Jazz hope to get a European trip
Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams were disappointed, too, that the Utah Jazz weren't one of the four teams announced by the NBA Thursday to play October preseason games in Barcelona, London, Paris and Berlin as part of the NBA Europe Live program.
"Are we going?" Boozer asked when a reporter mentioned Europe. "Aw, come on, man. Half our team, well not half of it, a couple years ago half our team was from Europe. I think we'd like to go abroad and check out some new cultures, play in different arenas. Istanbul (Turkey, Okur's homeland) is a beautiful place. Hopefully they'll add us later. Probably not."
"That would definitely be fun," Williams said of playing preseason games overseas. "I like to travel, see new places. I know Andrei was trying to push for us to go to Russia. When I first got here, they were talking about it. I definitely think those guys (Kirilenko and Okur) would like to go back and show us their home countries."
Okur actually had that a conversation with NBA commissioner David Stern because the Minnesota Timberwolves spent part of their preseason in Turkey last fall.
"I had a chance to speak with him last year, with David Stern, and I asked him why we didn't go," Okur said. Okur's version of Stern's answer: "'Because that's how it's scheduled, and you know, blah, blah.' So hopefully in future."
Utah was to have gone to Kirilenko's Moscow for a game in 2004, but the trip was canceled due to terrorist acts in Russia. The game was never rescheduled.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan recalled Utah being one of the first teams to play regular-season games in Japan and how it tired out the team. "We never practiced for about four weeks (afterward). Our team, after we came back, I said, 'They look like 80 games already."' Those probably were more pressure than any playoff games I've ever been in just because starting off the season, you don't know what's going to happen to your team after you get back. "
But Sloan said he'll go wherever he's told because that's the job.
"I've never had to deal with that yet," said Boozer. "I'd be up for seeing if it would work out, though. I would love for our team to have a chance to experience those kind of games, playing against some different competition, enjoying the city we're in."
"I would like to show all the guys how good is Russia," said Kirilenko.
Okur would like his teammates to see the world, too. "The players (could) see European culture because most players, they've never been in Europe. (To) work out over there and play European teams would be fun," he said.
SPECTATORS: The Utah Flash, the Jazz's NBDL team, took in the Jazz's practice Thursday at Zions Bank Basketball Center and then practiced there prior to departing for a game at the Idaho Stampede in Boise tonight.
Recent comments
Love shouldn't get in the way of doing what is necessary to win a...
bigjazzfan | March 28, 2008 at 5:24 p.m.
yes,rusty, that is a BID hasty. we love booze and all the rest.
clem | March 28, 2008 at 3:53 p.m.
I think Fesenko, the Russian, played really good the time or two I...
anoymous | March 28, 2008 at 3:25 p.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz down Oklahoma City
- 2 Tooele police officers fired
- BYU professor to work on Hebrew Bible
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- LDS seminary principal arrested
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
88 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
Here's BYU's press release on Jonathan Tavernari's big game for the...
Two California high school receivers have given the University of Utah
Didn't Obama and Biden just admit to the fact that the stimilus programs were...
The last part of the article about Cowherd is classic!!! I normally like the...
This man was my teacher in high school. He is my friend, he was like a father...
I like millsap, but portland just burried themselves. They made themselves...
It's amazing how quickly society is willing to vaccinate it's children with...
The first income tax was introduced during the Civil War, that's only 70...
If he really did what the evidence seems to show, I don't think he should be...
Utah needs Portland too much. It's much harder than you think to find good...
stacy, have you ever eaten there ??
I had Brother Pratt at Viewmont High School my sophomore year... I was really...


