Well, sort of. I’m afraid losing at anything will never be palatable to this old fashioned guy. Losing and winning are inherent measuring sticks in sports of any kind, even the tee ball games where they don’t keep score.

So, even though the Jazz lost, we still won.

If you believe that, I have a really nice piece of waterfront land just west of Delta. Still, there were some good things to come out of the game. I had a really good hot dog, and they serve the good ones back in the VIP and press lounge. No, I’m not one of those guys, and I have to look on my credentials to check if I’m a media guy. Hey......I am!

I also got to talk to Jerry,(I said Hi, he didn’t remember me, who the hell are you, kid?)

Just kidding. Jerry said Hi back with the look in his eyes.....who the hell are you, kid? Guess it stays the same regardless. Gordie, Steve Brown, Bob Hill, and I..... Were in the VIP restrooms together. Yes, they washed their hands. So did I.

See, a lot of good things came from that game.

Let me tell you about a couple of them and while I’m at it.......

Best news first. Ronnie Brewer is the best SG hopeful the Jazz have drafted in a long, long time. Maybe forever, if you don’t count Pete Maravich, which is a right and just thing to do. Ronnie isn’t Pete Maravich, and that’s a good thing. While Pete was a scoring marvel and a crowd draw beyond compare, a wizard with the ball and an incredible showman and last but not least his number is right up there........

Ronnie will be a better player and barring injury his number might be right up there as well. He’s that good. While I’m still crying spilt milk over Sene, Ronnie will help me get over it. See, like a fellow writer sitting next to me mentioned, Ronnie is perfect for the Jazz because the things he likes to do and does well translate perfectly to the NBA.

Little things like....Defense. Ronnie is a terrific defensive player, hands down the best in the draft at the guard position. He plays perfect position defense, looking smaller than his lofty height because he’s in a slight defensive crouch. Then, he explodes. His long arms and nimble fingers flick steals away with the deft touch of a pickpocket in Time Square. Don’t try to go over him, because he has tremendous vertical and great timing and will send the shot right back down your throat. Most players will see their assist totals skyrocket, even black holes because they’re not going to score a lot over Ronnie. Lock down potential, and I’m not talking about the Delta Center’s back doors.

Little things like.....oh....Shooting? Offensive capability? Oh, yea. Count on it. Sure, his shot is funky. So was the above mentioned Pete Maravich’s. Didn’t hurt him, and won’t hurt Ronnie. It helps when you’re quick and handle the ball well enough to go to the hoop just about any time you want to, and finish strong with a hammer dunk or softly lay it in. It also helps when you can pull up and shoot the three, or pop from the free throw line while skying over people. Don’t get me wrong, however. Ronnie will never average much more than twenty, and that’s probably optimistic. He doesn’t need to, because he does everything else so well, like distribute well enough that he’s the best point guard on the Revue team right now. He has great court vision, and pass is not a stamp on the back of his hand at Disneyland.

Just like Andre Kirilenko can influence a game without scoring in large numbers, Ronnie has that same, Deity blessed ability. Hire a new scorekeeper, maybe buy a Cray or two.

I’ve tried to think of comparable players in the NBA. There aren’t any. Ronnie is just himself, a combination of defense, offense, and team play that will make the Jazz smile for a long, long time. Jerry will simply love the kid, and the old rules about playing rooks might just go out the window.....Maybe. I was ambivalent about the pick at the draft, having wanted JJ Redick or Sene to drop to us. That might have been the best thing that ever happened to the draft, and Sene will be a great player, I think. JJ Redick, if his back holds up, will be a solid NBA player for a lot of years simply on his shooting.

Ronnie Brewer will be an All-Star, and join Andre on the All Defensive Team. Bold statement?

Yes, simply because you just never know about injury and how the big money affects these young kids. With Ronnie Brewer, barring injury, don’t worry about the rest because his Dad will kick his butt back to Arkansas if he even thinks about it. He’s been there, done that, and his influence is priceless to a young man with so high a ceiling. I predict there will be a lot of Utah youngsters who copy the funky shot. Shouldn’t, because they’re not supernaturally gifted by genetic heritage and the capriciousness of the Almighty.

