The Utah Jazz are set to embark on what could be their most successful season in years, but they’ve been winning big away from the hardwood for some time.
The Utah Jazz are good. That short and simple statement can mean many things. In the world of sports, that sentence would usually refer to the level of skill a team has, its ability to win ball games. Today, however, I am referring to another type of good.
Let me start by saying that none of this is meant to suggest that other teams are not good. The NBA as a whole stands apart when it comes to doing good in the community (such as the NBA Cares program, as well as awarding a monthly and annual prize called The Community Assist Award).
The Association expects athletes to be responsible role models for youth, it has taken a stand for multiple causes throughout the years and has generally done a pretty decent job of avoiding significant scandals (the recent China issue aside).
Many other clubs do great and wonderful things for their individual communities.
At the same time, we should recognize how incredibly fortunate we are to be represented by such a unique organization such as the Utah Jazz — and by “unique,” I mean entirely unprecedented.
Pioneers of Charity
Most recently, the team has agreed to extend its partnership with Qualtrics, a Provo-based company that has sponsored the 5 for the Fight patch worn on the left shoulder of each Jazz jersey. Of course, a huge portion of credit must go to Qualtrics for opting to forego their own logo and brand recognition in favor of supporting cancer research.
And while other teams are wearing logos for General Electric, Goodyear, Western Union, and Fitbit, the Jazz continue to sport a charity that has already raised more than $24 million for the cause. To this point, the Jazz are the first and only team to have a charity’s logo on their uniform.
Standing Against Racism
For any organization to be great, it must first have great leadership. When it comes to Gail Miller, the owner of the franchise, that is a significant understatement. The widowed wife of Larry Miller (a great man in his own right), she has proven to be both kind and fierce, soft-spoken yet passionate, amazing yet humble.
After some drama with Russell Westbrook during the 2018-19 season, it was discovered that some inappropriate things had been said by a Utah heckler. Westbrook stated his belief that the comments were racist in nature and a subsequent investigation by the Jazz organization seemed to agree that, at the very least, the comments crossed a line.
Over the next couple of days, as the investigation was taking place, the rest of the country waited, debated, and watched intently to see how the Utah Jazz would respond. The result started with a lifetime ban for the fan.
Many organizations might have left it at that. Perhaps a PR-written and legally reviewed statement on the team’s website or in the paper. That wasn’t enough for Gail Miller, though. For her, it was personal.
Only a few short days after the Westbrook incident, Gail took to center court, armed with a microphone and a hand-written note. This usually soft-spoken woman proceeded to personally condemn any such behavior in the future.
Like a mother scolding her child, she firmly reminded the entire state of who we are and what we stand for, and that such actions and words would not be tolerated. Our team’s owner is not your typical franchise owner.
Loyalty
The same woman took out a full-page ad to thank the departing Jazzmen this recent offseason. It is clear that Gail Miller truly and deeply cares for the players, her employees, the organization and the community.
I can’t even begin to go into the details of the loyalty that both Larry and Gail Miller have shown over and over again to coaches, players and other members of the organization.
During the summer of 2018, it was said by many that Derrick Favors and Dante Exum were overpaid by the Jazz. There are a number of business-centered reasons for those contracts that can be debated, but the bottom line is that the Jazz were taking care of one player that had sacrificed and another that deserved one more shot at success.
Long-time players such as John Stockton, Karl Malone, Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, Thurl Bailey and many, many others would probably have something to say about the loyalty of the Jazz organization.
Players aren’t the only ones. Just a few days ago, Quin Snyder sounded pretty excited to have extended his contract with the Jazz — and how quickly did the Jazz trade away their franchise player after Deron Williams frustrated Jerry Sloan to the point of calling it quits?
Gifting A Franchise
I have yet to mention the most insane and unprecedented thing a sports organization has ever done! Imagine you own a franchise. Now imagine giving it away. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but what Gail Miller did in 2017 was about as close as it gets for a team owner.
When Gail transferred ownership of the Utah Jazz to an irrevocable legacy trust, it was specifically because she wanted to ensure that Utah would always have their team; theoretically for up to 1,000 years! Not only would the trust deter her heirs from selling it, but the family would no longer profit from the team, essentially making the Millers more like stewards than owners.
Today, all profits are poured back into the trust to be reinvested in the team, essentially turning the Utah Jazz into a not-for-profit organization. You want to talk about unique and unprecedented?!
…And It Just Keeps Going
This past March, the Utah Jazz held their Autism Awareness Night on the 27th — a particularly special night for Joe Ingles. Not only did they celebrate with a win against the Lakers, but also debuted their sensory room, specifically created for children with autism.
Speaking of kids, who can forget the youngest player in Jazz history? J.P. Gibson, slam-dunking on the hoop (with only a little help from Rudy) and on cancer, then walking away like the tough kid he is.
Like I Said…
The Jazz are good. As much as I love seeing the Jazz win, these are the things I love seeing even more. These are the reasons I will be a Jazz fan for life.
Win or lose, I’ll be behind the Utah Jazz for every game. This season couldn’t come fast enough.