Utah Jazz Cancels 2009 Rocky Mountain Revue
SALT LAKE CITY (May 1, 2009) – Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby announced today that the 2009 Rocky Mountain Revue has been canceled. The team will reevaluate the viability of the event for the summer of 2010. The Jazz will be fielding a team at the Orlando Pro Summer League held at the RDV Sportsplex July 6-10.
“Since the NBA began its own summer league in Las Vegas, we have slowly been losing participation in our event. The few teams that played in both Utah and Vegas, have now decided to forgo the Rocky Mountain Revue and only attend Vegas for budgetary reasons,” said Rigby.
“We want to thank our fans for the support they have shown the Rocky Mountain Revue over the years and we look forward to finding other ways to connect with them this summer.”
Past RMR Events: 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
How It All Began
When the Rocky Mountain Revue first started in 1984, it was a way for players and fans to remain interested in the Jazz during the offseason. It was a pro-am league, and players such as Karl Malone, Tom Chambers, Danny Ainge, and Mark Eaton all participated to stay loose.
As time went on, these professionals began to age and savor the offseason, opting to rest instead. The talent level dropped and interest in the Revue began to fade away. Operations were suspended for a season, before coming back, better than ever, in 1989.
The current format of the Rocky Mountain Revue got its start after 1989 from current assistant coach and then Jazz director of basketball operations Scott Layden. He had sent players to a summer league in California and came up with the idea of a similar league to be held in Salt Lake City. After making some calls to gauge the interest of other teams, the new Rocky Mountain Revue was born.
The Revue provides fans with the opportunity to see young players fighting to earn a roster spot come fall, as well as recent top draft picks. In 2007, the Atlanta Hawks brought Al Horford (3rd pick overall) and the Chicago Bulls brought Joakim Noah (9th pick overall),. It’s a way for fans to see the future of the NBA.
Many current day superstars have gotten their start playing in the Revue. Former MVPs Tim Duncan (1997), Steve Nash (1997) and Dirk Nowitzki (1999, 2000) each participated in the Revue. Amare Stoudemire played with the Phoenix Suns in 2002 before he became one of the premier big men in the league. Robert Horry (1992, 1993) first played in the Revue prior to going on to win 7 NBA titles. Carmello Anthony played with the Nuggets in 2003 and is now one of the star forwards in the league.
Utah has had its fair share of stars begin their career playing in the Revue. Olympians Carlos Boozer (2002) and Deron Williams (2005, 2006) each played in the Revue during their first years in the league. Boozer was named to the All-Revue team in 2002 with the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Jazz for the 2004-05 season. Williams played two years in the Revue on his way to becoming one of the top point guards in the NBA.
Even current Jazz players Paul Millsap (2006, 2007), Ronnie Brewer (2006, 2007), Kyle Korver (2003) and Andrei Kirilenko (2001, 2002) played in the Rocky Mountain Revue. Before them, former Jazz favorites Bryon Russell (1993, 1994, 1996), Greg Ostertag (1996, 1997) and Thurl Bailey (1996) all suited up for Revue teams.
Since starting its current format in 1989, the Revue has become one of the premier summer leagues in the NBA. It is a staple to summers in Salt Lake City and is still going strong after nearly 20 years of operation.
