This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Jazz apparently angered many fans who watched Game 2 of their playoff series against Golden State from the upper bowl at EnergySolutions Arena, by giving away T-shirts only to those fans who sat in the more expensive lower-bowl seats.
But they said they didn't mean to slight anybody.
"We may do something different for the upper-bowl fans, at some point," said Randy Rigby, the Jazz's senior vice president of broadcasting, sales and marketing.
Rigby said the Jazz gave away the same number of light-blue shirts - 10,000 - as other items they typically distribute during other promotions.
But rather than hand them out to the first 10,000 fans who arrived for the game as they usually do, the Jazz decided to canvas the lower bowl to replicate the dramatic visual effect created when Miami fans wore all-white T-shirts during the Heat's run to the NBA championship last season, and when Warriors fans wear their bright yellow "We Believe" shirts at Oracle Arena.
"It just worked in the lower bowl, and it looks good on TV, and it's just fun," Rigby said.
Rigby said the Jazz had liked the idea since seeing the Heat's all-white fans last season, but didn't want to execute it right at the start of the playoffs. Instead, they wanted to "build to it . . . now was a good time."
Ticket giveaway
The Jazz have created the "Unbelievable Game 7 Ticket Giveaway," giving fans a chance to win free tickets to Game 7 of the series with the Warriors on May 20 - should one become necessary. Fans can enter at nba.com or utahjazz.com. Fifty winners will be selected at random to receive a pair of tickets to the game. The offer also will apply to the NBA Finals, if the Jazz make it that far.
Sartorial splendor
Remember those light-blue jerseys, the ones the Jazz broke out while ending their playoff road losing streak and winning Game 7 of their first-round series in Houston?
Yeah, they worked so magically that . . . well, we'll have to wait and see.
Assistant trainer and equipment manager Brian Zettler guessed that there's about a 50-50 chance the team will wear the same jerseys tonight for Game 3 - their first road game since the Game 7 triumph against the Rockets - but that's a decision that won't be made by the players until today.