WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.120 It's always better when they're live in studio, but we 2 00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:04.280 are part today. It's the Big Show, Big Hour starting 3 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:07.440 on our Thursday with Gordon Monson from the Salt Lake Tribune. 4 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:08.880 Gordo, Happy Thursday. How are you doing. 5 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:13.080 I'm doing this flying, Thanks Spence. How are you today? 6 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:15.519 I'm good, my friends. I felt like you dusted off 7 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:18.079 the fastball today. I felt like you reached back into 8 00:00:18.120 --> 00:00:21.039 the old bag of tricks and pulled out the Gordon 9 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:23.519 Monson fastball. With the piece you wrote about the once 10 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:26.440 proud Delta Center. I don't know if it's haunted, but 11 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:30.000 maybe it is haunted plague by the ghosts and goals 12 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:34.320 of losing. It's a perfect Gordon Monson column. You know, certainly, 13 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:36.719 once upon a time, as you point out, and as 14 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:40.399 you outline with data and numbers, this was a fortress 15 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:42.759 that simply it just is not now. And it's not 16 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:45.320 just the basketball team, it's the hockey team. So give 17 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:47.200 me the origin story, when'd you decide to do this, 18 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:49.119 and let's unpack it for our listeners. 19 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:55.640 I just just came to me that both the Jazz 20 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:01.320 and the Utah Hockey Club have the worst winning percentage 21 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:05.400 in each of their leagues and that I'm telling you, Spence. 22 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:09.959 For guys like us who've been around a while, when 23 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.319 you see something like that, it kind of smacks you 24 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:16.120 upside the head. It's just like, it's I understand what's 25 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:19.680 going on. You got a new hockey team here, relative well, 26 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:23.719 new to this area, and we building and trying to 27 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:28.040 make some progress. And the Jazz, it's just it's just 28 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.519 weird for them to be to have the record they 29 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:36.239 have at home with only three wins. It's just that 30 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:41.680 is not our orientation for that particular building. Remember back 31 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:44.400 in the day, when I mean you had Michael Jordan, 32 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:47.760 you had Kobe Bryant, you had great players talking about 33 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:50.719 how tough it was to play at the Delta Center. 34 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:54.079 And now it's just kind of like, and I get it, 35 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:56.840 I get what's going on with the tanking and all 36 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:00.120 that sort of thing, but still that aspect to it 37 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:01.640 is just weird. 38 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:05.439 Yeah, And it makes you make a lot of really good, 39 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:10.280 fair interesting points. And I find covering the Jazz and 40 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:12.599 the hockey team, to your point that you point out 41 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:14.840 in the piece, you give them a bit of a 42 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:18.039 pass because they're not an expansion team, but they're a 43 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:21.719 new team. And you know, well, it'll take some time, 44 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:23.800 even if you're not an expansion team but a new 45 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:26.039 team yet, to uproot your entire life and move to 46 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:26.680 a new place. 47 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:29.479 So let's let's see how this young group comes together. 48 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:33.159 Let's see what Bill Armstrong's plan is from a jazz standpoint. 49 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:37.000 Though it's certainly a different day and a different era 50 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:39.000 and quite frankly a different day a different era in 51 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.800 pro basketball. And occasionally you'll hear the quiet part set 52 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:45.759 out loud when Jason Kidd says after a playoff loss, 53 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:48.159 you guys don't get it. We're just millionaires cheering for 54 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.960 each other, and you're just kind of like, okay, you know, like, 55 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:52.800 don't say that out loud, man, we get it. And 56 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.759 Kevin Durant at times, you know, we never think about 57 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:57.879 the fans. Just so you guys know, there is this 58 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.680 feeling where no matter who you play for, no matter 59 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:04.280 what team you play for, as long as you're in 60 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:06.319 the group, you're in the group, and you're just kind 61 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:07.639 of part of this ecosystem. 62 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:09.680 And it's cyclical. 