boo brad rock, if players complain about fans then great for them. i for one will never feel bad for a player or coach who gets paid as much as they do to dribble a basketball or coach the dribblers. i take pride in the fact that esa is so loud and crazy thats the way it should be. it is obvious that you do not watch international sports or pay any attention to them. i only wish our fans could match the intensity of soccer fans around the world. so mr. rock, keep writing you garbage articles while us true fans keep cheering. GO JAZZ!!!!!!

The author and many Laker fans seem to be in denial that only one place in the world gives this treatment. And it's in New York.

Maybe Lucas should of said it to Fisher? As president of the players union he should be setting an example also.

Thank you very much for you article. I hope Jazz fans read this.

It's normal to boo a player.

But going around condemning a man for seeking the best healthcare possible for his daughter, who is still suffering, is ugly to say the least. The little kid still cries every time she goes has to endure the cancer evaluations.

Cheer or jeer to your heart's content during the game. Enjoy the thrill of an exciting game. But remember, this IS a game.

And please, let a man treat his kid for cancer without having his name dragged through the mud.

When did the NBA become so sensitive about fan behavior? Good natured ribbing of players is part of the experience for fans who pay their hard earned money. As long as the fan behavior does not pose a threat to other fans or players (Detroit melee), let them have their fun. Overcoming hostile crowds on the road is part of the game.

Just look at Papa John's pizza, which apologized to Cleveland and offered up 23 cent pizzas. What was so heinous to warrant this action? Passing out t-shirts that said "crybaby, #23" to Washington Wizards fans during the last playoff game. Does anybody really think Lebron James cared about this or took personal offense. If he did, he should be much more concerned about his mental toughness, because he'll never win a title.

Many Jazz fans set the worst example of sportsmanship. Is it any wonder we have the problems with our children and dealing with losing. The verbal attacks on players are outside the bounds of decency. Can we look at our children and honestly tell them that our behavior is what they should look up to? Cheer for the Jazz but let's show some class tonight. The country is watching us. How do we want them to think about the citizens of Utah? That we are classy people or a bunch of white trash poor losers. Get a life Pete or maybe just growup.

Brad said, "And nobody needs reminding of what it means to be a man." But as you can see from many comments left on today's blog and all of the blogs in recent days concerning Derek Fisher, there are plenty of people that not only need reminding, but need a step by step explanation to help them get past their childhood. Derek Fisher deserves our disdain for only one reason, becuase he wears a Lakers uniform. His decision to give up millions of dollars in an effort to improve the life of his daughter should be a lesson to all "men" and those who don't recognize that should go back sucking their thumb and keeping their mouth shut.

You are not an example of what the rest of the Jazz fans are like. Don't make us look bad.

I think the rap of being a bad crowd is just part of the mind game for opposing teams, not unlike crying "Utah players are the most physical" and "the dirtiest players in the NBA". Get off the name calling already. Come play ball. But don't expect a nice crowd. This is basketball. We can't go shoot the baskets for our team, or block the Laker's shots, so we should do what we can, we can yell and make noise (in a friendly way). We want a championship too. We have been denied a long time.

I think any player that is traded, leaves for free agency or in Fishers case leaves to get better medical care for his daughter is going to get booed. I will boo him cause he playes for the other team!!!!! Give me a break!!!

Another disappointing year for the Jazz...

I can't wait for the Kobe MVP chants like the last regular season game at the Nuclear Dump ...AKA Energy Solutions Area.

Lakers win tonight by 8. Please boo Fisher and throw some more water bottles.

It is a point of pride for me, a Jazz fan, to be considered by many to be the ruffest fans. We will cheer our team and jeer the other How, where, and when we want. Let other players and coaches hate us when their on the road. This is the nature of professional sports, if you don't like it, go see a game in New York and then come back and tell us what you think.

pete and lakeshow may not get it but i'm glad most seem to. but......... please take the little bell away from tinker bell,,,,,,, listening to it on tv or radio is sooooooooo irritating and drives most up the wall
it is also very childish. i think who ever does it started it to be clever when raja bell was here, but he is long gone... get a clue

Cheer loudly for their team. The Staples Center crowd has to be the most boring NBA crowd I've ever seen in my life. Talk about not getting into the game...LA fans are front runners, always will be.

Our fans are the great equalizer in the seemingly fixed NBA. The fix for the Lakers to win is in, that
is why the NBA loses fans. I hope they taunt heckle
and howl at the Denmaster and his Softies...the Slackers...

Mr. Brad, you write an article the details one comment by a Jazz fan and suddenly Jazz fans are labeled "boorish." Jazz fans are passionate and loud but "boorish?" you stretch the truth once again.

