Utah Jazz Sportsmanship Night

This was Jake's first year playing Basketball with the Jr. Jazz group. He has had such a great time doing it, and although they didn't win the Championship, they did GrEaT!!

At the last game of the year they were told that they had won the Sportsmanship award for the Ogden 6th grade group. It was so exciting to hear that. I think more important than winning a championship, is being a good sport.

The team was invited to take part in a Sportsmanship night with some of the Jazz players at the Energy Solutions Arena. When the night began the kids could sit anywhere there was a seat. We were so lucky that we were able to sit 3 rows from the floor. Yep, the actual floor that the Jazz play on. The first person that spoke to the kid's was Baseball Hall of Fame member Dale Murphy. He has won 5 Golden Glove Awards, and was a 2 time MVP, while playing outfield with the Atlanta Braves. He was so great to listen to. Jake's first love is Baseball, and it just so happens that Dale Murphy was a treat for him to see and hear. Jake bought a baseball at the D.I about a year ago, and it just happened to be signed by Dale Murphy. It was real neat to see the excitement Jake had while he listened to him.

After that they brought out 2 Jazz players. Mehmet Okur and Jeremy Evans. They were so much fun. They would invite the kids down onto the court to play different games and be part of fun activities. They taught them some passing drills and some shooting drills. They showed them how to shoot from half court, and Jeremy even dunked the ball a few times. It was really great to listen to them talk with the kids and explain the importance of being a good sport, staying in school and always doing your very best in life! I know my boy's really enjoyed it and had a great time.

After the event kid's were welcome to shoot a free throw on the court. Jackson would have waited in line all night. It was so fun to watch him heave that ball into the air. He was on cloud 9. It was really special to walk back to the truck and talk to the boy's about the night and even take a minuet to stop and take a picture next to the John Stockton and Karl Malone statues that are in front of the building. I told them that they were 2 great player's that I had enjoyed watching play the game of basketball. I also let them know that John Stockton was by far the player that demonstrated Sportsmanship every time he stepped onto the court. He was a great player and is remembered as such.

I hope that my boy's will remember just one thing in life, and that is that people will remember you for the way you treat them more than the awards you may receive. Kindness is everything, and being a good sport is just that in the sports world!!