“Behold, I will reveal unto you a Championship, by the hand of Elijah, before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Donovan. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the entire Jazz nation would be utterly wasted at his coming.”
As we begin the celebrations of Easter this week, we begin with Passover Friday. The Jewish people have, for centuries, left an open seat for the coming of Elijah at the Passover Feast. Elijah, spoken of in the last chapter of the Old Testament, was promised to come to turn hearts of children to fathers, and hearts of fathers to children. Yes, today is Good Friday, but how on earth is this relevant, not only to the Jazz now, but to a game with the Grizzlies?
The 1991-1992 Utah Jazz: the year of the bromance.
During the 91-92 seasons, locker-room chemistry was at an all-time high. The Jazz were firing on all cylinders, both on and off the court. It was a year that ended in the western conference finals. This bond of togetherness had never been stronger, until perhaps this season. There were two main “bromance factions” happening within the locker-room that year.
Karl Malone and Isaac Austin
“Ike” Austin was a 6’10” center out of Arizona State who was in his rookie season with the Utah Jazz. Austin played two seasons with the Jazz before heading overseas, and eventually returning to the NBA where he won the 1997 most improved player award. The Jazz certainly could have used him during their finals runs. Karl had taken Ike under his wing. The two formed a unique friendship that has lasted through the decades. Karl had even asked Austin to be the Godfather of a couple of his children. Rather than wax poetically about this friendship, you can read about this incredibly true story here:
John Stockton, Corey Crowder, and Blue Edwards
Theodore (Blue) was entering his third year with the Jazz. He and Stockton had always gotten along remarkably. However, it was not until the arrival of Corey Crowder that this relationship could fully blossom into the tubular-trio. Stockton, typically quite shy and reserved, began to really come out of his shell as he would socialize with Corey and Blue. They would spend time together hanging out at Cottonwood Mall, eating at The Philadelphian, and attending Salt Lake Golden Eagles games. They made a pact that the three of them, or their children, would win a championship while in Utah.
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Above: Corey Crowder and Isaac Austin.
The promises made to the fathers
May 28, 1992
The Jazz are defeated 4-2 by the Portland Trailblazers in the western conference finals. Upon defeat, the Stockton/Edwards/Crowder trio faces uncertainty about their future and getting another run. Concerned, the three address this with owner Larry Miller in exit interviews.
Larry reveals his covenant with the three:
The end of an era
As Jazz GM Scott Layden receives word from his time-traveling self of the ultimate betrayal of him by the Jazz franchise, he swears to breakup all bromances. He waived Crowder and sends him packing to Europe. Austin is not far behind as he, too, follows Crowder to Europe.
June 24, 1992
Scott Layden packages Blue Edwards and Erick Murdock with a first round pick to send to Milwaukee for Jay Humphries and Larry Krystkowiak. Upon hearing the news, the trio, plus Karl and Isaac, all went out for drinks on Karl’s birthday and attended the Scorpions concert. Frustrated and dejected, the five lamented the promise of a championship made by Larry, and wondered how breaking this team up fit in to the larger plan. When complete darkness nearly consumed them, the Scorpions began playing “Winds of Change” and Austin was moved upon to speak inspired words that then became known as “the prophecy of Isaac.”
They did not know what this meant, but felt reassured that their time together was certainly not at an end. They knew that their children could carry their legacy on for them. Only Blue had no children at the time, and they had no idea who Elijah was. They had figured that the great and glorious day of the Donovan referral to Billy Donovan, the Jazz’s 1987 second round pick.
February 3, 1994
A year and a half after the Layden used a first round pick to trade Blue Edwards, Stockton confronts him and demands he give back Jay Humphries to get his friend Blue back. Revealing his plan to destroy the trio, Layden states that he would have to be a fool to trade Blue and a draft pick for Humphries, only to trade back. Enraged, Stockton confronts Miller.
“If Jay Humphries isn’t traded back for Blue Edwards by the end of the day,” Stockton informs, “you will have my public announcement of my retirement.”
By 10:00 pm that night, the Jazz had packaged a second round pick with Jay Humphries to send to the Boston Celtics (where Blue was then playing) in exchange for Blue alone. “If this backfires, it’s on your head,” Layden tells Stockton. “The optics on this are horrible — we traded a young prospect in Murdock and a first round pick, only to turn around and trade our return back, accompanied by another pick.”
