AUBURN HILLS — Kyrylo Fesenko was surprised to see two beat writers waiting outside the Jazz's lockerroom at the Palace of Auburn Hills well more than two hours before Utah's game here tonight against Detroit.

When it was explained to him that the reporters were waiting to talk to rookie Wesley Matthews in advance of the Jazz's visit Friday to Milwaukee, where Matthews played collegiately at Marquette, Fesenko instead suggested doing stories on today being Chuck Norris' 70th birthday.

"You know who Chuck Norris is, right?'' he said.

Well of course, Fesenko was told.

So why not a story on Norris, he insisted. Why, the writers countered.

"Amazing Chuck?'' Fesenko said. "Haven't you heard the jokes? He uppercut a horse and that's how a giraffe was made.''

This, from a 7-foot-1 Ukrainian.

Ah, life's little joys in covering the NBA.

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