63 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:13.280 Maybe at times you'll be able to turn a losing 64 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:16.479 team into a winning team over time, but you know, 65 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:19.599 it almost feels like because you point out Jordan and 66 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:23.400 Kobe and oftentimes so many great players don't even play 67 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:26.759 in saut Lake. It's a weird thing to cover because 68 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:30.560 you're kind of stuck in between, like really wishing it 69 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:32.599 felt like it used to with how good the Jazz 70 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.439 were back in the day and how many great players 71 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:37.400 came in here and played the Jazz and the highest 72 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:40.719 rated basketball game of all time was played in Saul Lake. 73 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:42.479 It was Michael Jordan's last game when he hit the 74 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.759 shot over Brian Russell. Here in Utah, we have serious 75 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:49.240 basketball history and pedigree, But how do you really cover 76 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:51.280 the thing when it does feel like we've moved into 77 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.400 this new era where it's just this group of millionaires 78 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:56.840 cheering for each other regardless of wins and losses. 79 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:01.439 Man, I'll tell you that is a dangerous way to think. 80 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:05.599 And it's just because what is the one thing that 81 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:11.199 the NBA traditionally has brought that draws fans in. Well, 82 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:13.319 it's a couple of things. One is the stars. I 83 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.759 mean they've marketed that to the degree. But the other 84 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:21.439 thing is the freaking competition. If that, if that goes south, 85 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.600 then what are people looking at now? They're looking at 86 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:28.360 the what the Harlem Globe trotters against the Washington Generals. 87 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:33.759 I mean that that can't be. That's a dangerous, dangerous thought, 88 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:39.639 I think for any executive in the NBA to think 89 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:43.199 that that could seep out and really become a reality 90 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:46.439 in people's minds, because then now you're just going to 91 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.279 a play, You're just going to a movie. You're going 92 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:54.120 to be entertained, but you're not there to see a 93 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.959 real competitive battle. And I think that's what makes sports great. 94 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:00.439 You know. I look around the Delta cit Or now 95 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:03.800 and a lot of the fans in that building are 96 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:08.439 you know, they've been around, they're longtime Jazz fans. But 97 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.839 for the younger people, I really feel bad for them 98 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.399 because it's like it's just not the same. And the 99 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:18.399 fans do their job. I mean, the fans try hard. 100 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.399 I mean you've heard the way that that crowd cheers 101 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:24.360 for the Jazz and maybe some of them don't want 102 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:26.720 to see them win right now because they get the 103 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.959 nuances of the NBA and how you got to rebuild. 104 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:32.560 But man, they don't act like it when you're in 105 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:36.920 the action. We're watching these games. They are. The fans 106 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:40.560 are solid, but it's not at the level it once was. 107 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:42.839 And who can blame these folks for that? I mean, 108 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:47.199 what they're watching is nowhere near what they were watching 109 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:49.639 when the Jazz were going thirty eight and three at home, 110 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:53.000 you know. I mean, And I remember talking the Big 111 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:55.600 Dog and I put that in the column, asking him 112 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.560 how before a game, whether he thought how he felt 113 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:02.160 about the stakes for winning, and all he said is 114 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:06.120 where's the game at It's the Delta Center. Stuff said 115 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:10.040 that was it. They knew or they had they were 116 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:13.839 ninety nine percent sure they were gonna win because of 117 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:17.399 the very environment in which they were playing. And I 118 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:19.480 look at those fans that are at the Delta Center 119 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:22.560 now and they just the players don't have that feeling 120 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:24.000 and fans. 121 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:28.279 You bring up a really interesting dynamic that has been 122 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:32.079 discussed before. And you said, you know, otherwise it's just 123 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:36.879 a play. You're going to see a movie. And ultimately, 124 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:39.399 isn't that what it kind of is? 125 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:39.839 Anyway? 126 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:43.639 Because I do find this interesting, and there are levels 127 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:47.000 to your fandom, right, Like, I'm sure there are plenty 128 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:51.360 of people across our market that just like get excited 129 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:53.319 to go to a Jazz game and they don't really 130 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.079 care who the jazz are playing. It's a night away 131 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.519 from your life, it's a night away from your your worries, 132 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.519 and sports has always been this great escape. And I 133 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:05.720 can remember growing up and there were two things that 134 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.639 I used to attender watch that made grown man act 135 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:10.959 like lunatics, and one was live music and the other 136 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:12.560 was sports. And I'm like, I kind of want to 137 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:16.480 stay in that space because it's fun, right, And ultimately 138 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:18.519 we do work in the toy aisle and sports is 139 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:20.040 supposed to be a little bit of a respite. 