Jazz fanz had better appreciate Malone while he is playing
Thursday Karl Malone reached a new milestone by grabbing 13,000 rebounds for his career. Malone scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, helping the Jazz beat the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center.
So what does this all mean to a Utah Jazz fan?
Put it this way: Shortly after tip-off, Malone grabbed a rebound on the defensive end that gave him 13,000 over his 16-year career. The number was seen flashing multiple times on the jumbo screen for all those in attendance to look and admire their 12th- and soon-to-be-13th-time all-star.
What happened next was what really got me.
Some stood and clapped, others yelled for a couple of seconds, but for the most part it appeared this great performance of stamina and hard work was as important to fans as the Jazz dancers’ half time gig.
Maybe Jazz fans have reached the point where we just expect it from the Jazz all-star. He did, of course, pass the 32,000 mark for scoring last Tuesday against Seattle.
After passing Wilt Chamberlain in scoring, placing him second on the all-time scoring list, many fail to truly recognize what the two-time league MVP has done for the NBA and the Jazz organization.
For example, Malone, who did not score until there were five minutes remaining in the second quarter, came out and scored 12 within the next two minutes.
Twelve points in two minutes.
I thought to myself, “Do these people know what they have here?”
Yes, it’s true. I am not a Jazz fan. Believe it or not, I cheer for my home team, the Denver Nuggets.
Many of you are probably sitting there grinning thinking, “This guy’s team is a bunch of nobodies.” And guess what? You’re right! The last player to ever really do something, and I mean really do something – like winning a Midwest division title – was Alex English. He might be a little before your time. He co-stared on that movie “Amazing Grace and Chuck.” Anyway, back to my point: If Denver was even close to being as fortunate to have such a superior forward as Karl Malone, I can assure you the cheers would have torn the roof off the Delta Center.
That can be justified by the fact that for the last 12 years, give or take a season, the Nuggets have been basement dwellers with no-name players like Robert Pack and Joe Wolf.
If Malone continues to play the way he has been, he will reach Robert Parish’s record of 10,117 defensive rebounds by mid-April.
After 16 years in the league, many fans should start to wonder what will happen when Malone retires. Could it be possible that the Jazz could very well look like the Nuggets for the next couple of rebuilding years?
It happened with Denver, so Jazz, take the time to appreciate what your soon-to-be-13th-time all-star has done for your team.
Aaron Davis is a sports writer for the Statesman. He welcomes comments at 797-1761 and sports@statesman.usu.edu