Owner Hears the Music

SALT LAKE CITY — In 1985, the Utah Jazz needed a miracle: Someone both wealthy and willing to risk millions to keep a team afloat in one of the NBA’s smallest markets.

Larry Miller not only fit the bill, he paid it.

The auto dealership magnate put up $8 million to secure half-interest in the team. A year later, he shelled out another $14 million to buy the Jazz outright, snuffing a bid to move the franchise to Minnesota.

It took 12 years for Miller’s investment to pay off with the kind of currency he craved most: Utah’s first trip to professional basketball’s championship round.

“One of the greatest feelings I can even imagine would be for me and my family to be part of being able to give this community and this state something as wonderful as the NBA title,” Miller said.

Utah trailed defending champion Chicago in the best-of-7 series 2-0 going into Friday night’s Game 3. The two play again Sunday, and, if necessary, will play Game 5 in Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Whatever happens, Miller is convinced the season -- a first trip to the NBA Finals -- has been a big success.

“I like who and what we are,” he said. “We’re deep and we’re driven. I would love to win the championship ... to prove that hard work still pays off, even in 1997.”

He’s calls John Stockton’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer at Houston -- the shot that put Utah in the finals -- the highlight of his 12 years as owner. And he can’t “imagine what it might feel like to take just one step up to become world champions.”

It wouldn’t be hard to predict his response, though -- tears.

At the 1991 opening of the Delta Center, the burly, 52-year-old cried. There were sniffles, too, when over the past couple years he signed first Karl Malone and then Stockton to contract extensions through 1999.

Of course, when Malone won the NBA’s MVP trophy last month, there was an embrace -- and tears flowed.

Among professional franchise owners, Miller is an oddity. A devout Mormon, he does not attend Sunday games. Other nights, he’ll snag rebounds for his players during pregame warmups, giving hugs or slaps on the back.

And make no mistake, the Delta Center -- a $65 million endeavor to expand Jazz seating to 20,000 from the old Salt Palace’s 12,000 -- is Miller’s House. During a 1994 playoff game with Denver, the Jazz owner waded into the stands to grapple with an obnoxious Nuggets fan before arena security moved in.

After a brief self-imposed exile, Miller made a public apology. There has been no repeat of the incident.

However, the fire still burns. Irritated by Houston news coverage and the behavior of Rockets’ players during the conference finals, Miller smoldered, but kept still until Utah wrapped up the series 4-2.

Then he cut loose.

“As John’s shot hit the net, instantly all of Houston’s ... complaining, threatening and trash-talking meant nothing,” Miller wrote in a guest Deseret News column. “The Houston media’s barbs at Karl all went out the window.

“Justice was served in the twinkling of an eye.”

While Miller may forgive, he never forgets, keeping a mental list of players who will never wear a Jazz uniform. He may disapprove of one’s wild lifestyle, another’s attitude or reputation for vicious play.

Philadelphia’s Derrick Coleman can forget a Jazz contract, and so can Nick Van Exel of the Los Angeles Lakers. As for Dennis Rodman, he of the technical fouls, multicolored hair and wedding gown, Miller says: “Never.”

Miller’s patronly attitude showed in contract provisions he granted Stockton last October. In addition to a reported $15 million, the NBA’s all-time assists and steals leader won a no-trade clause -- and the right to roughhouse with his sons in the arena, as is his custom.

It is all heady stuff for Miller, a one-time construction worker and drag-racer. Life is indeed good these days for him, and he takes no small delight in seeing his hometown go Jazz crazy.

“I (feel) an enormous sense of gratitude,” he said.