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Show /port/ Rookies at the Rocky MONDAVAUGUST I'2005 PAGE A8 Tag Jazz draft picks shine at Rocky Mountain Revue back again Morgan Vance Sports Editor The Big Tag reunited with the Beehive State! Believe me, I checked my calendar just like the rest of you did when I caught sight of the headline, and it didn't say April 1st. However, on behalf of all the Greg Ostertag haters of the world ready to angrily toilet paper the Delta Center, let's just simmer down for a second and rationalize things. Though hard on some ears, Tag coming back to the Jazz as part of a three-team deal with both Memphis and Sacramento is not near as bad as it sounds. Within the proposed deal that has Utah sending Raul Lopez, Curtis Bortchard and Kirk Snyder to Memphis, Bonzi Wells packing to Sacramento and combo Courtesy Photo/NBA.com guard Bobby Jackson going to the Grizzlies, a direct swap After only a year away, of Wells for Jackson seems to Greg Ostertag is back with be the meat of the deal, with The Utah Jazz. Utah in the fray just to make it work contractually. disrupts shots and will make Jazz G.M. Kevin O'Conner you think twice about makis indeed giving away three ing a run at the rim. You don't formerfirstround picks, picks teach that. he himself had made over the Drift back to '98 where last several years. But his Utah swept the Lakers in the own drafting failures, though Western Conference Finals. horrendous as they've been, Greg didn't shut Shaq down, are a completely different is- but his frame was enough to sue and shouldn't be a reason contain the most dominant to once again start verbally player in the history of the body-slamming Mr. Incon- game, ultimately allowing sistency. As much blame as Stockton and Malone to do anyone may want to cast on their thing. The result: an Ostertag, there is no doubt absolute manhandle of LA, that he's done far more for sending Utah into their secthe organization than Lopez, ond straight NBA Finals. Bortchard and Snyder comUnfortunately for Jazz fans, bined. The first two (whom that seemed to be where Greg should have been Tony Park- peaked; but look at it this er and Carlos Boozer) are both first round flops, while way, maybe now that he's Snyder has yet to even tease back at a reasonable salary, Jazz fans with a spark of pro- his productivity will elevate. I don't know if I believe.that, ductivity in his rookie year. but I do believe Greg has the Kris Humphries is a major ability to at least knock the piece of the re-building pack- Shaqs of the league back a age, but Snyder seems to be little bit, something nobody more than expendable and else currently on the Jazz O'Conner recognized that roster seems to be able to do. after spotting an opportuniDon't expect the guy to averty to put Tag back in purple age double figures, and don't (The uniforms have actually be one of those who boos him changed to blue since he was as he enters the Delta Center last here.) floor for the first time coming Was he overpaid? I'm not up this November. He wasn't gonna sit here and tell you a savior back in '98 when he that he wasn't; of course he re-signed with the team, and was. Would anybody have he won't be one now. He's taken a $30 million offer just a small piece of a gradsheet over six years if he had ual re-building process that the chance? Yes. will generate both frustraIt's true that Tag may have tions and occasional flashes had more on-the-court tan- of brilliance. trums than the Rev. Jesse Yeah, he's back; but Jazz Jackson at a civil rights rally, personnel didn't give up anyand there were times the cen- thing for him, created needed ter couldn't catch a pass to roster spots and gave us all save the life of his mother; an excuse to reflect back on but like him or not, Ostertag when the days were sweet. does do things that others with Call it coincidence, but the size limitations just can't. 7'2 one year he's not here, Utah big men are an NBA anoma- goes 15 games below (.500). ly and have the right of com- Maybe, just maybe, Utah manding big money. Greg recognized that as much as fills up large amounts of real they couldn't live with him, estate underneath the basket they couldn't live without and does have his moments him either. There's all kinds distracting opponents inside of irony here. Let the re-marthe paint. He also effectively riage begin. J uly basketball in Utah means the Rocky Mountain Revue, where the Jazz played host to the annual summer league over at Salt Lake Community College. With a roster that included Ryan Humphries (last season's first round pick), Deron Williams (the third overall pick in this year's draft), the team's two second round selections, as well as a large supporting cast of others trying to make an NBA roster this year, the young Jazz brass played at times like veterans, and like rookies the rest. Utah started the Revue on a good note against both Atlanta and Charlotte, two teams with strong nucleuses of young talent. Humphries lived up to his potential for the first time in a Jazz uniform by going 7-10 from the field and scoring 17 points against Atlanta. . Williams also contributed to the 80-72 win by scoring 8 points and dishing out 6 assists. Humphries shined again against Charlotte with another stellar game from the field (8-11 to be exact). Totaling 20 points and 6 boards, he overshadowed a 14-point and 18-rebound performance by the Bobcat's Sean May in a 73-69 Utah win. But the Jazz contingent slowed down in games following against Seattle, Dallas and a rematch with Atlanta, getting blown out by the Hawks by 27. However, Utah Courtesy Photo/Rocky Mountain Revue Can first round pick Deron Williams help The Jazz get back into playoff contention? did close out their own party Sean May, came away with with a come from behind 80- the MVP award by averaging 75 victory over San Antonio. 