Note this was written this summer a few days after the
draft. Just posting it now in retrospect. Never made it on to any bigger site. -Joseph
Let fans be fans:
Why calling fans
names is uncalled for by Jazz employees
Like
many of you I was confused at the Jazz picking Lyles yesterday. I didn’t know
much of the dude and he played out of position all year. As such, I eagerly
tuned into David Locke’s podcast this morning on my commute to work. He’s been
talking about the guy for weeks and I knew he’d give me his best info.
He did.
But he also stated fans who complained about the pick without a logical
argument were doing so like “a whiny bitch”. I didn’t like this. No, it’s not
because “he used the B word” or some juvenile crap like that. It’s because he’s
a Jazz employee and he was talking to fans.
I have
this belief about fans: let fans be fans. The same passion that makes them
scream loud at ESA is the same passion that makes them overreact to a pick of a
dude they know little about. Overreaction is part of fandom. Acting
irrationally and illogically is part of fandom. We are talking about a game
here where grown-ass men put an orange ball in a hoop for millions of dollars
in front of millions of people. The very act of fandom is illogical in some
ways. If you want the passion that gets them yelling at refs, buying tickets,
bringing their kids on school nights, don’t insult them when that “cup runneth
over” into comments you don’t like or don’t make sense. THAT’S THE POINT THEY
ARE FANS. It doesn’t have to make sense. That’s not part of the deal.
For
many of the last few years it makes no logical sense for me to be a Jazz fan.
I’ve lived outside OKC and now Cleveland. I had “better basketball” other
options. My six year old daughter asked me once, “why don’t we cheer for the
good team?” But I’ve stuck with the Jazz because I’m a fan. I have illogical
loyalty. I shout at the TV even though I’m thousands of miles away. I stayed up
till the middle of the night to watch guys get their names called who’ll never
play in the NBA. I’m a fan and it often makes no sense! Don’t insult me just
because I don’t agree with you and can’t give you a logical reason why.
I like
David Locke, I really do! He’s one of the best out there at channeling that
passion. Even if I’m watching the game I prefer to mute Harpring and Boler and
flip on the internet stream of his call. At Leapin’ Leaners I’ve seen him work
his heart out to raise money for Miller charities. No one is questioning if he
is a passionate guy who takes his job seriously. Who else does a podcast at
2:30am after a long day? But maybe that’s my point, if you are an organization
employee don’t call fans names. They pay your bills and deserve more respect
than that from the organization.
In short, stay professional David. It’s not a good look for
you and not a good look for the Jazz. We’re illogical and irrational and that’s
why were still here.
@josephhorner is a
Chinese-Caucasian Clinical Psychology Fellow and Utah Jazz fan from Idaho who
lives in Cleveland. No really. Also former resident of OKC, Utah, and Philly.
