6:00 FSN Utah
May 12: Vs. Kansas City 7:00 KJZZ

-Bob

5 in a row!

The Jazz have now won five games in a row!

That puts us in a tie with Minnesota for first place in our division (at .500). We've played 4 more games than the T-Wolves.

Moreover, it makes us the 8th seed, if the playoffs were to start today.

Let's keep it up on the 4-game road trip!

-Bob