Dec. 6, 1999
We think we've found the ultimate Utah Jazz fan!
We've profiled many fans through the years, but no one quite like the young man Keith McCord was with at the game tonight.
Keith explains why this teen is the ultimate fan.
Basically, it's because of how far he came to see his favorite team.
A lot of fans drive in from Idaho, or St. George to see the games.
But, that's nothing. This 15-year old came from the other side of the world--just to see the Jazz live!
The boy with the yamalka, walking with his parents through the front doors of the Delta Center.
15-year old Yehuda Levy flew 8,000 miles from Jerusalem just to see his favorite team.
The feeling was...
Yehuda Levy/Jazz fan: "AWESOME...STOCKTON ALL TIME ASSISTS LEADER, MARAVICH...WHERE ARE THE RETIRED JERSEYS?"
And, there's nothing like watching a young man's face light up, when he bumps into a couple of players--such as Howard Eisley and Bryon Russell-- on the way into the arena.
If you think he's smiling now--wait, there's more.
Like, an autograpgh from Hot Rod Hundley.
Yehuda: "I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IN ISRAEL, DESPITE THE TIME-ZONE DIFFERENCE, I GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO LISTEN TO YOUR PLAY BY PLAY ON THE NET...I HEARD A LOT ABOUT YOU."
That's where we first learned of Yehuda, on the Internet.
He has his own web site, most of it dedicated to the Jazz, and to his favorite player, John Stockton.
He even has video clips!
So why this fascination with the Jazz? It all started at his Bar Mitzva 2 years ago, when Yehuda and his grandfather watched the Jazz and the the Bulls in the finals.
Yehuda: "AND MY GRANDFATHER POINTED OUT THAT STOCKTON NEVER MISSES. THAT WAS ONE THING. AND AFTER THE GAME, STOCKTON TALKED, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID, BUT IT WAS LIKE, AFTER HE TALKED, HE WAS THE MAN!"
And, Yehuda didn't fly 8,000 miles not to get up close to "the man."
He was right there, when John practiced free throws, shook hands with him during the player introductions, and even had his photo taken beside the man he admires so much.
All that came before the opening tip-off!
And when Stockton made his first basket...well...that was icing on the cake!
Yehuda: "YEAH! 16-THOUSAND AND TWO POINTS FOR THAT GUY!"
Yehuda didn't travel all that way for one game. He plans to attend Wednesday's game, as well.
