Jazz management on the Q.T.

It’s been interesting to watch the late Larry H. Miller’s widow, Gail, taking on a more visible role with the Jazz.
In the past week, the team held press conferences to announce the addition of Al Jefferson and Raja Bell. In both cases she was on the podium. In welcoming Bell, she said a few soft remarks about the shooting guard returning to Utah and how much she thought of him and his wife, but not much else. Afterward she left quietly.
Clearly, the Jazz are working to project an image of stability and solidarity. Before owner Larry H. Miller died in 2009, the Jazz management team was traditionally at the podium when a major player was signed, but Gail wasn’t usually included — by her own choice.
It’s doubtful Mrs. Miller will ever say much at such events. By nature, she is reserved and modest. But the simple fact she’s out front shows that the organization wants to further it’s claim to be not just the Jazz, but the “Jazz family.”
How will she do, running the team in Larry’s absence? Reports say she is taking an increasingly active role in the club’s business decisions. The late team owner set things up so the club would run pretty much the way it did before — minus Larry’s own colorful outbursts.
Most of the front office media interviews are handled by team president Randy Rigby and personnel director Kevin O’Connor. Don’t look for that to change. CEO Greg Miller is still a fairly reluctant interview. He had a name placard at the table, Monday, but didn’t appear during the press conference.
The Millers aren’t there for talking, they’re there for appearance. The work they do will remain behind the scenes. In a way, that has to be a relief to the organization. All too often when Larry was around, he would announce things the rest of the management team wanted kept private.
Jerry Sloan has never been one to spill much insider detail. When Scott Layden was the G.M., he was a vault. Kevin O’Connor is accessible, but won’t reveal anything he doesn’t want to. Greg Miller and his mother? No scoops there.
That’s the way the Jazz want it to be. They mentioned at Monday’s press conference that they are generally quieter when making player moves than other teams — and glad of it.
Is that a good thing for Jazz fans?