140 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:21.439 But as somebody who's. 141 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.040 Covered it for as long as you have, what's the 142 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:26.759 difference between going to see a play and a jazz game. 143 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:30.120 Well, for me, well, you bring up a great point 144 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:33.639 because there are different motivations for different people. I mean, Spence, 145 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:35.480 when I think, what do you go to a game 146 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:38.399 for when you're if you're not covering it, you're going 147 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:41.720 there to study what's going on on the floor and 148 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:45.920 to get into the details of what's happening. I mean, 149 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:50.120 maybe some fans do that, and maybe some fans just 150 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.439 want to, like you said, get out and have a 151 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:55.560 good time. But it sure seems to me like you 152 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:59.639 can look this up and see how fans react when 153 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:03.079 they're cheering for a winning team. They fill the building. 154 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.120 It's tough to get a ticket. They want to be there, 155 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:10.240 They're motivated to be there because the players are a 156 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:14.800 representation of them. It's a I used to make you 157 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:17.680 cry when I would bring this up again and again 158 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:21.199 when I had that discussion with this with this cultural 159 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:26.279 anthropologist who said that these teams represent the communities. They're 160 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:30.800 like the feudal armies, modern feudal armies that are going 161 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:35.240 to do battle against other communities for what, for people 162 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:38.039 to feel good about themselves. For people they get a 163 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.799 boost of self esteem. Why, because they're proud of their 164 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.879 community and they're proud of the team that represents them, 165 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:46.440 and they're going out to do battle against the other ones. 166 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:50.440 And thankfully it's not typically violent, and we can be 167 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:54.399 grateful for that. But this is this I'm ever talking 168 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:58.320 with sports psychologists about that, and he said, fans are 169 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:03.600 actually living their lives to some extent through the teams 170 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:07.240 for which they cheer, and that's why some people really 171 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:11.639 get into that. They always cheer for winners, for blue bloods, 172 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:17.080 for teams that have established records that you know, you're 173 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:19.960 route for the Yankees or sorry, I mean, I know 174 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:22.360 that's close to your heart, but you have other reasons 175 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:26.039 for that, or the Dodgers or some team that really 176 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:30.440 represents and other teams. Other fans cheer for the underdog, 177 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:33.000 and those are the ones that just sort of want 178 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:37.159 to see if the underdog can win. But the local fans, 179 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:40.039 they are locked into this stuff, or at least that's 180 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.519 the way it used to be. Remember when the Jazz 181 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:45.720 were going to the deep into the playoffs every year, 182 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:48.080 and what would it look like around here? Man? You 183 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:51.639 had people with their flags hanging out of their cars, 184 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.679 and I mean it was like this was a representation 185 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:58.840 of a breakaway republic. Root for the Utah Jazz because 186 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:01.000 it makes all of us here and you it's all 187 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:04.720 feel good, and that goes beyond just going to watch 188 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:07.240 a good movie. The only, in fact, the only thing 189 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:10.759 I can think of in as far as customers go, 190 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:14.399 that relates to that is I mean, I don't know 191 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:16.840 if you care what gas station you go to, what 192 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:20.120 gas you buy, but you know, folks, folks who buy 193 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:23.200 Apple products, it seems like they get behind the product, 194 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.519 like it means something to them, like they're connected to it. 195 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:30.120 But that's that's relatively rare, but not in sports. 196 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:33.519 Yeah, but then there's the one annoying friend that hates 197 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.600 Apple and gets the Android. Then he has the green 198 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.000 bubble in his text, and the text thread is just ruined. 