Bits from Randy Rigby Interview, 8/14

Which Beatle did you relate with the most, Randy?
I related with Paul McCartney…My brother, my be–one of dear friends, our neighbor, Tom Oviatt(?), my brother Ron, Ron was John Lennon, the oldest one, and kinda the leader. And then Tom was George [Harrison].

And I was, I think I had to take what was leftover between Ringo [Starr] and Paul, and I liked playing the guitar, so it was gonna be Paul. But I’s the right-handed bass player though.* …

You had the Beatle haircut. You had the Beatle boots. I mean, it was literally, everything they did, you wanted to replicate it.

* You can listen to the interview yourself to hear Spencer Checketts talk about which Beatle(s) he is and how girls scream for him.

What can you tell us about reports that the Jazz have hired Justin Zanik as assistant GM?
Well, right now, nothing. We’re, have a, don’t have a comment on that.

Do you prefer a players’ coach or a coach that has command over the locker room?
Right now, we really feel like we have the right kind of coach. He’s a young coach; we have a young team. He’s a young, he’s a coach that is willing to learn and grow with this team as we’re trying to have him grow.

He’s been very, COACH Corbin, I’ve been very impressed. He’s been very moldable as, for us in the front office. From ownership to Kevin [O’Connor], Dennis [Lindsey] and myself, of Ty being a team player, to really listen to where we’re going, what we’re trying to do.

And for some coaches, to be going with where we’re going, in the evolution of this team, and where they may want to be going for their own personal careers, might not be a match. And Ty Corbin is being willing to say, “You know what? This might not be the best thing for my own personal career, to be doing what we’re going to maybe need to do, but you know what? I’m a team player.”

And that’s what I’ve been impressed with Ty Corbin, and he has, he is a team player, and it’s not just what’s best for Ty Corbin…

He’s been very open and communicative, and we’ve had good conversation and dialogue, and we’ve all been walking together down the path. So I’ve been very happy with the progress that we’re making, and who we have there with COACH Corbin and his coaching staff.

* I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: This spin about how on board Tyrone Corbin is is ridiculous. Tyrone Corbin has shown for 2.5 seasons that he can’t get anywhere with a group of veterans. If he wants to keep his job, of course by this point he’s going to be open to trying something new. Also, as Gordon Monson pointed out, with the front office having already decided the direction they’re going in (and all the personnel decisions having already been made), Ty is hardly going to be picketing outside KOC’s office…

Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson were apparently slackers
We’re also giving a great compliment to [Tyrone Corbin], to say we have a coach, in, that we feel has those kind of reputation and skills, to coach these guys and teach these guys. It’s coaching and teaching, like you’re saying, right now with the development of where these guys are at.

And I’ll tell you what. I’ve seen our coaching staff work before, and I’ve been really excited to see Jerry working as well, and with Ty, and the coaching staff there, and being a team player with them. I’ve never seen any of our coaching staffs work any harder than our guys are working right now during this off-season.

Randy, if you were magical and mystical, which Karl Malone trait besides work ethic would you instill into Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors?
Shooting touch. I mean, you wanna have a great work ethic, but I’ll tell you what.

You’ve also gotta have a feel for how to really shoot the ball, and, ’cause it’s, as I’ve watched Karl work with Enes and Derrick, and one of the first things he asked them is, “Tell me what your sh–tell me where your money ball is. What shot do you have?”

And initially, Derrick says, “Well, you know, I have a good go–move to the basket.”

[Karl says,] “No, that’s not a shot. That’s a move to the basket. And that’s now a layup. I want to talk about where you could then make them have to respect you outside so that if, as they come out there, then you can make that move to the basket.”

And he really worked with them on how important it is to develop a nice touch. And he watched very closely, Derrick, for example. And he says, “You know what? You have a great shot that doesn’t change from, you’re consistent. And that’s a great quality that you have. Now, you just gotta now pay the price in the gym to keep working on that shot. Work it. Work it, work it.”

And look at Karl’s career. When he first came in, he didn’t have that outside shot that they had to respect, and as they devel–as he developed that, it got better and better.

And then it also allowed him to also make his move, and it made him so he didn’t have to constantly be in that pounding of the inside of making just the move, where you can get hurt more. So it, I think it also helps prolong your career.

What scares you the most about the upcoming season?
[Drinking game: Drink every time Randy says “enjoy.”]

Well, the biggest thing that scares me the most is that our fan base will be patient enough with us. And I think, and I really feel they will. That’s my fear, is, you know what? We’ve got a great young team that’s gonna grow, and I wanna be able to have our fans, hopefully, come out and be patient and enjoy the ride…

Enjoy the ride together, and enjoy seeing what they’re seeing. Enjoy seeing NBA basketball coming into this marketplace and the degree of talent that you’re seeing being played.

And enjoy that, while we’re also wanting, yes, to win-loss, wanting to see us taking the steps towards building this championship team, and ultimately hanging that banner in here. And all of us enjoying that.

But let’s enjoy this ride, and the growth, ’cause you know what, that’s what, life needs to be enjoyed a little bit as well, while we just see, and not just the win-losses, ’cause there’s a lot of challenges out there in life.

Let’s enjoy what sports bring to us, and that is enjoying the competition. Enjoying seeing good teams competing against each other, and fighting it out, and then one team winning, and enjoying some good basketball.

What excites you the most about the upcoming season?
[Drinking game: Drink every time Randy says “excited.”]

Well, what excites me the most on this, is literally, and I guess I answered this a little bit with that very question, is, I’m excited, that, the talent level.

I think we have more talent, potential talent, than we’ve ever had before, that is needs to de–now just continue to be nurtured and developed, and yet, are, do we still have all the pieces? I don’t know that we do necessarily, but I’m excited.

I think what excites me, we’re positioned in all the right fronts. In the front office, we’re positioned right. Our ownership is positioned to give us the support, to give us the financial support as well as the emotional support, to get where we need to get. I really am excited.

We have the right kind of pieces in the basketball operations, to get us where we need. And we have a great community, and our office, also, in, with the business side is committed and supportive of helping us all get there.

And so, you got a great team coming together, and I’m really excited to see where that can all move together.

Do you have any updates on Enes Kanter’s rehab?
Yes. Enes continues to be rehabbing. We keep getting approvals from his doctors on us being able to expand what his ability, what he can continue to do.

Unintentional Dirty Quote Machines
** Gordon Monson: The second Randy came in, he grabbed a handful of cheese and he said, “Boy, that’s good.” And he’s right, it is good. There are takers and givers. I’m a giver. Randy Rigby: And I’m taking a swig of the Coca-Cola next.
** Rigby on Kanter: He loves to work out, and he loves to push himself. And some, and with him, we almost have to pull him back so that he’s not doing some things too fast.
** Rigby: I met with our ticket guys today. They are extremely motivated to take care of our fans, in tickets, so give ’em a call, and put ’em to the challenge, and tell ’em Randy said you’re gonna take good care of ’em. (1280)