The J A Z Z

If I haven't mentioned it before, our family is obsessed with the Utah Jazz basketball team. Chance and I were watching a Jazz game, and saw an ad to enter to win dinner with one of the Jazz players, the center, "Big Al" Jefferson. Chance asked me to enter, so of course I did. I entered online for each member of our family, and never thought about it again. A few weeks later, I got an e-mail saying that we had won dinner with Big Al! We were so excited. Chance and I went together the week of Valentine's day. The fancy-schmancy dinner was held at Devereaux Mansion, a little place across the street from the Energy Solutions Arena. Chance was the only kid there, amongst all adults. Chance and I were able to have our pictures taken with Big Al, and then while eating, Big Al came to our table and talked to all of us! The dinner happened to be on the same day that Coach Sloan had announced his retirement, so Big Al wasn't too perky at the beginning of the night. But toward the end he seemed to cheer up as he visited with all of us. It was a great time!

Then, to add to the Jazz excitement, Chance and Shawn were able to go to the Leapin' Leaners charity dinner at Energy Solutions Arena. This is a dinner where all of the Jazz players attend and mingle with the attendees. Superior Roofing bought a table and Chance and Shawn were lucky enough to attend. You are supposed to wear tennis shoes with your dress clothes, because that is how Larry Miller used to dress. Pretty cute, huh! Chance played video games with Jeremy Evans (rookie forward) and Derrick Favors (rookie forward/center), played ping-pong with Francisco Elson (center), played air hockey and had a 3-point shooting contest with Devin Harris (point guard), played H.O.R.S.E/free throw contest with C.J. Miles (shooting guard) and Earl Watson (point guard). Talk about a kid's dream come true! Chance and Shawn both had basketballs autographed by all of the players, were able to visit the locker room, and won an auction of an actual NBA basketball hoop signed by all of the Jazz players. Night of a lifetime!