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SALT LAKE CITY — For one night, Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox traded in his politician hat for a media microphone.
Here's his experience covering the Utah Jazz's home opener against the defending champion Golden State Warriors, which ended in a 124-123 loss, as told to KSL TV reporter Jeremiah Jensen:
"The Jazz — to me and really to the state of Utah — are the unifying piece that we have. Personally, this is the thing that my family gathered around. My dad, my uncles, my brothers, my sisters, my wife, my kids; this is what bonds us all together.
"For John Stockton’s last game, I was the kid on the very top row of the arena, but I had to be there to see it — even if we couldn’t afford it.
"When you first asked me to do it, I don’t think I stopped smiling for three weeks. It was so exciting, and I just thought this is a dream come true for me. Then I got here and realized how hard it really is.
"The problem is, (the media) make it look way too easy. I thought anybody could do it, but it’s not true. Not anybody can do it, and I certainly struggled.
"(Practices) would be like watching a movie, and then have the movie start talking back to you. I've been in a room with these people, but they never talk back. To have the chance to ask questions and to be able to listen to them was pretty cool.
"I can read what’s happening on Twitter, but being in the room and listening to them answer questions … talking to other reporters is pretty amazing, to see what the media do every day.
"I spend a lot of time doing interviews. I feel very comfortable; I could do it all day. But when you have that producer in your ear and are trying to hear what is going on, and you don’t control the environment — honestly, I don’t know how you do it.
"I am trying to do (a live shot), and remember what I am going to say, but even reading my notes is so much more difficult than I expected. You are in the moment, and — especially live — you don't get a chance to edit things out and fix it.
"Even the Western Conference finals teams with Boozer didn’t have the same feel as this Jazz team. You really have to go back to those finals years for the anticipation and the excitement in the air. The offseason took forever, because Jazz fans were so excited to be back.
"I highly doubt (I'll be back). I would do it if asked, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for what you do. I am going to stick to my day job for now. Although I have a lot of people who wish that I would quit that job, too, so we'll see what happens."
The Jazz (1-1) are back home Monday night to host Memphis Grizzlies, before embarking a road trip at Houston that includes eight of the next nine games away from Salt Lake City.
