Security at Delta Center is first-rate, Miller says

Larry H. Miller does not want to jinx himself.

"As soon as I say, 'Yeah, I'm confident,' " Miller said Monday night, "something will blow up on us."

The truth, though, is that the Jazz owner feels pretty good about the state of security at the Delta Center — and has no reason to believe an incident like the near-riot that erupted late in last Friday night's game between Detroit and Indiana in The Palace of Auburn Hills would ever happen in Utah.

"You go to other arenas around the country, indoor or outdoor, for football or basketball or baseball and stuff, and it's not real uncommon to see fights in the stands break out once or twice a season," Miller said. "And this is our 14th season in the Delta Center, and we've had a couple. But I haven't seen one for years.

"Part of the reason for that . . . is if people saw how much security is out there, really . . . I think it would surprise them."

Ushers and security personnel are in regular contact, Miller suggested.

"Part of their training is to keep an eye on people who appear to have had too much to drink," Miller said. "They're really interacting, and talking continuously with each other — 'We'll keep an eye on this guy in this section and this row.'

"Especially compared to industry standards, I think we have a very good track record," he added. "And I'm grateful for that, because this deal Friday night makes me sick. It's not what our sport's about — and we're always dealing with, and fighting, image problems, it seems."

The NBA, commissioner David Stern has said, is now re-examining policies involving both security and alcohol sales.

Ditto for the Delta Center.

"The league hasn't come to us yet, (but) I'm pretty sure they will," Miller said. "They're going to review procedures, (and) we're reviewing policy on our own."

WHAT WILL HE DO?: Among the many former Jazz players at the Delta Center for John Stockton's number-retirement night Monday was longtime teammate Karl Malone, who has a retirement decision of his own to make.

Malone, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, said his knee is finally back to 100 percent following offseason surgery. But he probably won't decide whether to retire or return until after the holidays, and is considering opportunities and options both inside and outside the game.

And while Malone is known for vacillating a time or two or several million over the course of his life, Stockton said this may be the one time he makes up his mind and sticks with it: "I have a feeling he's a guy that's going to be sure of his decision when he makes it."