I heard about 2 mins of commentary this weekend about the Jazz/Lakers series on ESPN radio. The commentators (I didn't hear their names) were talking about how Jazz fans are the "most vile" of any they had experienced (and that the opinion is widely held). One asked why that would be - suggesting that, because of the majority LDS population, you'd think the fans would be amongst the most polite in the league. They were a bit perplexed and critical of the way many of the Jazz fans behave. They talked about fan treatment of Derek Fisher, who (in their opinion) left the Jazz to go to LA so he could be closer for his daughter's medical treatments. Yet, he was heavily booed when introduced. They mentioned seeing a couple (in their 60's) standing behind a commentator desk flipping off the camera. I know that people hate the Lakers, but I get the impression the fans are like this to all teams. About yesterday's game being on Sunday (and Mother's Day), espn.com reported the following (quoting Phil Jackson):

"I don't think there's going to be a less vociferous crowd out there," Jackson added before the game. "I still think they'll be as rabid as ever if I can judge from the greeting we got coming into the building. I would be very concerned if I was living in the Mormon community and the Salt Lake community at the quality of those signs that were out there. They were rather amoral and probably a little raucous - on Mother's Day and on Sunday. So, it will be an interesting game."

"This is a rare Sunday playoff game. I've only participated in two or three of them before (in Utah). I don't think it will change the nature of the crowd." It didn't.

So, my questions -

Are these comments/perceptions about Jazz fans true? Why? Is anyone there embarrassed by this? It's one thing to be devoted and intense and have fun. But, it is possible to do that with class.

Anybody who thought that the crowd was going to be quieter on Sunday was just not thinking. I'm sure that there was a large contingent of LDS people in the stands yesterday, but I think that there were probably some that stayed home.

The crowd noise is helped by the poor accoustics that bounce noise off of everywhere (anyone who has ever been to a concert there knows that unless it is the main act, the sound is going to be terrible). The seating is right on top of the court, and goes up at a steep incline, instead of out, like at most other arenas (look at the difference in the configuration of the arena in Phoenix and even the Staples center). The signs in the crowd are no worse than you would find in any arena.

Phil Jackson is just a whiner. They booed Fisher because of all the teams he could have picked to go to, he picked the team that everyone hates. I really have never liked him as a player (have great respect for him as a person), and I felt that he hurt the Jazz more than he helped them last year, especially against the Spurs, and then on top of that he goes back to the Lakers.

I don't know that anyone was thinking the fans would be quieter because it was a Sunday (I'm guessing Phil Jackson was taking a shot at the fans with his comment). And my questions are not about the "loudness" of the arena - I don't think that's what the commentators were getting at either. They were talking about the "vileness" of the fans. Their claim is that the fans aren't like in any other NBA arena, but much worse, personal, crude and unsportsmanlike. And they claim it's widely known throughout the league. Maybe that's a generalization based on their expectation that it would be more friendly than normal. But, if they're right (or partly right), why is that?

I think it's partly a generalization based on expectation. I think people underestimate the number of Non-LDS in Utah and especially in SLC, though I'm not going to blame them, just as I don't think LDS fans should shoulder the blame either. It's probably a mix and I'm not going to begin to speculate the reason for their behavior.

Just because you're in Utah doesn't mean everyone around you are Mormon. I've been to quite a few Jazz games, and I've noticed that the lower bowl sections are typically less Mormon than the nosebleeds. Down low you get the mid-30's guy in his cheesy Don Johnson suit sipping a beer and screaming "f**k you ref!". While up top you have the cute little Mormon family with 6 kids just happy to be there with their free and/or discounted Jr Jazz tickets. I went to a Jazz/Lakers game last year and sat on the 4th row (free tickets from a client..woo hoo!). Everyone around us were drinking beer and appeared to be either long-time inactives or non-members from out of state. I don't doubt that fans in SL (or Provo for that matter) can be hostile, but I still don't buy any argument that sports fans in Utah are more vile and vulger than other places in the US. It is just their way of spinning it into a mentionable story or fabricated fodder for an opponent to chew on and have something to play for.

I had no idea that the behavior at Jazz games is a commentary of the greater LDS culture. That sounds like a Jon Krakauer leap of logic to me.