On the Jazz game

If you don’t already know, I work on the game night media relations staff for the Utah Jazz. Here’s a few tidbits from a ground-floor perspective on last night’s Jazz/Spurs matchup. (photo via dneiwertert … purely meant for humor)

1) Props to the EnergySolutions Arena security people for a job well done. The crowd was unruly to say the least, and I think the ESA brute squad did a mighty fine job protecting the referees after the game. For a minute there, you would have thought those guys were serving at the pleasure of the president as they put themselves in harm’s way to circle the refs and escort them off the floor.

2) “Angry Jazz fans threw objects at the court at the final buzzer, and Coach Gregg Popovich of the Spurs hurried his players off the floor in lieu of the usual live television interviews. via IHT.com. Again, props to the security guys who were standing between the said thrown items and the intended targets.

3) I’ve seen ESA security tell ESPN broadcasters they can’t be in certain places that are off limits at the ESA. Off limits to everyone but Sloan, his staff, the players, Larry H. Miller and the security personnel. I don’t think I read ESPN on that list. Did you? The point is, they don’t care who you are if you’re not approved, and for good reason too. Safety is their number one rule, and they don’t make exceptions for anybody. If you break the rule, they let you know it.

4) People have asked me before if I could get them press passes to sit near the basket. Sure I say, but a) I’ll get fired (which I won’t do), and b) The security guys know if you’re not supposed to be there, and they know it quick. If they don’t know you or recognize you, they question why you’re there. It has happened to members of the media that had legitimate press passes.

5) The ESA crew is a nice bunch. Very nice. But they’re also good at their job, and their job is to create safety.