Whew! Are you still sitting down, or calling the Jazz ticket office? Ok, then let me tell you about one other newcomer.

Paul Millsap.

I heard there was this guy, playing at the same school as Karl......And he was pretty good. Leading rebounder in the country, monster in the paint, beast of the East....Wac.....

So it doesn’t quite fit. Neither does Paul. Fit. Like, in the normal cubbyholes you place NBA players. Point guards go here, centers go here, shooting guards over there....no...there. Power forwards....no, you can’t be a center, small forward or point guard or shooting guard, just sit down right there. Rebound, help the big guy with defense, enforce and score. That’s simple enough even Dennis Rodman can do it. Or try. Dennis, take the wig off and you can’t wear those frilly things under your shorts. This is serious, this is basketball, not some freaky strip club night... ...... On second thought..........

Forget Rodman. Think, Paul Millsap. When the Jazz drafted him I thought, that’s nice. It will make Karl proud to have a fellow LA Tech power forward drafted by the Jazz. Maybe he can even make the team.

You think?

Oh....hell yes. And the h-word is perfectly appropriate. It’s an emphatic affirmative. Speaking of that fit.....Well....I thought he’d be taller. Bigger. Meaner looking. Have red pupils and little horns. Breathe fire. Not some average looking baller not much bigger than CJ Miles, until you really look close.

Well, his chest and arms are sort of.....large. And his arms are.....long. And when he’s jumping, he sort of gets.....up......high.

He’s deceptive. Deceptive in a lot of respects. He’s a lot stronger than you might think. He’s quicker, handles the ball well enough to start the break and run with the ball, and can block a shot with great timing now and then. He can score, a little. Well enough to make an NBA team, I think.

But, there’s this one thing I haven’t mentioned. He has the knack. The instinct, the gift of knowing where the ball is going to be at all times. Great rebounders have that gift. So, that means that he’s a great rebounder, doesn’t it? Yes. He is. Give him enough minutes, and he’ll pull down double figures in rebounds, score a few points, block a shot or two, kick start a team, make the coach smile, and win games.

Take Shelden Williams. Please. I’ve been watching the fifth player chosen in the draft, and it’s hard to watch without flinching. Suddenly, he’s not bigger and stronger than everybody. He’s not just as quick, he’s a little slower. It’s almost painful to watch, and I certainly hope he plays well enough to make the team. Wait.....he already has a contract? For three years? Oh.

Paul Millsap has no guaranteed money. He’s quicker, deceptively stronger (there’s that word again), and a much better scorer. Oh, and he can.....Rebound.

Steal.

Oh, there were other highlights and low lights last night. CJ Miles had some good minutes, and along with Paul and Ronnie led the charge that almost won the game. He’s getting there.

Brian Chase looked very good, all 5'9" of him. I don’t think he’ll make the team, with Deron, Derek, and Dee(3-D), in front of him.

Haffa looked better last night, more in control, but has a long way to go. I think his confidence was destroyed by Toronto, and that he can play in the NBA, if a team is patient enough and works with him. He’s got the body, good athleticism, and the heart to make it. Don’t expect it right away, but he might surprise you later this year.

Dee Brown looked terrible. I’m not sure why, if it was just a bad game for him, but based on last night he wouldn’t make a CBA squad. This is not to say that he won’t make the Jazz, because I think he will. He’s preternaturally fast, and has a great heart. The Jazz are high on him and will be patient while he learns to do what’s needed. He has the tools, but right now is a little lost. He’ll find a way.

I’m not sure if winning is really that important at a summer league game. You could fool the coaches, and the players, because they want to win in the worst way. You can see it on their faces, the hope and happiness when they do win, and the heartbreak and disappointment when they don’t. Fans think winning is the only thing that matters, and go away disappointed when their team doesn’t win. They shouldn’t.

If the Jazz don’t win, and there aren’t players who will help the big club, then you should seek professional help if you’re depressed about the game. You have a reason.

When there are players like CJ Miles, Ronnie Brewer, and Paul Millsap to give you hope and breathe easier, winning isn’t everything, sometimes.

But it would help.