The game we’ve all been anticipating. The thread we have all been anticipating. We've speculated since he left whether-or-not he would have his yearly flu game penciled in for the next couple seasons to coincide with visits to Vivint. But the day has arrived… THE RETURN. Kind of. Not really. Probably not. But I’m sure he’ll get an up-close view of the happenings on his 85” HD Vizio. That’s almost like being in the arena, and no less courageous.
If you can get upset by Bender burying a few threes against us and hate him, but feel you’re emotionally advanced enough to view Hayward as inconsequential as, say, Anthony Tolliver, then this thread’s not for you.
So, friends, acquaintances, Hayward lovers and Hayward haters alike, let’s review over a storyline that writes itself, and is generally of the quality of a cult-classic sports film. This goes back, way back.
Provo, Utah; October 30, 1987:
Danny Ainge, then a 6-year NBA veteran, begins his only all-star season. Having been, to that point, the biggest basketball star to come out of Provo’s Brigham Young University, and the all-time scoring leader (later eclipsed by teh Jimmerz), Danny has now spent his entire career in Boston playing for the Celtics. Ainge, a native of Oregon, played his four years at BYU and, while a hero to many Utah locals and LDS people in general, is not much of a true Utah product. The 1987 Celtics featured two other BYU alums – Greg Kite and Fred Roberts. For a scheduled pre-season game against the Utah Jazz, the venue was located at Brigham Young’s Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. During the game, the home crowd, in historically embarrassing fashion, cheered on the Boston Celtics (more a reflection of Cougar Nation than Jazz Nation [BYU typically composed of only 30% Utahns]). There was a turnout of approximately 22,000 spectators, a then record for the largest turnout for an NBA pre-season game.
Ainge, having taken an entire populace and turned it on its head with conflicted feelings of who to root for, must have felt sick satisfaction at the perceived conquest. He himself, with no local loyalties to the Utah Jazz, indulges his insatiable appetite for power.
April 14, 2010
After Butler’s historic run, and being a missed half-court shot away from an NCAA championship, Gordon Hayward makes the painful decision to leave Brad Stevens behind and chase his dreams of playing in the NBA.
Gordon Hayward joins the Utah Jazz and plays seven seasons for the club. But, alas…
July 3, 2013
The Boston Celtics sign Brad Stevens as head coach.
January 3, 2017
As rumors swirl regarding Gordon’s potential interest signing with the Celtics and reuniting with Brad Stevens, the Jazz arrive in Boston to take on the Celtics. During pre-game introductions, the fans cheer for Hayward, and continue to do so throughout the game. This note is not lost on then Celtics forward Jae Crowder, who had a few words of his own to say:
Crowder, with added motivation, stomps on the throat of the Hayward-led Jazz (mostly just Hayward) by lighting them (him) up for 21 points on 5/6 shooting from deep. The Crowder-led Celtics walk away with the 115-104 victory.
After the game, Crowder takes to social media to blast fans for cheering the opposing team’s player, only to be forced by the Boston front office to publicly apologize for his comments.
June 29, 2017
Gordon Hayward officially opts out of his last season with the Utah Jazz.
July 1, 2017
Free agency begins and Hayward meets with the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, and the Utah Jazz. Many teammates persuade Gordon to make the right decision, but his commitment with them waffles.
July 4, 2017
The Utah Jazz declare their independence from cowards.
July 5, 2017
The Celtics, needing to cut salary to be able to officially sign Hayward, begin looking to deal Crowder or Bradley and the official #JAEWARD campaign begins.
July 6, 2017
Danny Ainge, in town for the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league, watches over his team as the Celtics take on the Jazz. With emotion riding high from the Hayward fallout, Donovan Mitchell arises for the challenge. Below, Donovan plays nasty D on Tatum, steals the ball away, and is fouled near mid-court. A staredown between the two ensues. On the next play, Donovan leaves Tatum flat on his *** before delivering the dish for a slam by Wright.
The Jazz close out the Celtics 68-65.
July 7, 2017
Danny Ainge undercuts the Jazz by dealing Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Marcus Morris, freeing up the needed cap space to sign Hayward out-right.
Meanwhile, Danny Ainge’s son, Tanner, is attempting to begin a political career in Utah’s Congressional District 3 following the resignation of Jason Chaffetz. Ainge Jr. is involved in a primary election the next month. Ainge Sr., as an act of professional courtesy, and as a way to mend bridges with the community and his son’s political campaign (at not cost of his own), can allow Hayward to be obtained for nothing in return in order to generate a traded player exception (TPE) for the Utah Jazz to use in future trades to absorb salary. Ainge balks.
July 17, 2017
The Jazz sign Jonas Jerebko, whose bird rights were renounced as Hayward collateral.