. . . . CONTINUED BELOW . . . .
As we begin the celebrations of Easter this week, we begin with Passover Friday. The Jewish people have, for centuries, left an open seat for the coming of Elijah at the Passover Feast. Elijah, spoken of in the last chapter of the Old Testament, was promised to come to turn hearts of children to fathers, and hearts of fathers to children. Yes, today is Good Friday, but how on earth is this relevant, not only to the Jazz now, but to a game with the Grizzlies?
The 1991-1992 Utah Jazz: the year of the bromance.
During the 91-92 seasons, locker-room chemistry was at an all-time high. The Jazz were firing on all cylinders, both on and off the court. It was a year that ended in the western conference finals. This bond of togetherness had never been stronger, until perhaps this season. There were two main “bromance factions” happening within the locker-room that year.
Karl Malone and Isaac Austin
“Ike” Austin was a 6’10” center out of Arizona State who was in his rookie season with the Utah Jazz. Austin played two seasons with the Jazz before heading overseas, and eventually returning to the NBA where he won the 1997 most improved player award. The Jazz certainly could have used him during their finals runs. Karl had taken Ike under his wing. The two formed a unique friendship that has lasted through the decades. Karl had even asked Austin to be the Godfather of a couple of his children. Rather than wax poetically about this friendship, you can read about this incredibly true story here:
John Stockton, Corey Crowder, and Blue Edwards
Theodore (Blue) was entering his third year with the Jazz. He and Stockton had always gotten along remarkably. However, it was not until the arrival of Corey Crowder that this relationship could fully blossom into the tubular-trio. Stockton, typically quite shy and reserved, began to really come out of his shell as he would socialize with Corey and Blue. They would spend time together hanging out at Cottonwood Mall, eating at The Philadelphian, and attending Salt Lake Golden Eagles games. They made a pact that the three of them, or their children, would win a championship while in Utah.
Above: Corey Crowder and Isaac Austin.
The promises made to the fathers
May 28, 1992
The Jazz are defeated 4-2 by the Portland Trailblazers in the western conference finals. Upon defeat, the Stockton/Edwards/Crowder trio faces uncertainty about their future and getting another run. Concerned, the three address this with owner Larry Miller in exit interviews.
Larry reveals his covenant with the three:
Larry Miller said:
The end of an era
As Jazz GM Scott Layden receives word from his time-traveling self of the ultimate betrayal of him by the Jazz franchise, he swears to breakup all bromances. He waived Crowder and sends him packing to Europe. Austin is not far behind as he, too, follows Crowder to Europe.
June 24, 1992
Scott Layden packages Blue Edwards and Erick Murdock with a first round pick to send to Milwaukee for Jay Humphries and Larry Krystkowiak. Upon hearing the news, the trio, plus Karl and Isaac, all went out for drinks on Karl’s birthday and attended the Scorpions concert. Frustrated and dejected, the five lamented the promise of a championship made by Larry, and wondered how breaking this team up fit in to the larger plan. When complete darkness nearly consumed them, the Scorpions began playing “Winds of Change” and Austin was moved upon to speak inspired words that then became known as “the prophecy of Isaac.”
Prophecy of Isaac said:
They did not know what this meant, but felt reassured that their time together was certainly not at an end. They knew that their children could carry their legacy on for them. Only Blue had no children at the time, and they had no idea who Elijah was. They had figured that the great and glorious day of the Donovan referral to Billy Donovan, the Jazz’s 1987 second round pick.
February 3, 1994
A year and a half after the Layden used a first round pick to trade Blue Edwards, Stockton confronts him and demands he give back Jay Humphries to get his friend Blue back. Revealing his plan to destroy the trio, Layden states that he would have to be a fool to trade Blue and a draft pick for Humphries, only to trade back. Enraged, Stockton confronts Miller.
“If Jay Humphries isn’t traded back for Blue Edwards by the end of the day,” Stockton informs, “you will have my public announcement of my retirement.”
By 10:00 pm that night, the Jazz had packaged a second round pick with Jay Humphries to send to the Boston Celtics (where Blue was then playing) in exchange for Blue alone. “If this backfires, it’s on your head,” Layden tells Stockton. “The optics on this are horrible — we traded a young prospect in Murdock and a first round pick, only to turn around and trade our return back, accompanied by another pick.”
. . . . CONTINUED BELOW . . . .
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