The John Stockton Thread

[nuraman00]

Twelve Bits from John Stockton?s Autobiography, ?Assisted? | jazzfanatical

One. It was John Stockton’s idea to write this autobiography. He wanted to write it first and then try to find a publisher. This was perhaps the most surprising aspect of the book, given his notorious love of privacy.

The project was four years in the making.

Two. John Stockton’s grandfather, Houston, was John Houston Stockton. John Stockton’s dad, Jack, is John Houston Stockton II. Our John Stockton is John Houston Stockton III. Our John’s son, Houston, is John Houston Stockton IV.

Can you imagine if our John Stockton had gone by “Trey”? Lol.

Three. Olympic basketball numbers only go from 1 to 15. Because Stock kept his No. 12 jersey on the Dream Team, Karl Malone picked No. 11 so that they could stand shoulder-to-shoulder (chest) on the medal podium as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played in Barcelona.

Four. Phil Johnson kept (keeps?) a full-grown bobcat as a pet.

Five. Stock wasn’t exactly a big name prospect when the NBA Draft rolled around. George Karl, then head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was most open about his interest in drafting Stock. Stock also received a draft promise from then-Portland Trailblazers head coach Jack Ramsay–for the 26th pick of the second round.

The Jazz inquired about Stock once and then never followed up, but the man taking phone calls from NBA teams, his former Gonzaga coach Dan Fitzgerald, told Stock on draft day, “Keep your eye on Utah.”

Six. Stock proposed to Nada Stepovich during his second season.

It took him three tries.

He canceled his first attempt after some over-eager driving got him a speeding ticket on the way to the restaurant where he was going to propose. He canceled his second attempt after the Jazz lost a home game. The third (successful) attempt came in sweats on the couch in front of the TV.

Seven. One of my favorite lines in the entire book appeared immediately after Stock recounts how he proposed to Nada. “I must have been on a hot streak because Karl Malone arrived in my life that same year.”

They had met at the Olympic trials one year earlier, and had the chance to get reacquainted when Karl flew to Salt Lake for his post-draft introductory press conference. John and Karl spent an afternoon together walking around a zoo, and by the end of the afternoon, John knew he and Karl would become friends. ♥

Eight. Stock accidentally pledged to Nada his “love and infidelity” at their wedding rehearsal.

Nine. During their Jazz tenures, John and Karl competed for lowest body fat…until the training staff determined that both their body fat levels had plummeted below “safe levels.” Both of them consistently stayed in the 1-3 percent body fat range.

Ten. We all know by now, even if we didn’t before, that John Stockton didn’t become a full-time starter until his fourth season (because the front office loves reciting this stat more than any other). Largely ignored is that Stock started 38 of the first 41 games in his second season. Throughout this time, he was still wondering whether he’d be cut if he got hurt and when his basketball career would be over.

He was “slated” to be the Jazz’s starting point guard by his third season, but twisted his ankle while rushing to deposit coins in a parking meter the day before the Jazz’s first game. He was afraid to tell the trainers about the injury and played anyway. Matched up against Derek “You go live in Utah” Harper, Stock played badly and Frank Layden didn’t give him another shot at starting until the next season.

Eleven. Jeff Hornacek was a “godsend.” The Jazz went on a winning streak after his arrival and began winning consistently on the road for the first time. Basketball skills aside, Hornacek’s basketball IQ was invaluable to the Jazz.

During games, Horny would draw plays on his hand while calculating in his head the shooting percentages of every player on the floor. He would tell his teammates which opponents to let shoot and which teammates to give the ball to.

Twelve. Both the 1992 and 1996 Olympic gold medal game balls reside in the Delta Center (EnergySolutions Arena)…because Stock happened to be holding the ball during both games when the final buzzer sounded.

With the clock ticking down to zero in 1992, it occurred to Stock to hold onto the ball. The Croatians wanted Stock to hold the ball, because they wanted to preserve their margin of loss, which was the smallest throughout the Dream Team’s run to the gold medal. In 1996, coach Lenny Wilkens instructed Stock to get the ball with time running down, and Stock got a hold of the ball as the buzzer sounded.

As coaches don’t get medals, Stock found particular joy in draping his medal around the neck of assistant coach Jerry Sloan after the medal ceremony. John, Karl and Jerry then took a group photo that still has a great deal of meaning to all three of them.

Good post.

 

[nuraman00]

I changed my mind on the "good post". I wish there had been spoiler warnings. Now when I read the book, there will be less surprises.

I like surprises.

Hmm, it's not available at the library. At this time. I guess I don't know when I'll be able to read it, then.

 

[nuraman00]

I don't like how the John Stockton family lineage, and the Gary Payton family tree, all have the same respective names.

I hope Stockton also reveals in his book how they decided on his daughters' names.

