Hornacek worthy of all the cheers

It was a playoff game against Houston, and the Jazz's glory days were still a couple of years away. Still, they had won 60 games that year, while Michael Jordan was off playing baseball. Optimism was in the air.

As the final second ticked off to end the first half, Jeff Hornacek launched a shot from near half court, banking it in at the buzzer.

The crowd stood and roared, happy as only a crowd can be when hopes are rising.

I remember my brother mentioning he had seen the shot from one of the luxury suites. When the ball went in, he and a client leaped from their seats and cheered. It was one of those moments of unrestrained joy. The Jazz coming on, the playoffs stretching ahead and — who knew? — maybe a trip to the NBA Finals was in their future.

"This is as good as it gets," he shouted to his client, straining to be heard.

As he recounted the moment later that week, I said I envied him in a way. I couldn't remember the last time I had cheered. You know, journalism and all. No cheering in the press box. When the shot banked in, I didn't do anything but make a note of it in my notebook.

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The Jazz retired Hornacek's number on Tuesday, with predictable fanfare. His wife received a pendant. Hornacek got a crystal vase and a framed jersey. As teammates watched during the halftime ceremony, the audience stood at rapt attention, applauding at all the right junctures. Each time one of his long, running shots was shown on the highlight film, people howled as though seeing it for the first time. There was a nice variety of twisting shots and even a handful of behind-the-back passes.

"They must have shown every one of those I did in my career," Hornacek joked later.

His number was retired for several reasons. He was the last piece of a puzzle that put the Jazz within a few breaks of winning two championships. He once made 67 consecutive free throws and an NBA-record 11 straight three-pointers. But beyond that, he brought an unpretentious joy to his game. While John Stockton and Karl Malone have been truly great players, Hornacek seemed to have more fun. Even at the end, knees as delicate as rice paper, he took care to note how lucky he was.