Just a few thoughts on this second round series featuring the Warriors and Jazz.

First off, I’m from Utah. I’ve followed the Jazz ever since they moved from New Orleans. I’ve seen the bad times to the good times and back to the bad times, I’m not a fanatic just a fan and I don’t give the Jazz much of a chance in this series. That being said I have a few complaints.

Last night ESPNSJW had a quick preview of the series. They joked about Salt Lake City having “zero” night life, they lamented the only way to have fun is to go to Vegas in between games, they even had a graphic showing a twelve hour trip to Vegas from Salt Lake and the cost to lease a car to get there. Well, it takes five hours to get to Vegas from Salt Lake, I have taken that trip more times than I can count, it never varies unless there’s weather.

The arrogant asses at ESPN just threw out a number because in their minds who cares, it’s Utah, whose gonna fact check. Sound familiar?

Next, the Golden State players have jumped on the Salt Lake City bash fest. Steph Curry say’s in his snide way he will go snowboarding, forward Matt Barnes said “there’s no nightlife in Utah.” Forward Andre Iguodala said being in Utah “can kind of lull you to sleep” and the SLC vibe is “just like, ‘Man let’s just get out of here.'”

I don’t get the insults about the city, plenty of places to party in Salt Lake but that’s not the point. This is the Golden Boys from California against the upstart team from Utah. West coast against fly over country, hip millionaires that do commercials and endorsements versus buttoned down wannabes from Mormon country. High life versus family life. New York versus Indiana. It’s kind of a microcosm of the current divide in the country.

Personally I could care less about what the opposing players think. When Utah sent the Clippers packing in game seven Sunday night I was amused noting that Jay Z and Beyonce were on the front row. They had to do the walk of shame out of the arena because the other Golden Boys from LA La Land were just dismissed from the playoffs. If I get nothing more out of this years Utah team that image was enough for me.

Golden State has built a wonderful team and they’re fun to watch, I can say that with indifference to the Oakland-San Francisco area, I have no reason to go there, never have. I would imagine that Golden State players would trade their state tax liabilities, property taxes, and cost of living for Utahs, but I digress.

I will enjoy the series whether it’s a sweep or Utah wins a few games. I give Utah little to no chance of actually winning the series, and that’s OK. I still have a wonderful place to live regardless of the weird liquor laws and California will still be California, my life won’t change because of a few basketball games.

ps: I’ll be watching a couple of the games from a casino in Nevada, because it’s just a few hours away from Utah with golf three days in a row in St. George and Mesquite. Suck it California.