199 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:40.399 I mean, can we all get on the same page 200 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.919 because you hate the one guy on the thread that 201 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:46.080 has the Android because you just want the blue Apple text, 202 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:47.679 and then because of him, it's all green. 203 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:50.960 Let me ask you this, Bence, in all your years 204 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:54.039 of going to sporting events, what stands out in your 205 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:58.480 mind as far as atmosphere goes. I mean, where it 206 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:01.440 really was different than going in to watch a movie 207 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:05.600 or play. Where was where there was electricity in the air. 208 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:08.080 Can you think of it? I know you've been to 209 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.720 many events from coast to coast. Is there something that 210 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:11.559 stands out to you? 211 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.200 Yeah, it's the high stakes stuff. 212 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:16.600 It's you know, being a PR intern with Kim Turner 213 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.679 and Dave all Read ninety seven ninety eight when the 214 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:20.639 Jazz were in the finals and being in the building 215 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:24.440 and watching Stuart Scott lose his mind when Michael Jordan 216 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:25.039 hit the shot. 217 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:29.120 You know, you know it just it's when the stakes. 218 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:32.360 Are high and I can There are a number of 219 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:35.679 different examples back at the Garden, when the Bulls were 220 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:37.559 in town or the Pacers were in town. I'll never 221 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.320 forget Larry Johnson's four point play against the Pacers. I've 222 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:43.320 never felt anything like that in my life, and I 223 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:46.399 was there at courtside to experience that at the Garden. 224 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.720 I've been the World Series, I've been a Super Bowls. 225 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:51.679 You know, some of the most intense it's like an 226 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:54.960 intangible thing. As a soccer expert, you would know some 227 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.960 of the most intense atmospheres I've been in are like 228 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:01.879 penalty kicks with something on the line, like the RSL 229 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:04.840 MLS Cup win in two thousand and nine against Seattle, 230 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:07.919 when you know a lot of people forget Kyle Beckerman 231 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:12.080 miss his pk Landon donovanskyde his There's something about the 232 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.159 end of soccer matches that carry a flair for the 233 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:18.480 dramatic that feels a little bit more prescient and urgent 234 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.399 than other sports. 235 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:22.559 But whenever I've been final fours, you know. 236 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.679 You know we could keep going Utah BYU game a 237 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:30.519 PAC twelve championship, like whenever the stakes are high, that's 238 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:34.000 when you can feel what makes sports different than simply 239 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:37.639 watching a movie. But for a regular season Jazz Hornets game, 240 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.279 you might as well turn on a documentary. 241 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.919 At times. 242 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:44.840 I just might sometimes. I mean, unless I think it's 243 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:47.000 going there's going to be a reason, there's going to 244 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:51.000 be a payoff for what you're seeing. But fans generally 245 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:54.639 already have that connection, and so I gotta give to 246 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.039 the Jazz fans credit. The fans in this area are 247 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:02.440 pretty I don't think they're fully unique, but they are 248 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:06.000 extraordinary in a lot of ways where the care factor 249 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.600 is high. And that's a big reason that Delta Center 250 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:11.440 was so sure they had great teams. They've had fine 251 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:14.720 teams through the years who are getting those great home records, 252 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:18.080 but the fan can't tell me the fans don't play 253 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.679 a role in that. And in talking to the players 254 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:23.480 as they came in to the Delta Center back in 255 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:27.000 the day, man they certainly felt it and they were 256 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:29.440 the ones doing the competing. So I mean, I think 257 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:32.759 it's effective, and it's one of the reasons why in 258 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:37.039 most situations, or in many situations where the team is good, 259 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:40.399 it's very difficult to beat them on their home floor, 260 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:42.759 on their home field, or on their home pitch. And 261 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:45.639 I was at that RSL game covering it too in 262 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:48.279 my Lust Cup and I remember that, man, and that 263 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:53.399 place was it was in Seattle, and that place was buzzing. Man, 264 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:56.200 it was just it was just cool to see. So 265 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.639 it doesn't matter what sport it is. But I don't 