Today is Valentine’s Day. What better way to celebrate than to dream up your perfect Valentine’s party with your most beloved Utah Jazz men? My list of 10 invitees is below, in no particular order. Tell us yours!
1. John Stockton and 2. Karl Malone – Is it possible to be a Jazz fan and not want John and Karl to be at the party? I don’t imagine they’d be the most likable guests – Karl would probably talk too much and John too little – but interacting with the greatest Jazz players to ever play the game would be totally worth it.
3. Felton Spencer – Felton will always have a special place in my heart as he was the player at my first (and only) Jr. Jazz Player Appearance Night. You don’t forget moments like that. Although admittedly, he will probably have to introduce himself to me at the party.
4. Antoine Carr – I love the Big Dawg. So much, and I can’t really explain it. One of my most treasured possessions was a Polaroid picture of me and him taken when I saw him at a Pizza Hut while celebrating my 10th birthday. Against my better judgment I let a friend borrow the picture and he lost it! What he wanted with it I still don’t know. Dear David Blodgett, you should know I’m still upset about this.
5. Bryon Russell – Flyin’ Bryon. ‘Nuff said.
6. Mehmet Okur – I couldn’t imagine a party without the Money Man. Jazz fans either love him or hate him, and I happen to love him. Almost as much as I love his beautiful model wife.
7. Ronnie Brewer - I know his unorthodox shot was annoying and a real playoff killer, but those big lips, athleticism, dunks, and positive attitude give him a seat at the party.
8. Deron Williams – I still love Deron and I want his swagger at my party. Dad says it best: “he’s such a moody bugger, but sometimes I wish he was still our moody bugger.”
9. Jacque Vaughn – I have a thing for third string point guards.
10. Jeff Hornacek - Such a likable man, right?! I will never forget being an elementary school kid and feeling a little out of the loop whenever adults would call him “Horny”. They’d always have a funny smirk while saying it so I knew there was something to the term I was missing. So one day, I looked it up in the dictionary and my life has never been the same.
(In all reality, I’d probably welcome nearly all Jazz men into the party, with a few minor exceptions: Adam Keefe, CJ Miles, and Jason Hart. Anyone you’d reject at the door?)
