Current:Home > reviewsThe Utah Jazz arena's WiFi network name is the early star of March Madness -Intelligent Capital Compass
The Utah Jazz arena's WiFi network name is the early star of March Madness
View
Date:2025-04-19 13:06:38
It has been nearly 26 years since Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls took down the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals. That doesn't mean the Jazz have gotten over it.
The Delta Center, home of the Utah Jazz, is hosting first- and second-round games for March Madness in Salt Lake City this year. On Wednesday, one reporter there to cover the tournament noticed the arena's WiFi network had a unique name: JordanPushedOff.
"JordanPushedOff" is a reference to one of the most (in)famous moments of Jordan's career and of Jazz (and Bulls) franchise history.
The Bulls led the 1998 NBA Finals three games to two, but they trailed the Jazz by one point with 10 seconds left in the game. Jordan dribbled the ball to the top of the paint and hit a crossover that sent his defender past him before hitting a mid-range jump shot with five seconds left.
NCAA tournament:How to stream March Madness on your phone
IT'S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY's NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.
The 2-pointer ultimately gave Chicago its sixth title and was his last shot attempt with the Bulls, which has made the moment iconic in the Windy City.
In Salt Lake City, Jazz fans continue to hold the opinion that Jordan pushed off Bryon Russell during the crossover before taking the shot, hence the name of the Delta Center's WiFi network.
Jazz owner Ryan Smith told Pat McAfee about the "JordanPushedOff" network name on an episode of The PatMcAfee Show last November The reference has come back into the limelight with the arena hosting some March Madness games.
Did Michael Jordan push off Bryon Russell?
Jordan's last shot with the Bulls remains one of the most controversial of his career, and NBA fans still all have their own interpretations.
NCAA Tournament schedule:What March Madness Games are tomorrow?
March Madness games in Salt Lake City
There are four first-round games taking place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 21.
- No. 15 Long Beach State vs. No. 2 Arizona, 2 p.m. ET/Noon MT
- No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 Dayton, 4:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. MT
- No. 12 McNeese State vs. No. 5 Gonzaga, 7:25 p.m. ET/5:25 p.m. MT
- No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:55 p.m. ET/7:55 p.m. MT
The winners of the four games will advance to play each other in the second round at the Delta Center on Saturday, March 23.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Georgia jail fails to let out inmates who are due for release and met bail, citing crashed database
- How dangerous climate conditions fueled Maui's devastating wildfires
- Is Biden's plan to stem immigration seeing any success?: 5 Things podcast
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- What to stream this week: ‘The Monkey King,’ Stand Up to Cancer, ‘No Hard Feelings,’ new Madden game
- Why Idina Menzel Says Playing Lea Michele’s Mom on Glee “Wasn’t Great” for Her Ego
- 2 dead after plane strikes power line, crashes in lake in western North Carolina, authorities say
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- The best horror movies of 2023 so far, ranked (from 'Scream VI' to 'Talk to Me')
Ranking
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Derek Carr throws a TD pass in his Saints debut, a 26-24 preseason win over the Chiefs
- Rebel Wilson's Baby Girl Royce Is Cuteness Overload in New Photo
- Kansas newspaper says it investigated local police chief prior to newsroom raid
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Aidan O’Connell impresses for Raiders, while questions linger for 49ers backup quarterbacks
- Hawaii mourns the dead in ferocious wildfires while officials warn the full toll is not yet known
- Jimmy Fallon Is the Ultimate Rockstar During Surprise Performance at Jonas Brothers Concert
Recommendation
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Russian air strikes hit Kyiv as Moscow claims to shoot down Ukrainian drone
Is Social Security running out? When funds run dry solution may be hard to swallow.
North Korea’s Kim orders sharp increase in missile production, days before US-South Korea drills
Travis Hunter, the 2
More states expect schools to keep trans girls off girls teams as K-12 classes resume
Thieving California bear 'Hank the Tank' is actually female, and now she has a new home
Don’t expect quick fixes in ‘red-teaming’ of AI models. Security was an afterthought