August 15, 2017
Tanner Ainge loses his special election primary for congressional district 3, coming in third place with 24% of the votes.
. . . . CONTINUED BELOW . . . .
If you can get upset by Bender burying a few threes against us and hate him, but feel you’re emotionally advanced enough to view Hayward as inconsequential as, say, Anthony Tolliver, then this thread’s not for you.
So, friends, acquaintances, Hayward lovers and Hayward haters alike, let’s review over a storyline that writes itself, and is generally of the quality of a cult-classic sports film. This goes back, way back.
Provo, Utah; October 30, 1987:
Danny Ainge, then a 6-year NBA veteran, begins his only all-star season. Having been, to that point, the biggest basketball star to come out of Provo’s Brigham Young University, and the all-time scoring leader (later eclipsed by teh Jimmerz), Danny has now spent his entire career in Boston playing for the Celtics. Ainge, a native of Oregon, played his four years at BYU and, while a hero to many Utah locals and LDS people in general, is not much of a true Utah product. The 1987 Celtics featured two other BYU alums – Greg Kite and Fred Roberts. For a scheduled pre-season game against the Utah Jazz, the venue was located at Brigham Young’s Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. During the game, the home crowd, in historically embarrassing fashion, cheered on the Boston Celtics (more a reflection of Cougar Nation than Jazz Nation [BYU typically composed of only 30% Utahns]). There was a turnout of approximately 22,000 spectators, a then record for the largest turnout for an NBA pre-season game.
Ainge, having taken an entire populace and turned it on its head with conflicted feelings of who to root for, must have felt sick satisfaction at the perceived conquest. He himself, with no local loyalties to the Utah Jazz, indulges his insatiable appetite for power.
Danny Ainge said:
April 14, 2010
After Butler’s historic run, and being a missed half-court shot away from an NCAA championship, Gordon Hayward makes the painful decision to leave Brad Stevens behind and chase his dreams of playing in the NBA.
Gordon Hayward joins the Utah Jazz and plays seven seasons for the club. But, alas…
July 3, 2013
The Boston Celtics sign Brad Stevens as head coach.
January 3, 2017
As rumors swirl regarding Gordon’s potential interest signing with the Celtics and reuniting with Brad Stevens, the Jazz arrive in Boston to take on the Celtics. During pre-game introductions, the fans cheer for Hayward, and continue to do so throughout the game. This note is not lost on then Celtics forward Jae Crowder, who had a few words of his own to say:
Crowder, with added motivation, stomps on the throat of the Hayward-led Jazz (mostly just Hayward) by lighting them (him) up for 21 points on 5/6 shooting from deep. The Crowder-led Celtics walk away with the 115-104 victory.
After the game, Crowder takes to social media to blast fans for cheering the opposing team’s player, only to be forced by the Boston front office to publicly apologize for his comments.
June 29, 2017
Gordon Hayward officially opts out of his last season with the Utah Jazz.
July 1, 2017
Free agency begins and Hayward meets with the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, and the Utah Jazz. Many teammates persuade Gordon to make the right decision, but his commitment with them waffles.
July 4, 2017
The Utah Jazz declare their independence from cowards.
July 5, 2017
The Celtics, needing to cut salary to be able to officially sign Hayward, begin looking to deal Crowder or Bradley and the official #JAEWARD campaign begins.
July 6, 2017
Danny Ainge, in town for the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league, watches over his team as the Celtics take on the Jazz. With emotion riding high from the Hayward fallout, Donovan Mitchell arises for the challenge. Below, Donovan plays nasty D on Tatum, steals the ball away, and is fouled near mid-court. A staredown between the two ensues. On the next play, Donovan leaves Tatum flat on his *** before delivering the dish for a slam by Wright.
The Jazz close out the Celtics 68-65.
July 7, 2017
Danny Ainge undercuts the Jazz by dealing Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Marcus Morris, freeing up the needed cap space to sign Hayward out-right.
Meanwhile, Danny Ainge’s son, Tanner, is attempting to begin a political career in Utah’s Congressional District 3 following the resignation of Jason Chaffetz. Ainge Jr. is involved in a primary election the next month. Ainge Sr., as an act of professional courtesy, and as a way to mend bridges with the community and his son’s political campaign (at not cost of his own), can allow Hayward to be obtained for nothing in return in order to generate a traded player exception (TPE) for the Utah Jazz to use in future trades to absorb salary. Ainge balks.
July 17, 2017
The Jazz sign Jonas Jerebko, whose bird rights were renounced as Hayward collateral.
August 15, 2017
Tanner Ainge loses his special election primary for congressional district 3, coming in third place with 24% of the votes.
. . . . CONTINUED BELOW . . . .
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