All fans at all places around the Globe do and say things that are regrettable considering it is just a game. The difference, Mr. Brad, is the expectations in Utah are different--why? Because we are Mormons. Otherwise, why would the ESPN commentator even consider the religion? Anyone who has been anywhere and among fans knows fan behavior always borders on the ridiculous. For players and coaches to single out Salt Lake is an obvious effort to affect the referees. No one was complaining when the Jazz were losing.

For a reporter and columnist to feel a need to remind fans of "boorish" and "man" type behavior is preachy at best, pious in nature and extremely judgemental.

This article misses the mark, as per usual for Mr. Brad.

I liked Mr. Rock's article. He is actually trying to help the Jazz out. The last thing you want to do is boo D-Fish or make untrue and hostile remarks to Kobe. Remember the last time the Lakers played in Utah? Kobe went off on you and the Lakers dominated. Kobe attributed his agression in that game to the fact that Jazz fans had booed Fisher. Go ahead Jazz fans, blow your lungs out and set a poor example for the rest of the world. Are we forgetting what we believe on Sunday???
Mr. Rock tries to highlight a line that no one should ever cross, from fair taunting to cruel and vicious slurs......."fighting words". Unfortunately, Kobe and the rest of the Lakers will use those words against you and play with an increased ire for you. Kobe will make you regret them. Go ahead......barf out you want. LAKERS RULE!!! 2-0 (5-1 in the last six games vs. Jazz).

My problem with Fisher is not that he wanted to get better treatment for his daughter, that is fine...My problem with Fisher started the day the Jazz traded for him. He was quoted in an Oakland paper as saying it was very disappointing to go from California to a place like Utah, and then proceeded to take almost the entire summer before coming to Utah for his physical and basically telling the world he didn't want to be there in the first place. That is the only reason to wonder whether he left for the right reasons.

im not for jeering against fisher, he is a class act. im not for racist comments to players which is just plain stupid. but at the same time im for booing the hated lakers. i want radium stadium to be at its loudest its ever been. fans can say what they want and players can say whatever they want in return to fans. so with that being said, most of those lame comments are from the fans who dont go to the games and were not jazz fans 2 years ago.

I love the Jazz, but I find it difficult to tolerate many of their fans. If you want to jeer the opposing team, fine - but you don't have to shame yourself and the entire state of Utah in the process.

For those attending tonight's game - if you're going to boo Fisher, make sure to boo every other Laker with equal gusto. Now that would really be something . . .

That is hilarious! - "The last thing you want to do is boo D-Fish" Fisher will NEVER be the reason the Jazz lose to LA, he said it himself, when he was booed he was rattled. Fisher did us a favor be "seeking better med care for his daughter", (btw- NO state in the usa has better cancer trx than Utah, I see it firsthand Im an oncology DR) Glad Fisher is bricking 3's for the lakers now, not us.

"Thanks for showing up"

The Jazz and their fans are, in a way, ambassadors for the State and for the Church.

For the vast majority of fans to appear as boorish and cruel - which go far beyond team spirit or even loud cheering - can only hurt your image.

As for wanting to be like European or South American soccer fans, as is alluded to above, I'll say this: they're barbarism makes Raiders and Eagles fans look like opera-goers.

So please, folks, have some sympathy - and some taste. Use all of your well-, or just-learned politesse, because you can't do a DARN thing to stop the Lakers from laying the Jazz to waste.

I'm with Pete here. I think it's the fans job to get under the opposing team's skin. I don't think that it's O.K. to make fun of Fisher's daughter or Fisher for his choice to leave. It's NOT O.K. to make fun of the opposing coaches Alcohol and Drug problem like the article stated. But Jeering and making noise and yelling at the opposing team is what it's all about! That's why there is such a home court advantage in the NBA. I paid for my ticket so if I want to chant "Tracy's Tired" to get into his head I'll do it. Personal attacks on players isn't warrented... but booing is NOT a problem.

"Glad Fisher is bricking 3's for the lakers now, not us."

Game 2 would like to have a word with you.

pete-
i take it from your statement that jazz fans should, at every jazz game, stampede into the staduim with their beer and overzealous passion for the game, and if a few people don't get killed in the process, they apparently shouldn't be at a sports game. Watching soccer games around the world, and seeing how the fans behave, I have never seen more uncivilized, hateful individuals in any other sporting event. Stampeding over people, just to get into the stadium, these aren't human beings, these are deranged animals that need a mental evaluation, or something to tell them there is more to life than sports, and being a jerk about it.

hahahahahahahaha.

So you mean to tell me that Fisher is spilling his secrets? The world will now know how to defend against the elusive pick/roll offense?

The Jazz have been runing the same offense for 25 years. It's not a secret formula. It's just that Sloan coaches it to perfection and makes it hard to defend.