266 00:13:58.679 --> 00:13:59.799 remember feeling that way. 267 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:04.919 Yeah, And there is a difference. You know, we used to, 268 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:08.679 you know, when baseball was mired in the steroid era, 269 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.559 and then you would hear like Brad pitts ay, I 270 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:14.600 used HGH for my role in Fight Club. It's kind 271 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:16.960 of like, I, well, what's the difference if it's if 272 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:20.840 there are athletes, you know, if there are actors and 273 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:25.360 entertainers using the same products that are illegal in pro sports. Really, 274 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:28.559 what's the difference if the old ideas entertainment and really 275 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:30.679 does come down to competition and whether or not you 276 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.919 enjoy that, and whether or not you enjoy an even 277 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:36.759 playing field, and the moments that manifest themselves in a 278 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:40.559 surprising way that nobody saw coming. John Stockton hits the 279 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.840 shot against Houston to send the Jazz to the finals. 280 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:47.720 You know, the moments that catch us off guard. And 281 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.279 that's why you watch because and and that's why. By 282 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:52.799 the way, it's an exercise and futility trying to gamble 283 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:54.720 on this stuff. And I always tell people you gotta 284 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:58.320 be careful because it is so unpredictable, and in a way, 285 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.120 it's kind of like. 286 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:01.360 A soap opera in a reality show. 287 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:04.639 That is the ultimate in reality because it's not scripted, 288 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:07.360 and the outcome oftentimes catches you off guard. It's the 289 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:11.519 surprise moments when they actually manifest that reminds you like, yeah, 290 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:15.159 that's why we watched, that's why this is fun exactly. 291 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.279 Couldn't have said it better. And look, I was infused 292 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:21.360 in when stuck and hit that shot and that building. 293 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:24.399 Talk about a care factor. I mean, the air just 294 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:27.960 went straight out the door, and the fans, the home fans, 295 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:31.440 were so disappointed, and you could hear you could hear 296 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:34.840 the jazz on the floor in that huge building. You 297 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:39.799 could hear them yelling and the voices of exuberation and 298 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:43.559 the thrill of victory, you know, the old ABC White 299 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.360 rld is purse, the thrill of victory and the agony 300 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:49.879 of defeat, and the thrill was amongst that little group 301 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:52.159 that on the floor and the rest of the building 302 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:54.399 or most of the rest of the buildings feel in 303 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.000 the agony. 304 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.960 When I think about Jerry May rest in peace, that's 305 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:00.159 I think about that moment because I don't think i'd 306 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:01.240 ever seen him smile like that. 307 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:07.240 And that's what you want, man and sports that you 308 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:11.480 want the thrill, you want the agony, you want the 309 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:14.639 care factor to be off the charts. That's what makes 310 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:17.639 it so exciting. And that's why when fans find themselves 311 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:21.399 in those situations, that's when they get emotional. That's when 312 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:24.799 you see people willing to pay the prices necessary to 313 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:28.360 go to these games and to have an experience and 314 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:32.240 to feel feel that vibe, and then to be able 315 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.519 to go out on the street or go to a restaurant, 316 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:37.919 or go to wherever and go celebrate it afterwards. We've 317 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:41.159 seen all of that. That's why they have parades when 318 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.000 teams win championship. I don't think I've ever seen a 319 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.679 parade after a Broadway plood. 320 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:51.399 Let's see now, I think that's correct. I've not seen 321 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:54.240 seen a play after seen a parade after a Broadway play. 322 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.440 That would be a weird thing to do. 323 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:00.480 Although, tell my wife at because when she goes and 324 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.320 sees the movie, she likes then she goes and sees 325 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:06.119 it like four or five times, and then and then 326 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.839 you know, and then we might see it at home 327 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:12.680 on the TV at home another four or five times. 328 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.039 She gets into that stuff. 329 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.359 I have to say, Lisa and I share that in common. 330 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:18.839 It's it's almost like I'm the type that if I 331 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:21.079 find a song, I like, I'm listening to it ten 332 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.079 thousand times before I listen. 