Purple and gold: Utahns hate L.A.
Brad Rock
Sort of like the Rosie O'Donnell-Donald Trump thing.
Why Jazz fans hate the Lakers so much is multifaceted. All I can say is I don't know anyone in Utah who likes the Lakers. Given a choice of cheering for the Lakers and cheering for a famine, most Utahns would take the famine — and toss in a locust infestation for good measure.
I know Jazz fans who admire the Houston Rockets, a team that gave the Jazz a tough six-game series. There are also Jazz fans who revere the Celtics, with their tradition and their newfound superpower lineup. I even know people who like the Spurs. They respect the no-nonsense approach of Tim Duncan.
But mention the Lakers and you're just inviting a rant.
"I don't care that much about any other team," a friend was saying the other day, "but I hate the Lakers. I just can't get over it. I don't know, I just hate 'em."
Yeah, well, get in line.
L.A.'s success this year has conjured up deeply held resentment. Forthwith are my own half-baked theories on why L.A. is the team Jazz fans most love to hate:
Of course, most fans would hold a parking ticket against an opponent if they though it would help their cause.
If there's anything Utahns seem to hate worse than cockiness, it's cockiness accompanied by the ability to back it up, time after time. Bryant averaged 30 points against the Jazz this year as L.A. won three of four games.
Beyond that, it was Bryant who said Jazz fans were classless for booing Derek Fisher's return this season.
A good way to make people hate you is say you don't respect them.
In this case, the feeling seems mutual.
DEREK FISHER: The former Jazz guard left Salt Lake, saying he wanted to get better care for his seriously ill daughter. Then he signed with the Lakers.
While it's doubtful he would actually jeopardize his daughter's health for a basketball decision, that didn't keep Jazz fans from booing him when he returned to Utah.
Still, it may not be personal. They also booed Karl Malone's return as a Laker, despite 18 seasons in Utah; booed Gordan Giricek and Raja Bell upon their returns, too.
In Utah, it's pretty easy to differentiate the good guys from the bad. The good guys are wearing Jazz blue. Everyone else is a cockroach.
Recent comments
Yeah. The Ostertag slap was deserved wasn't it? I was there...
Jaqai | May 5, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.
Utahns Hate LA? How come most Utahns I know act like they're...
What? | May 5, 2008 at 8:07 a.m.
I have prayed about this series and have received a confirmation...
Jason | May 5, 2008 at 7:43 a.m.
