Utah Jazz Extra: Who's hot and what No. 23 thinks

Just wondering…

(Where random Q&As involving the Jazz happen. This week: the Jazz's No. 23)

JG: So, No. 23, how long have you been around?

23: Ever since AJ put me on his back.

JG: AJ, as in Air Jordan? Or do you mean MJ?

23: Nope. AJ, as in Aaron James. He wore me from 1974-79 in New Orleans.

JG: So, who else has sported you on their uniform?

23: Nobody wore me in the 1980s, but one of my favorites, Tyrone "The Milkman" Corbin, carried me around from 1991-94. I'm now proud to be displayed by the surprisingly successful rookie Wesley Matthews. So far, so very good. Before him, Ogden-born Devin Brown had me on in 2005-06 and then there was …

JG: Understand you grew quite fond of an NBA champion who went to college at North Carolina and then wore you, No. 23. Is that so?

23: Yep! Good ol' Pete Chilcutt. We became tight until the Jazz took their shirt and my digits off his back after he played in 26 games here in 1999-2000. He's the only other player to wear the vaunted No. 23 with the Jazz, you know.

JG: So, what do you think about the idea of retiring your number to honor MJ?

23: Him again!? Why's he trying to put me out of work? Who is this MJ anyway?

JG: Oh, MJ's just some guy who's helping LJ make extra cash by selling shoes.

23: Tell him: "No!" Maybe MJ and LJ should go retire No. 45 instead.

JG: We won't tell the old number of Jeff Wilkins, Jeff Cook, Darryl Dawkins, Eric Leckner, Dan O'Sullivan and William Cunningham you said that.

The big stat

17

That's how many games in a row Utah has won against its three opponents this week. The Jazz have beaten both Toronto and Detroit eight straight times. They even have a winning streak against San Antonio. It's only one, but, hey, considering their history with the Spurs, that feels like eight.

Who's hot

Eric Maynor: D-Will who? Kidding. But the rookie point guard was stellar in the star's absence.

Who's hotter

Carlos Boozer: MIA in Boston but still had a big week with 20.5 ppg on 66-percent field-goal shooting, 10 rpg.

Coming attractions

vs. Toronto, Wednesday, 7 p.m., FSN

Hmm. Game vs. Toronto will feature 3 U.S. Olympians, a pair of Turks and Italians, 4 other foreigners but zero Canadians.

at San Antonio, Thursday, 6:30 p.m., FSN

(Gulp.) Utah's only won twice in Alamoland since Feb. 28, 1999 and it's a dreaded back-to-back. Make it a double-gulp.

vs. Detroit, Saturday, 7 p.m., FSN

Does no Rip mean R.I.P. for Detroit's chances? Pistons haven't won here since Stockton and Malone played (2002).

e-mail: jody@desnews.com