16.5 points for the week. He "It was a good way to fin-. was joined on the All-Review ish up," said new Assistant Team by fellow teammates Coach Scott Layden. "It tells Raymond Felton and Matt a lot about the players. We'd Carroll, Utah's Humphries, lost three in a row, so these Atlanta's Salim Stoudamire young guys showed a lot of and former Utah Ute Britton character in bouncing back." Johnsen. Johnsen, who has Williams, who had his mo- only played sparingly in the ments during the tourney NBA thus far, helped himself but also struggled at times get noticed by averaging just as well, led the fourth quar- over 13 points for the Revue, ter Jazz comeback by pacing including a 21-point night the way with 15 points. "We against Atlanta. didn't want to come out there For Utah,.second round seand lose four in a row," said lections C.J. Miles and Robthe franchise's point guard of ert Whaley both displayed the future. "We just wanted impressive showings for to stop that losing streak." what was expected of the two It was a good way to finish draft gambles. Whaley, who up as Utah ended the Revue started his collegiate career at 3-3 along with Atlanta and at Cincinnati before finishSeattle. Charlotte finished ing up at division III Walsh atop the standings with a University in Ohio, looked record of 4-2, a half game decent for a late pick and ahead of San Antonio. should be invited back this The former North Carolina September for fall training Tar Heel and current Bobcat, camp. Miles, the former H.S. Women's Golf coach ready to hit the links Phillip Morgan Sports Writer In 1492 when Columbus sought America, it wasn't a luxury cruise on a Carnival ship. When Lewis and Clark forged their way through the wilderness of what is now Montana toward the California coast, there wasn't a chain of Comfort Inn suites for them to lay their heads at night. Being thefirsthas never been easy; just ask Denise Larson, the first ever women's head golf coach at uvsc. "The prospect of starting a Division I team is a bit challenging," said Larson. "Our first challenge is just getting a team together,findinggirls, and getting them cleared and eligible to play." Larson was hired as the head coach on July 12 and has been working effortlessly recruiting and finding ways to field a team come this fall. "I'm excited to bring in re- Courtesy Photo/UVSC Athletic Dept. Coach Larson is focusing all of her energy to build UVSC's first D-l women's golf team. cruits here to play, especially as we look to next year where I can bring the top players out of high school; where as right now, those top players may have already signed somewhere else," Larson said. "We're working with what we've got. I'm really excited to talk to them." Unfortunately, because high school golf programs in the state of Utah are considered co-ed, recruiting in-state isn't as efficient as it is in other states where there are schools See LINKS-A6 ORKM' $ PREMIER SINGLE S T U D E N T HOUSING • 4 Private Bedroom* and 2 Full Baths Per Unit • Washer and Dryer in EVERY Unit •Hot Tub • Fitness Center and Sport Court • Free Cable • internet Access • Great Social Environment • Just Across the StreetfromUVSC After a light foot injury, The Sacramento Kings kept Ronnie Price out of their line-up for a couple games of the Reebok Vegas Summer League. Price, however did start in their final contest against Dallas, playing 17 minutes. He finished with 6 points on 2-4 from the field. 720 South 1200 West Orem Call Now to Reserve Your Spot! (801) 644*2552 www.sunnnenvoodcondo9.com Price said... ''It (Vegas) was a great experience. Everyone there can definitely play and it was fun to be apart of that level of basketball. I'm grateful to the Kings for giving me a shot to play with their organization." Visit us online at www.netxnews.net •fir about the recruits that we're talking to right now." Those recruits are finding their way to UVSC from anywhere Coach Larson can find them. "I'm not concentrating on one area at all. Anyone that can play and is willing to come to UVSC, I'm willing SUMMERWOOD CONDOS watch Sports Desk (801) 863-8603 All-American out of Texas who has already signed a guaranteed deal with the Jazz, often brought the Lifetime Activities Center to its feet with some pin-point fast break passes, but also struggled at times finding his shot. He only connected on 5-29 from the field over his last four games. "The best thing about the Revue was getting experience and learning," said Williams after the San Antonio win. Experience that could be very valuable as his first NBA season seems to be approaching right around the corner. Jazz personnel have hinted that two, maybe three of the players not already signed by the team on the Revue roster may be invited to fall camp. Among likely candidates are Utah St. rookie Spencer Nelson and former Weber St. Wildcat Jermaine Boyette. Send story ideas to smiggs86@hotmail.com |