They say when a coach is recruiting, he first must sell the parents. Other times, the parents don’t really get in on the action. A case in point is Utah defensive lineman Moana Ofahengaue, from Westlake High in Saratoga Springs. Ofahengaue is 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and a true freshman. One of the best things about him is gaining 30 pounds in the last year. … Continue reading
You’ve heard it, and if the spring game was any indication, it’s true: Utah’s quarterbacking situation is vastly better. Or at least vastly deeper. Utah has five quarterbacks on scholarship for next season, led by starter Travis Wilson. Co-offensive coordinator Brian Johnson said in Sunday’s Deseret News that Pac-12 rigors demand that good teams have NFL-level quarterbacks. But there were other key additions. “We … Continue reading
Although Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin has fielded his share of criticism for missing the playoffs, management is working to deflect that back to itself. Which means at least one thing: upper management feels fairly certain the future is bright. Otherwise, why take the blame? General manager Dennis Lindsey said on Thursday that “Frankly, the conversations and arrows on April 18 have to be pointed … Continue reading
Remember Urban Meyer, the family guy? He’s the coach that was supposed to have become more balanced after his health scare in 2009 and a leave of absence in 2010. The guy that said he was going to start smelling the roses and spending more time with his family. Now the former Utah coach is the boss at Ohio State. His team went undefeated … Continue reading
The Boston Red Sox finally admitted last week that their “sellout” streak had ended at 820 games. Actually, the streak probably ended well before that. It could have been a game in April of 2005, or a September day in 2010. Who knows? Due to baseball’s interpretation of sellouts, give-away tickets, sold but unused tickets, those donated to charities and those sold at discount rates … Continue reading
Looks like a break for the Jazz — Kobe Bryant is out. Official word on the Laker star came Saturday afternoon, when it was announced that he’s out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. For Jazz fans, that means an increased chance of returning to the playoffs. Odds of L.A. winning its final two games – against San Antonio and Houston — without … Continue reading
Frank Layden, the former Jazz coach, remains a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, 55 years after they moved to Los Angeles. He has a room in his home that has numerous Brooklyn mementos, including a replica shirt and pictures of famed players. He has a signed Willie Mays baseball. But some things he hasn’t kept, out of sheer altruism. He had some rookie pictures and cards … Continue reading
Hearing Jazz beat writer Jody Genessy say last night that he got a haircut and put on a tie for an ESPN interview – only to learn it was an audio-only interview – made me laugh. It made coach Tyrone Corbin laugh, too. And, of course, Jody himself laughed. It mainly amused me because I’ve been there, too, having agreed to something without knowing … Continue reading
It was in the early 1990s and Doc Rivers was still playing for the Clippers. Danny Manning was the team star. That year they were on their way to a rare playoff appearance. I ran into a Clippers employee late in the season and said, “I like your team a lot this year.” “Yeah,” he said, “you and everybody else.” OK, he was a … Continue reading
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is no stranger to controversy. So it’s not surprising he would float the possibility that he might draft Baylor basketball star Brittney Griner in the second round. She has tweeted that she’s all in favor of that. Sorry, but that’s been done. The Jazz drafted Lusia “Lucy” Harris way back in 1977, with the 137th pick. But that’s where the … Continue reading