Jon La Follette

Former sports radio guy. Patriots, Angels, Utes, Utah HC, Jazz. Now in government communications.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

Love it when my teams collide!
#GoUtes #GoPats

[New England Patriots @Patriots]

Welcome to New England @CalebLomu51 💪

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

Bait
Crossover
Crowd “ooooh!”
Final rush and shot
Crowd explosion
“SCORE!!!”
Goal horn
*chef’s kiss*

The first 13 seconds are on repeat. Inject this into my veins

[NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympics]

A GOLDEN GOAL FOR GOLD!

[Mark Cuban @mcuban]

Why the NBA should embrace tanking -

The NBA has kate been misguided thinking that fans want to see their teams compete every night with a chance to win. It’s never been that way that way.

When I got into the nba, they thought they were in the basketball business. They aren’t. They are in the business of creating experiences for fans.

Few can remember the score from the last game they saw or went to. They can’t remember the dunks or shots. What they remember is who they were with. Their family, friends, a date. That’s what makes the experience special.

Fans know their team can’t win every game. They know only one team can win a ring. What fan that care about their team’s record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring.

The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3 , when you tank.

We didn’t tank often. Only a few times over 23 years, but when we did, our fans appreciated it. And it got us to where we could improve, trade up to get Luka and improve our team.

The nba should worry more about fan experience than tanking. It should worry more about pricing fans out of games than tanking.

You know who cares the least about tanking , a parent who cant afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player

Tanking isn’t the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@975Hans Dang. Happy for you and grateful as a listener, short-time co-worker, and former colleague for all you've done for sports radio. Best wishes in your next chapter!

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

Breaking on Thursday: Tomlin joins Michigan coaching staff

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

Breaking: After a historic 19-season run in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin just informed his team that he is stepping down as the Steelers head coach, sources tell @JFowlerESPN and me.

The Steelers now will be looking for only their fourth head coach since 1969.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@jakehatch

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@aaronfalk Much of society’s media literacy these days is shameful. For all of people’s griping about the journalism sphere, they sure don’t understand it, its purpose, or how it works.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@voicebyhughes @golfing_utes I’ve started assuming 40-60% of the roster (including our favorite players to watch) will turn over each season. But they’re often replaced by other players who we’ll learn to love watching.

Every team has a ton of turnover these days.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@aaronfalk It’s wild how many people are assuming this excerpt from the column is Gordon venting his own emotions about Kyle.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

As a former media member, I appreciated his class, kindness, and professionalism.
As a fan and alumnus, I appreciate his leadership and winning.

Some uncertainty ahead at the U, yes, but I'm grateful for what Whit gave to Utah and am optimistic for the Scalley era.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

Fans can be such clowns sometimes.

Kyle is a legend and deserves every honor Utah can give him. As a former media member, I appreciated his class, kindness, and professionalism. As a fan and alumnus, I appreciate his leadership, toughness, and will to win.

[Melissa Whittingham Kent @MissyWhit]

My dad devoted nearly 30 years of his life to Utah football. As his daughter, my whole childhood was shaped by the sacrifices my dad made for Utah football. Seeing a lifetime of loyalty, sacrifice, and dedication being dismissed so harshly now is heartbreaking.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@Rainmaker1973 Dobby the house elf on meth

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@voicebyhughes I was wishing you’d be the PA voice today in the stadium!

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@realOCsports Not mad, but really bummed. I loved the idea of Scalley being able to retain a great staff as a starting point.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@Joshua_Newman I'm sad. Trying to figure out exactly why.

For sure because our trip to Vegas for his last game will not be that.
For sure that future program health is in question (raiding coaches).
Maybe too because I don't want to share with Michigan.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@realOCsports @OCShow801 @ESPN700 Sad. Not mad. I'll root hard for him as I wonder if the U botched the transition.

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@YogiRoth @yoptionfb For many, I think it's the feeling of injustice.

Unlevel playing field in terms of resources
Bias (real or perceived) from decision makers
Worthiness of a team is so subjective and the criteria goal posts are moved again and again
Throw in transfer and NIL wackiness, too

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

It’s a feature, not a flaw.

A lot of the magic of March Madness is that teams that “have zero business playing in it” are in fact in and sometimes they win. It’s wonderful.

[Danny Kanell @dannykanell]

We’re all arguing about Miami, Alabama, Notre Dame and overlooking that TWO groups of 5 schools are occupying spots when they have zero business playing in it this year.

Tulane lost 45-10 to Ole Miss.

JMU only played ONE P4 school and lost by 14.

What a mess

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@DanWolken I might be alone, but I'd like that. I like when championships are as meaningful as possible and not just another bump in the road

[Jon La Follette @BigFrench_]

@BryanDFischer Just hope the decision makers won’t change the rules to prevent this joy from happening again.