The Utah Jazz have captured the imagination of fans at levels unseen since the days of Stockton-to-Malone and their NBA Finals runs.
It’s pretty hard to deny that the Utah Jazz have one of the most passionate fanbases in the NBA. There was even a time when Jazz fans may have even been the league’s best. Images of Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan plugging their ears because the Delta Center crowd was just too darn loud during the 1997 and ’98 NBA Finals immediately come to mind.
Make no mistake, the state of Utah — and other fans from around the world — had a bad case of Jazz fever back then. A rather serious condition, indeed, and one that looks to be taking hold once again.
So much so that it’s causing real world problems.
The effects of Jazz fever
Last week, the fever was so intense for fans attending a Sunday matinée showing of the hit musical Hamilton that many in the crowd felt compelled to track the score of Game 1 between the Jazz and the Rockets on their phones throughout the performance.
Obviously, that’s not good theater etiquette, and it drove actor Joseph Morales into an understandable Twitter rage —
SLC, you’re killing me. Put your phones away. We can see you. This isn’t a movie. What is up with you guys?
— Joseph Morales (@JosephAMorales) April 29, 2018
...by all means, go to the game or stay home. This is what we’re dealing with in SLC, folks. So rude it’s shocking. https://t.co/g8MVWzvgky
— Joseph Morales (@JosephAMorales) April 30, 2018
The Hamilton incident wasn’t an isolated one, either. Jazz fever also caused a Utah attorney to miss a filing deadline in a medical benefits case.
Brian King, who is also the minority leader of the Utah House of Representatives, cited “bad officiating, Jazz turnovers and poor shot selection, the absence of the best defense player in the league, and Westbrook” as reasons for missing the deadline in a motion filed after the Jazz lost Game 5 of their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He went on to say that the loss had a “dispiriting” emotional affect that caused the procedural lapse.
Luckily, King received an extension from the judge. But it just goes to show that even lawyers and government officials aren’t immune.
ICYMI, a Utah lawyer asked for leniency after missing a deadline in a lawsuit because the @utahjazz lost: https://t.co/dtDJdMRTHQ @fox13 #takenote #Utah
— Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) April 29, 2018
Speaking of, the State Auditor’s Office is coming down on the town of Plymouth in Box Elder County, Utah. The reason — town officials improperly used $684 to purchase Jazz tickets. Per the audit report, they also spent $47.51 on a meal.
About the price of a hot dog, medium drink and some Dippin’ Dots at the Viv, amirite?
Next: Four adjustments the Utah Jazz need to make for Game 2
In any event, the fever is clearly running rampant once again. Which, if you ask me, is a beautiful thing.