Show Stockton Retires to Cheers By Matt Harris Staff Writer Boo Boo is what Jazz officials officials officials heard after they drafted John Stockton Even though very few fans knew of Stockton the Utah Jazz still picked him with their theu pick in the 1 1st st round of the 1984 Draft Now 19 years later Stockton has forever changed the way people people people peo peo- look at basketball in the state of Utah Many consider him a small man with big ambitions and a big heart There is only one goal John was not able to accomplish accomplish accomplish in his 19 year career A World Championship was so close yet so far away for forthe forthe forthe the 6 61 1 Ibs lbs point guard from Gonzaga University Little did anyone know the impact he would have on his team and the Although he had many accomplishments accomplishments accomplishments in his career he will always be remembered for his constant effort and dependability Johns John's work ethic was so remarkable remarkable remarkable remark remark- able he set standards for his whole team to live up to He is the reason so many players played great in Utah and then quickly fell off the face of the earth when they left for what they thought were greener pastures He is truly a man who can bring the best best out of everyone e around CN El L p 4 c lh iy J fi A i im m t a i r r iii iJ I i'M 4 e 4 vr d ft Ik r v Photo courtesy of him Stockton worked hard on every task he came upon Every time he was knocked down he got right back up and tried even harder hard hard- er to reach his goals Some people didn't have to work real hard to o win a champi championship championship championship ring yet I worked hard every day and still wasn't able to win one I would rather have worked as hard as I did and not win then to just be along for the Stockton Now as we look back at his career we we can truly appreciate him for what he has He played in a total of 1504 games and played a total of minutes He accumulated points assists assis s and steals Some people believe a team needs to find a gem in the rough much like the theone theone theone one the Utah Jazz found 19 years ago yet there will never be another John Stockton to ever ever play in the For all those people who yelled BOO BOO 19 years ago you youcan youcan youcan can now yell it again but for a whole different reason John Stockton is leaving the game at a time when he can still offer a lot lotto lotto lotto to the game of basketball Not that he hasn't given us enough already Thank you good bye and good goodluck goodluck goodluck luck in all your future endeavors 0 |