"The only thing I can even remotely compare it to is the fervor of Utah fans wanting people in the media to say Deron Williams is better than Chris Paul," Hollinger wrote on Thursday.

"(B)ut you expect that more from a small-market team like Utah," he continued. "Jazz fans feel ignored by the media on both coasts and have a giant chip on their shoulder about it, so you can almost excuse them for wanting to compare a player with two top-five MVP finishes with one who has never been to the All-Star Game."

Wait. Was that a casual observation or a slight on Williams and Jazz fans?

Let the e-mailing begin.

NO BIG DEAL: Point guard Deron Williams isn't worried that the Jazz's October trip to Europe for two preseason games will adversely impact the club's play at the start of the 2009-10 NBA season.

"We'll still have a couple weeks until the regular season starts, so I don't see it being a problem," Williams said during a conference call this week from Spain, where he was promoting the games.

The Jazz will face the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 6 in London, and Euroleague power Real Madrid on Oct. 8 in Madrid.

ALUMNI UPDATE: The New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday announced that Utah native and ex-Jazz guard Devin Brown exercised his player option for the 2009-10 season.

Brown has played for five teams over seven NBA seasons, including 81 games (14 starts) with the Jazz in the 2005-06 season.

He will make $1,107,572 next season in the second year of a two-year contract that also includes a 10-percent trade kicker.

Contributing: Tim Buckley

E-mail: jody@desnews.com