The problem with the Jazz this series is that instead of taking the roll option to the basket, the Jazz are settling for the pick option of jump shooting.

If the Jazz execute the offense and drive to the basket they'll get a higher percentage shot and go to the FT line more.

You watch, the Jazz will drive more tonight, get more FT and the Jazz fans on this board will say the home team is just getting their turn to get the calls. But I'm saying right now to all Jazz fans here. If there are more FT tonight -pay attention to how the Jazz run their offense, it will only be because of more roll than pick. So, I don't want to hear anything about foul discrepencies. If the Jazz don't drive but settle for jumpers well....more FT discrepencies.

The Jazz fans are correct about Fisher. Let's admit the truth -Fisher is the key to the Lakers efficient defense against the Jazz.

Here's what happened (cue flashback music)

The Lakers scouting and coaching staff were all preparing the Lakers to defend against the Box-1 offense or maybe the Triangle offense and then Fisher stood up and said (in a whisper):

"Guys, I probably shouldn't be saying this but the Jazz actually run a pick/roll. So, if you go under the pick you'll force them to shoot jumpers. And if you push the pick up higher, it's likely the jumpers will have a lower percentage of hitting. But if you fight through the screen you can defend the jump shot but run the risk of a cut to the basket option."

The Lakers scouts/coaching staff probably sat there for about 10 minutes in stunned silence before saying "So that's what Sloan has been doing all these years!"

hahahahaah - I'm so glad Fisher is on the Lakers to sell-out the Jazz team's secret sauce. It tastes so good.

It's funny because Fisher is on the team with the lead in the series. I'd take his clutch shooting over any of the current Jazz players anyday.

Dusty Sherley i dont blame Fisher for his disappointment in having to go to Utah. I mean seriuosly who wouldnt be? Utahs not exactly the most exiting on earth.As far as Utah fans i pity them because year after year they cheer their hearts out just to end up losing again.

It's hard to believe you're an oncologist. If you were, you'd know intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma is NOT available in Utah.

Jazz Fans - Why not put your energy into cheering for the Jazz, instead of booing the Lakers?
Even if you're booing Derek Fisher, the Laker, the media will not interpret it that way.

Kobe mentioned in his MVP award press conference that the Lakers will be fueled by continued booing of Fisher. So if you're a Jazz fan, does it make sense to make the game more difficult for your team? Especially when one point can determine the outcome of a game, maybe even the series.

GO JAZZ!

I would love to go to the games, but I don't for one reason. That reason isn't because I can't afford the tickets, I can. I don't go because I can't stand the foul language. I'm embarassed to have my children there.

When I have gone, I'll scream as loudly as possible. I'll yell about bad calls, and laugh at opposing players for bricks (not that I could shoot any better ;-P). I will not be racist, cruel, foul, or vulgar. Unfortunately, too many people in attendance don't behave the same way.

To anyone going tonight, please show some class. There's nothing wrong with being loud, rowdy, and having a great time. Just don't be trashy. I'll be watching from home on my tv.

Our community was outraged over the recent comments by Ric Bucher regarding the behavior of ESA fans.
Still want to boo Fisher tonight?

Like Grandma said “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting”.

Please Jazz fans, quit giving all of us a bad name!

For anyone lucky enough to have tickets to tonights game: please don't boo Derek Fisher! He was one of our heroes last year. Give him a little respect.

Sure, it's possible that Fisher just heard the siren's song of the Lakers, a la Karl Malone, and took advantage of the Jazz. However, he never had to join the Jazz in the first place. I'm thankful that he took time, although brief, to make our team better.

Let's put people before a silly game. Don't boo Fisher. In fact, it would be cool not to boo the Lakers at all during introductions. Imagine you're the Lakers, the league's hottest team. Instead of the same old booing, you hear complete silence--19,911 fans ignoring you and basically telling you you're not worth their time. Wouldn't that creep you out?

Get loud. Don't boo.

If you are in ESA, cheer and yell! Please leave the religion issue outside of what goes on in ESA--obviously not all fans in ESA are LDS, in fact, most fans are not LDS. Most people in Salt Lake, are not LDS. Of LDS, many are not active in their religion. The fans represent themselves. They are not embassadors for anything except cheering for their team. We are passionate and we are rooting for our team. Regarding Fisher, I would prefer not to judge, only he knows. Boo him like the rest. Go Jazz and pound the Lakers!
prediction: Jazz 102 Lakers 89.

Since last summer, Tatum Fisher sees an oncologist at the UCLA Children's Hospital every four weeks, and goes to Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC every two months to see her original doctor. The doctor in LA was the NYC doctor's colleague last year at MSK. Her treatment is experimental, as hers is a rare condition and normally the eye gets removed. The doctors at MSK believed they could save the eye, and have prescribed an experimental regimen of chemotherapy. This is a very specialized experimental treatment (intra-arterial chemo) that is only being tried in NYC and LA.