333 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:24.799 To something else. I don't know why. That's just how 334 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.279 I'm wired. 335 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.599 Yeah, I do that too, But tell me what movie? 336 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:32.559 What movie? Tell me the all time movie for you 337 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:35.559 that you would you couldn't get enough of it? What. 338 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.359 I went through this weird phase where I was fighting 339 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:41.240 with a cable company and that's never going to work 340 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:43.119 because they turned off my cable and they claimed I 341 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.160 didn't pay my bill. I was like twenty one. I 342 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.200 think I bounced a check because I was a kid, 343 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.519 and I was like, screw you. 344 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:48.960 I paid. 345 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.680 They're like you didn't. I'm like, yes I did. They're like, 346 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:53.359 all right, fine, no cable, and so they won. But 347 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:56.039 I for like a year, I just I watched movies, 348 00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:58.359 and I watched a ton of movies that I had 349 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:01.960 never watched before this was like twenty years ago, Rushmore. 350 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:06.039 I watched probably forty fifty times Scarface over and over 351 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:10.200 and over. It would be tough to pick just one. 352 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:13.279 But yeah, I mean it's it's like music. It's like 353 00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:15.880 it's like when you pull up door dashed order dinner. 354 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.799 It's like, I know this restaurant's good, So I'm just 355 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.880 gonna get that as opposed to trying something new. 356 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.759 When you know something's good, that's that's kind of what 357 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.200 you want. 358 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:27.240 Well, I mean, look, can I confess here? And there's 359 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:30.200 there's really some guilt in some of this confession, not 360 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:33.039 all of it. But the movie for me that I've 361 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:35.000 probably seen more than any. 362 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.240 It's perfect, it's perfect. 363 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:40.519 Well, well that was my guilty one. I really liked that. 364 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:44.599 But I look gladi hetor That's good. I had that 365 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:47.960 effect for me. I love that, you know, or one 366 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.920 from the eighties. All you oldsters out there going back 367 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:55.240 Tender Mercies, you remember that, Robert Duvall. Yeah, yeah, just 368 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:58.359 love that stuff, you know. So I can take subtle 369 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:02.680 storytelling and enjoy it again and again. But I still 370 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.960 don't get I mean, I like to think when I 371 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:08.480 see a movie. I like movies that make me think, 372 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:11.200 and I'm gonna hash it and rehash it and watch 373 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:15.720 it again, but I still don't recall quite the thrill 374 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:20.440 from those moments in sports over my lifetime that I 375 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:22.160 and you and I have been to a whole lot 376 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:25.759 of them, and we've experienced it in buildings all over 377 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:29.240 the place in all different kinds of sports, but there's 378 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:32.559 a there's an element to it that's just different. And 379 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:34.440 you know when you go to the Delta Center now, 380 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:36.920 for guys like you and me, I mean, we have 381 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:39.880 memories there. You know, Larry built the place in the 382 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:42.799 early nineties and from there, I mean, there have been 383 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:45.960 so many moments in that building. They never got a 384 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:49.799 championship there, but there have been so many thrilling moments. 385 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:53.839 And it was for me more often than not because 386 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:57.160 I've exorcised the fan out of me, but I would 387 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.000 look around and see the way the fans would react 388 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:03.000 in that building, and then for me, it was just 389 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:07.160 the thrill of watching raw competition on the floor that 390 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:09.759 you didn't know exactly how it was going to go, 391 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:12.079 but there was a good chance it was gonna go 392 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.519 the home team's way. 393 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:16.079 I just remember when we were doing the Old Show 394 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:18.680 and you came in grumpy because Lisa was making you 395 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.759 go to Pitch Perfect at the theaters, and you came 396 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.400 in the next day ready to sing a cappella. 397 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.759 It inspired you quite a bit. 398 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:29.920 This is a stupid movie for me to really really 399 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:33.799 liked that one. And Family Man. I mean, I love 400 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.920 those two movies. I can't I can't only explain it. 401 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:39.720