A Trip Down Memory Lane

This morning my father gave me a box of old papers and such. Most of it consisted of report cards, school projects and pictures. But I found a handful of Jazz-related items that I collected when I was a kid. A few are shown here, and there will be more forthcoming.

The first is a magnetic schedule from the '91-'92 season. It was sad to see the caricature of Jazz owner Larry H. Miller in happier times with a smile leaning on his new Delta Center. I knew that Miller has been in poor health for some time, and was saddened to hear that he had both of his legs amputated below the knees yesterday due to diabetes related complications.

I also found this certificate from a Jazz basketball camp that was hosted by Ron Boone. In addition to Booner's autograph the certificate was signed by such legendary Jazz guards as Delaney Rudd and Eric Johnson.

In the pile of papers I found a Home Court magazine from 2000 which featured this picture of Adam 'The Garbageman' Keefe (not queef). If only that guy would have stayed around. Oh what could have been...

Time to Hang It Up?

The other day I read a story in the Salt Lake Tribune about Matt Harpring's slow decline. The story detailed how Matt suffered an infection that nearly ended his career and how he hasn't been right since. Considering his age I have to admit the end may be near for Harpring. I hope not. I want to think that he can get back into the player that earned his reputation.

My wife doesn't like Matt because she claims isn't nice to nurses. I don't know about that. I wasn't there. What I like about him is the way he scraps. Jerry Sloan refers to players who don't like to mix it up as 'playing in tuxedos'. Matt is not that kind of guy. If there is a scrum on the floor, he's in the middle of it. He's been in a lot of skirmishes in his career, most recently taking a fish from Nowitzki. I feel that there are too many prima donnas in the league nowadays who wouldn't be nearly as effective without protection from the officials. Don't get me wrong. Guys like Kobe, LeBron, Wade and Iverson are special talents. But I don't see any of those guys as being particularly tough. When I hear of announcers talking of players having a big heart, I laugh. It doesn't take a big heart to score 83 points in a game. It takes selfishness and 60 field goal attempts. You want heart? Dive into the stands after a loose ball. Go to the floor and sacrifice the body for the team.

I hope that this isn't the end of the line for Harpring, because I think he's one of the last tough guys who plays the game hard and the right way. Too many pansies in the league.