Utah Jazz: Boozer admits to craving the ball
Referees just automatically hand the ball to him before players from either team shoot free throws or before play resumes, except on timing-sensitive inbounds plays.
"Oh, it's become one of the habits I do since coming into the league," said Boozer. "Just want to touch the ball."
He showed a playful smile and winked and added, "As big guys, we don't get to touch the ball as much as the guards do, so when we get an opportunity to touch the ball, we want to touch it."
On defense, he has another motive. "Sometimes I'm hoping that it will jinx the other player to miss the free throw, but it doesn't work as often as I'd like in this postseason," Boozer said playfully.
It seems officials would have enough to think about without having to remember to give Boozer the ball after each free throw as he stands there waiting to try to rebound, but Boozer said it's easy to get them to do it.
He even got refs to hand him the ball when he was a kid "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm a nice guy, Boozer said, though he doesn't remember exactly when he started his ritual.
Sometimes other players may want to do the same thing. Matt Harpring often wants to touch the ball when he first comes into the game off the bench. Often he shoots a shot before time resumes. Sometimes players from other teams like to touch the ball, too.
"Sometimes, yeah," Boozer said, "and I wait for them to get the ball, and then it will be my turn after that."
E-mail: lham@desnews.com
Recent comments
we dont need crybaby mcgrady.
jazz | May 18, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.
Jazz need to quit screwin' around & get rid of andrei,boozer....
decor | May 16, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.
booze needs to be more aggressive once he gets the ball he needs...
bsnow | May 15, 2008 at 7:23 p.m.
