Utahs Mt. Rushmore of Sports......

[BoylenOver]

Truthfully, why would Larry Miller be on this list? He just owned the team. Why Miller and not Sloan? What exactly did Miller do?

He replaced the scoreboard in the south end zone at RES entirely on his own dime.

He gets my vote solely for that.

However, he nearly loses it because of what he did to the Golden Eagles.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Probably Karl Malone, maybe Steve Young a close second. Not a real impressive list.

For a state with only one professional sport it is a very impressive list. I actually think it is a pretty easy call on these. Malone, Stockton, Majerus, and Lavell Edwards.

Although IMO, Andre Miller is my favorite athlete ever in Utah sports history.

[MartyFunkhouser]

In my arrogance I think I am so clearly right about what I have already said that I think a more interesting poll question would be who among college athletes, if that is all you have to choose from, belong there. That is much tougher in my opinion.

On the choices given I would probably say Detmer, Young, McMahon and Ferrin.

If you are just looking at college athletes you have to throw in Andre Miller.

[il Padrino Ute]

He replaced the scoreboard in the south end zone at RES entirely on his own dime.

He gets my vote solely for that.

However, he nearly loses it because of what he did to the Golden Eagles.

Can you blame him? He was losing money by owning the Golden Eagles.

[BoylenOver]

Can you blame him? He was losing money by owning the Golden Eagles.

Yes, I can, because I loved the Golden Eagles.

[il Padrino Ute]

Yes, I can, because I loved the Golden Eagles.

I went to a lot of Golden Eagle games in my day and had a ton of fun. But you need to look at it as a capitalist. You're out of school now so you can drop the socialist charade.

[BoylenOver]

I went to a lot of Golden Eagle games in my day and had a ton of fun. But you need to look at it as a capitalist. You're out of school now so you can drop the socialist charade.

My heart still bleeds!

[RockyBalboa]

Truthfully, why would Larry Miller be on this list? He just owned the team. Why Miller and not Sloan? What exactly did Miller do?

It could be argued that Larry H. Miller has done more for sports in the state of Utah than anyone. Just because he isn't a player or a coach doesn't mean he isn't worthy to be on the list or just because he is strongly disliked by some also should not disqualify him.

In terms of influence, I'd have a hard time thinking who should be ahead of him.

[Brian]

Larry Miller built something that everyone in the state loves.

The same cannot be said of Edwards and Majerus.

[Brian]

It could be argued that Larry H. Miller has done more for sports in the state of Utah than anyone. Just because he isn't a player or a coach doesn't mean he isn't worthy to be on the list or just because he is strongly disliked by some also should not disqualify him.

In terms of influence, I'd have a hard time thinking who should be ahead of him.

I agree fully with this.
I don't think anyone is close.

[TripletDaddy]

It could be argued that Larry H. Miller has done more for sports in the state of Utah than anyone. Just because he isn't a player or a coach doesn't mean he isn't worthy to be on the list or just because he is strongly disliked by some also should not disqualify him.

In terms of influence, I'd have a hard time thinking who should be ahead of him.

Really? What did he do as the owner of the Jazz that, say, any other owner hasn't done for his team?

I don't care one way or the other about LHM or this hypothetical list, frankly. I am just wondering for argument's sake.

I didn't know LHM was known for being overly active in the drafting and scouting of players. He certainly doesn't coach the team. He does sign the checks, which is no small accomplishment, but so does every other team owner in every other sport.

Maybe this speaks more to the lack of candidates than the greatness of LHM. I don't get it. I get that you don't have to be a player or a coach, but what exactly did he do?

[SeattleUte]

No one associated with the Jazz who is not in the Hall of Fame in his own right shold be in the pantheon. The Jazz have not won a champaionship. Unlike college sports, pro sports has built in field levelers like the draft and the salary cap. The Jazz have been in the finals. Big deal.

This is why the greatest team achievements have been Utah's Final Two in 1998, Utah's 13-0 and Sugar Bowl championship in 2008, BYU's "National Champtionship" in 1984, Utah's 12-0 and Fiesta Bowl Championship in 2004, probably in that order. These were improbable achievements forged from the ground up by the coaches' hard work and extreme professionalism if not genius. These outcomes were near-miracles. It's a completely different kettle of fish from pro championships, which ought to be expected to occur every so often. (I pick 1998 Utah no. 1 because what that team did is like if the 2008 football Utes had beaten USC and Florida in successive weeks in the post season. Tournaments are a special challenge, arent' they.)

The individuals associated with these achievements deserve most to be in the pantheon. Moreover, the Jazz, being a pro team, are not as integral a part of the community as the college teams. Screw the Jazz. I hate the NBA and the Jazz.

[TripletDaddy]

Larry Miller built something that everyone in the state loves.

The same cannot be said of Edwards and Majerus.

I guess if I go back to junkie's original post, all the candidates had athletic achievements listed on their resume. LHM's achievement was simply that he owned something. So per that criteria, I don't get his inclusion. How much did he "build" the Jazz? LHM is not as hands on as Stein, Jerry Jones, or Dr Buss, no? If anything, his cheapness has prevented some stars from signing with the Jazz. The teams that went to the finals were there not because of LHM's genius, but the genius of Sloan, who was working with 2 HOFs and some overachievers.

If inclusion extends to anyone that has contributed to the general enjoyment of sports in the state of Utah, then ok, I guess.

[myboynoah]

I agree fully with this.
I don't think anyone is close.

Rocky's correct. Miller took a chance and kept the NBA in Utah when it was heading out the door. And not only did he keep it, but he built a successful franchise along with an amazing network of other endeavors.

He would be the George Washington on the mountain.

[myboynoah]

No one associated with the Jazz who is not in the Hall of Fame in his own right shold be in the pantheon. The Jazz have not won a champaionship. Unlike college sports, pro sports has built in field levelers like the draft and the salary cap. The Jazz have been in the finals. Big deal.

This is why the greatest team achievements have been Utah's Final Two in 1998, Utah's 13-0 and Sugar Bowl championship in 2008, BYU's "National Champtionship" in 1984, Utah's 12-0 and Fiesta Bowl Championship in 2004, probably in that order. These were improbable achievements forged from the ground up by the coaches' hard work and extreme professionalism if not genius. These outcomes were near-miracles. It's a completely different kettle of fish from pro championships, which ought to be expected to occur every so often. (I pick 1998 Utah no. 1 because what that team did is like if the 2008 football Utes had beaten USC and Florida in successive weeks in the post season. Tournaments are a special challenge, arent' they.)

The individuals associated with these achievements deserve most to be in the pantheon. Moreover, the Jazz, being a pro team, are not as integral a part of the community as the college teams. Screw the Jazz. I hate the NBA and the Jazz.

The Thunder rolls on.