I would like to emphasize that the Utah Jazz organization acted with the utmost class and compassion in this affair. The booing was appalling, as it wasn't just run of the mill booing. It was booing at the player introduction plus booing every time Fisher touched the ball during the game. If one checks out some of the columns in the Utah papers back then, there were accusations of Fisher lying to get out of his contract. Some of the reader comments even questioned whether or not Tatum actually had cancer. Fisher's steady play in Games 1 and 2 was karmic retribution.

Newsflash to Jazz fans:

Fact 1: The Lakers were an excellent road team this year.

Fact 2: Kobe was MVP and Kobe thrives on adversity on the road. He has shown on more than a few occasions this to be true when he lit up the home team.

Do you think there is any correlation in these two facts?

Conclusion: The louder and more obnoxious you get, the more Kobe and the Lakers are likely to light you up. Of course, the alternative is to be quiet, which obviously won't work either.

Bottom line, Jazz fans are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Stinks doesn't it?

I feel for you. If it makes you feel any better, it's not just Utah. I remember going to a Bulls game during the MJ days with my dad. I was only 7-8 years old, I think, and I heard more curse words than I've ever heard in my life. It's just wrong. People get drunk and forget that there's kids in the audience, and for them this could be the greatest night of their lives. Yelling and screaming in general is fine, but fans in general need to have more respect for the other people in the audience before they start yelling expletives.

Brad - I can't say I'm one of your admirer's but I will say this article is the best I've read from you and makes me more willing to consider your opinion(s).
Thanks
- Now if we can just get my hometown boy Carlos to "move his hands AND feet" like he wants to win the game . . . I offered my "help" previously but don't know if he "got the word" or simply dismissed it.

I agree with Please don't boo Fish! Let's give the Lakers complete silence, don't even acknowledge them. Maybe even turn our backs during the introduction.

Those of you saying "Oh please don't boo Fisher or the big bad Lakers might take it personal and play hard. Kobe might dunk or something!" That's garbage!
The Jazz are grown men and they can handle themselves just fine. The Lakers are gonna bring their A game no matter what the fans do. So just go to the game, yell, boo, growl, and scream all you want! Nothing personal... just being a fan.

In referring to Jazz fans Brad Rock says, "sometimes they step over the line that separates spirit and boorishness." What a comment coming from Mr. "Rock On." Anyone who consistently reads those columns knows that over the years, Mr. Rock, himself, often has trouble with "stepping over the line."

His "Rock On" columns frequently take jabs, some mean-spirited, at various individuals, groups, and/or teams in poorly disguised attempts to be clever and coy.

He may, in fact, be right in his point about some Jazz fans, but we can’t help but wonder whose style many of those same fans mimic when they wag their sardonic tongues. This is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle “black.” (No doubt he will find some hidden racial insult buried in that phrase).

How about, if instead, Brad can just “Rock Off”!

An excellent article! There IS a difference between playing (or watching) sports with energy and enthusiasm and being a jerk. The true sportsman attacks the game, the jerks attack the people playing the game.

GO JAZZ!!!

Nothing personal...just being a fan.

That's the problem right there. Booing Fisher for leaving the Jazz to take care of his daughter made it PERSONAL.

Nobody needs to boo Derek tonight to have a fun, rowdy time. Cheer for the Jazz.

As far as inciting Kobe to go off, you can't speak for Kobe. He's already done that for himself in the 1,001 media interviews he's done on the subject.

Delta center Jazz games are tame compared to how some Ute Fans acted at RES the last BYU game I attended there. I will never go to a Utah football game again after the X rated, foul mouthed, class-less display from some drunk students. My family and I endured for as long as we could. But we won't be back.

Re; Jazz game. Is it possible that the same drunk, abusive students at the Utah football game were also at the Jazz game? Could be the same people.

We booed Giricek too. It's not like it's personal; it's just what we do to players who leave. It's not like D. Fish has been Sainted like some apparently believe he has. He did the right thing. No question. But don't expect a pass from the usual Jazz treatment for an ex-Jazzman.

And, actually, it will work out better for the Jazz in the long run that he isn't here. The Jazz will have their best championship chances in a couple years when Fish's career will be winding down. His departure speeds up the development of Brewer; it made way for the acquisition of Korver; it freed up money to be used to sign P-Mill and D-Will to long-term contracts.

Trust me. Fisher did us a favor.

I lost my daughter to this disease. She was 3. Fans that think it is ok to make fun and taunt a player about this are lost souls and losers. Id be happy to meet any of them any place any time, but i know none of them have the courage.