 

[MHSL82]

Utah Jazz: Is John Stockton the answer? | isportsweb

Monson: A Jazz fantasy ? John Stockton as new coach | The Salt Lake Tribune

Old article: Utah Local News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Archive - The Salt Lake Tribune

 

[nuraman00]

"Sweet shooting" is a dumb alliteration.

 

[nuraman00]

The NBA needs a 7 game series with Stockton coaching the Jazz, and Hornacek the Suns.

 

[nuraman00]

The NBA needs a 7 game series with Stockton coaching the Jazz, and Kidd the Nets.

 

[MHSL82]

The NBA needs a 7 game series with Stockton coaching the Jazz, and Hornacek the Suns.

The NBA needs a 7 game series with Stockton coaching the Jazz, and Kidd the Nets.

Suns-Jazz Western Conference Finals before the Jazz beat Deron Williams in the Finals. Malone tries to take all the credit for his big man coaching.

 

[nuraman00]

Suns-Jazz Western Conference Finals before the Jazz beat Deron Williams in the Finals. Malone tries to take all the credit for his big man coaching.

Why do you have to make fun of the Man Of Steel? Why aren't you rejoicing the happy occasion?

Don't you want the Jazz bigs to be better than the 22nd and 24th best bigs in the playoffs?

Malone has also praised Burke, you know.

Dime Magazine (dimemag.com) : Daily NBA News, NBA Trades, NBA Rumors, Basketball Videos, Sneakers » Blog Archive Trey Burke Plans To Work With Karl Malone In Utah

He praises too many of the Jazz players IMO.

The man of steel, the durable Malone averaged more points per game than Jabbar but couldn't pass him.

 

[nuraman00]

Suns-Jazz Western Conference Finals before the Jazz beat Deron Williams in the Finals.

Deron will be too injured to play. Either the Nets will make the NBA Finals with Deron on another team, or with Deron injured and Livingston taking over.

 

[nuraman00]

What game was this, was it a Finals game?

 

[nuraman00]

I think it was this game, only a regular season one.

Jazz Pull A Fast One On Bulls - Chicago Tribune

 

[MHSL82]

Jeter?s fine but Stockton set bar on retiring | Rockmonster Unplugged

 

[nuraman00]

Jeter?s fine but Stockton set bar on retiring | Rockmonster Unplugged

Some of it is about letting fans know that a player will retire. If he knows for sure.

So that fans who have never seen that player play before, might make more of an effort to finally see him. Or, see him for the last time live.

For the fans that didn't think Stockton was going to retire after 2002-2003 and thought they could have seen him next year, they missed out.

As for the commotion that comes about when it is known that player will retire, the player doesn't cause that as much as the media does. Also, the other teams are under scrutiny to appear classy and acknowledge the retiring player.

When retirement seasons are done right, they don't seem like a burden, but are more about fun.

For example, I like what happened during Chipper Jones farewell season.

The Padres gave him a surf board. That is great. It combines both the host city (San Diego, where surfing is prominent) with a personal message.

That's playful, and not overbearing or overly reverent.

And then people can write fun articles about Jones' gifts, like this:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-l...ones-retirement-gifts-far-172941742--mlb.html

I'm not saying one way to retire is wrong. But if I had always wanted to see Stockton live, and thought he'd be back next year, only to find out after the playoffs that he wasn't going to play anymore, I'd be a little disappointed in not having seen him live before. That's partly because I place a greater emphasis of seeing teams and players live than in person.

The Jeter send-off doesn't have to be as complicated as host cities or the media are making it out to be. A 1-2 acknowledgement and a funny gift are fine, if even that. For example, in Milwaukee, a funny beer glass is enough, with maybe someone from the Brewers presenting the gift in between innings.

If it were Stockton, even if it's not a gift, someone from the opposing team can recall their favorite moment watching Stockton. That way, it will give the fans in attendance that moment to remember.

 

[MHSL82]

Found the school I want my kids to go. Now, I just have to love there.

John Stockton Elemtary School in Jacksonville, Florida

 

[MHSL82]

John Stockton bits from The84Draft (NBA TV documentary) | jazzfanatical

[YOUTUBE]uTXMKUZso-g[/YOUTUBE]

 

[MHSL82]

A little old, but good:

 

[MHSL82]

Question laid to rest from Stock himself: Stockton Response to Important Question

Yes, title is sarcastic, but I've always told people he could. Common question.

 

[MHSL82]

John Stockton looks back on HOF career | Dan Patrick ShowDan Patrick Show

 

[MHSL82]

John Stockton looks back on HOF career | Dan Patrick ShowDan Patrick Show

I don't usually do this (specifically ask a specific person), but Nuraman, what are your thoughts about this interview or any of the responses?