Revive This Blog

I think I may have figured out a way to post to this blog without it affecting my work situation. Hopefully, we won't be too far into football season before I start posting again...

-Bob

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

Jazz vs. 76ers, Kobes minus Kobe

Shortly, I'll be leaving to work the Jazz/76ers game in a new-year's-eve special. Aleen Iverson will probably drop 45 on us.

Then, the Jazz play a home-and-home against the Los Angeles Kobes, starting Tomorrow in LA.

Except that Kobe won't be there, for either game.

Turns out the NBA suspended him (I thought you couldn't suspend/fine/call a foul on God) for two games, which happen to be the two games against the Jazz.

-Bob

Michigan/Nebraska: Worst Officials Ever!

It's a good thing that Utah State got out of the Sun Belt Conference.

The SBC has some of the worst officials ever.

At least the San Antonio Bowl crew.

Nebraska won by four.

However, their team was on the feild before the game was over. The play was still going, and the entire bench was on the field.

15-yard penalty after the play, Michigan 1st and goal from the 8, 0:00 on the clock, final play.

Except, the refs swallowed their flags.

If the game had been in Ann Arbor, there would have been a riot on the field.

And I don't blame them.

-Bob

2005 in Sports

Let's congratulate the following teams on a successful 2005:

USC Trojans ~~ NCAA Football
New England Patriots ~~ NFL
North Carolina ~~ NCAA Basketball
San Antonio Spurs ~~ NBA
The Fans ~~ NHL
Chicago White Sox ~~ Baseball
London, England ~~ 2012 Olympics

-Bob

Jazz win 2 in a row

Whatever funk the Jazz were in seems to be gone.

Or, it was the fact that Yao Ming was absent, and TMac left at halftime (yet still lit up the Jazz for 21) so that he could be with his fiancee, who was going into labor with his child.

Ming/TMac gone means more than Boozer being gone for the Jazz.

Okur contributed a 20-point, 17 rebound effort for the Jazz, a night after a 23/10 OT outing with Memphis.

If Memo ever goes down with injury (knock on wood), we're screwed.

Up next: Annother Back-to-back at home Saturday with Philadelphia, then Sunday at the Lakers.

-Bob

Jazz: Last Night's Game

Last Night's Jazz Game against Memphis was great! It looked like all was lost when, with 3:30 left in the third, we were down 18. But, it's amazing what a 20-point run will do to you.

And, we didn't let down in Overtime, like we did against the Lakers.

Up tonight is the Rockets in Houston. Then, Philadelphia back in the Delta Center New Year's Eve.

-Bob

Robert Whaley

There is a reason I have not commented on the Robert Whaley/Bobby Williams, Deron Williams/Torrey Ellis situation.

It is because I am employed by the Delta Center, a division of Larry H Miller Sports and Entertainment, and therefore need to be careful in what I say.

So, you will get a no comment from me on most Jazz-related matters.

-Bob

The Call: Lakers/Jazz 12/1/05

In my job at the Delta Center, I have a unique opportunity. I happen to work on floor level. In the corner where the infamous foul/nonfoul on Kobe Briant took place Thursday Night.

Unfortunately, I had to watch it on the Jumbotron. The fact is that there were too many employees (fellow ushers, security, the Jazz Dancers, Bear, etc.) standing in there to have a good view. I would have had a decent view of the play, but everyone was standing up in my way.

So, I saw the Jumbotron. And, I don't remember hearing the whistle.

Upon looking at the replays, there was no foul. Kobe Briant claims that Brown kicked his legs out from under him. However, the replays show NO CONTACT with Kobe's legs before, during, or after the shot.

However, do I blame the officials for blowing the call and costing the Jazz the game? No. For several reasons:

1) The Michael Jordan Rule. The big name players will always get the call. Kobe may be a third the player MJ was, but he is the League right now. He will always get the call. The Jazz enjoyed Stockton and Malone occasionally getting the star call.

2) Bad officiating. The official who blew that call missed several calls in the game anyway, so it wasn't unexpected.

3) The Jazz beat themselves. Harpring missed a free throw just seconds before the phantom foul that would have made all this a moot point. Kobe fouled out in OT, but the Jazz couldn't capitalize. The guy who hit the 3 to put LA up by 4 in the closing seconds was wide open. We wit sub-40% of our shots in the game.

4) At least we showed up to the game. It wasn't a 60-point effort.

-Bob

(Cross-posted on my political blog, The World, According to Me.)

Over at DailyKos, I was reading through Pete Ashdown's diary about Hatch's recent poll numbers (losing 45-48% to "someone else."

And a poster said this, which got me thinking:

My only suggestion is for Mr. Ashdown to pledge to aggressively fight to get the Mountain West Conference into the Bowl Championship Series on an equal basis with all other conferences with automatic bids. Hatch held some hearings, but the simple fact is that the unholy exclusionary monopolistic BCS was allowed to come into existence on Hatch's watch and it continues.

This has resulted in untold millions of dollars being funnelled into schools other than Utah and BYU (and all other MWC schools) simply by reason of the existence of the exclusionary oligopoly.

This is an issue that is Utah-specific and should be aggressively pushed by any challenger to the odious Hatch, who has been a miserable failure in attempting to overcome the horrendous effects of the monopolization of the college football industry.

This is the kind of thing that polititions don't usually talk about, but would get people interested.

Pete, please do it.

-Bob

Some more Rivalry Smack

A friend e-mailed these to me.

"It's a good thing Orson Pratt was not made President of the LDSChurch. Otherwise BYU would have been named OPU."-Ute fan

"What do you get when you cross U of U football with a groundhog? Sixmore weeks of bad football."-BYU fan

"What's the difference between a BYU fan and a puppie? Eventually thepuppy grows up and stops whining."-Ute fan

"How many Ute freshman does it take to change a lightbulb? None, it'sa sophomore course."-BYU fan