Jazz rooting for RSL – now, at least

I had an idea at practice the other day that it might be interesting to ask Jazz players – especially those who’ve proclaimed themselves to be big soccer fans – about Real Salt Lake’s upcoming MLS Cup match.

They are, after all, the only other “major league” team in town.

Turns out, the Jazz aren’t keeping too close of an eye on the pros on the pitch. But most of the Jazz guys I talked to wished RSL well after they found out they were playing for a championship.

Also turns out, some readers <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705345597/Jazz-not-too-familiar-with-RSL.html
” target=”_blank”>didn’t think the story “Players not too familiar with Utah’s other pro team” was worth a place in cyberspace, let alone in the paper.

three11stu: “I guess the main purpose of this article is to provide ammo for those who hate soccer?”

Cam: “What a dumb and pointless article. What is the point?”

Anon: “Sound like it’s pretty even. I’m a Jazz fan and can’t name their starting 5 …”

A couple other commenters have also poked fun at the Jazz, asking: “Who are these guys? Does Utah have a basketball team?”

Funny. Depending on the game, I find myself asking the same questions. So, too, does Jerry Sloan (he’s the Utah Jazz coach, by the way).

Here are a few other observations from my interviews with Jazz players about the MLS Cup, RSL and soccer:

- Sloan is a big fan of soccer. Loves watching his grandkids play. He also thinks more smaller high schools should think about playing soccer because of its affordability compared to football, which costs more due to equipment, etc.

- Wesley Matthews, an all-division high school soccer player in Wisconsin, grew up as a fan of the Chicago Fire and K.C. Wizards but says he’s now a Real Salt Lake fan. Matthews might have a solid lead for RSL GM Garth Lagerwey, too. The rookie’s friend is apparently a top-notch soccer player who’s hoping to play professionally.

- Andrei Kirilenko admits to having a “prejudice” toward European soccer. He also admits to having never been to an MLS game, so perhaps RSL should invite the Russian out to a match next year? He did wish Real luck.

- Mehmet Okur was sincerely interested in RSL’s MLS Cup game even though he hadn’t heard about it yet. He asked more questions than I did during our interview and said “hopefully they’re going to win and bring a trophy here to Salt Lake.” He once enjoyed an Real Salt Lake game at Rice-Eccles but hasn’t made it out to Rio Tinto yet.

- Kyrylo Fesenko took a pot shot, joking that “there is not such a thing as American soccer.” Then again, he didn’t know that his Ukrainian compatriot Dema Kovalenko is now playing for Galaxy and not RSL and he’s generally goofing off, so RSL fans shouldn’t be too offended by him.

For that matter, I don’t think RSL fans should be offended by this story, either.