Utah Rabbi Avremi Zippel along with two members of his family and a friend, took “I’m a Jew and I’m proud” signs to Monday’s game between the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks. They did so to send a message to Kyrie Irving, and Zippel claims Irving had security take down the signs.
“Kyrie saw the signs. At the 9:40 mark of the first quarter, he commented ‘no need to bring that to a game.’
At the next timeout, he went to Mavs security.
Jazz officials came over and CHECKED OUR TICKETS.
We were told to put the signs away. Weak sauce from so many…”
Update:
Kyrie saw the signs. At the 9:40 mark of the first quarter, he commented “no need to bring that to a game.”
At the next timeout he went to Mavs security.
Jazz officials came over and CHECKED OUR TICKETS.
We were told to put the signs away.
Weak sauce from so many… https://t.co/AzoDVczF8k
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) January 2, 2024
Here’s a picture of the four individuals at the game with the signs.
We may have brought four Rabbis to sit courtside tonight… pic.twitter.com/mRzPPUoOZf
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) January 2, 2024
As for their motivation behind this, it stems from the controversial incident that took place in November 2022, when Irving posted a link on Twitter to a film that has been described as antisemitic. Initially, he didn’t back down when called out over it but eventually apologized. Still, it’s clear the likes of Zippel are not over that incident.
“Some of the things that Kyrie said about the Jewish community and about Holocaust denial were vile and disgusting,” Zippel told The Salt Lake Tribune.
The Rabbi also revealed Irving’s initial reaction upon seeing them with the signs,
“He comes by, he looks at the sign, and he says, ‘Nice. I’m a Jew, too,’” Zippel said.
Irving then showed Zippel and the others a Star of David tattoo that he has. While he was annoyed by the comment, the Rabbi did not want to create a scene and just wished the eight-time All-Star a Happy New Year. He claims that sometime later, came Irving’s comment of there being no need to bring a sign like that to the game
Soon after, security came over to tell them to take down the signs. A Jazz official then followed who informed them it was against arena policy for fans to have signages while being seated on front row seats. Zippel claims, though, that another Jazz official told him at halftime that Irving’s complaint was what led to them being told to take it down.
The Jazz Released A Statement
With the Rabbi’s comments going viral, the Jazz released a statement of their own regarding the events of that night. In it, they stated that if a sign ends up becoming a distraction or sparks an interaction with a player, they’d ask for it to be removed.
“The Utah Jazz Code of Conduct is in place so that games can be played without distraction and disruption,” the statement read. “No matter where someone is in the arena, if a sign becomes distracting or sparks an interaction with a player, we will ask them to remove it.
The Jazz also made it clear that the employee got it wrong when they informed the fans that the content of the signs was the issue.
“During an out-of-bounds play in the first quarter of yesterday’s Jazz game against the Dallas Mavericks, there was a group sitting courtside whose signs sparked an interaction with a player that created a distraction and interfered with play of game,” it continued. “As the next step in standard security protocol, the fans were asked to take down their signs. The part-time employee who told the fans it was the content of the sign that was the problem was incorrect.
“The issue was the disruptive interaction caused by usage of the signs, not the content of the signs,” the statement concluded.
Zippel was not pleased one bit with this statement, however. He called out the Jazz for taking the side of a triggered player and doubling down.
“Sadly, instead of just quietly chalking this up to a misunderstanding and letting this remain a small blip, the Jazz took the side of said triggered player and doubled down.
That’s just disappointing to me.”
8/ Sadly, instead of just quietly chalking this up to a misunderstanding and letting this remain a small blip, the Jazz took the side of said triggered player and doubled down.
That’s just disappointing to me.
Thanks for letting me share. End.
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) January 3, 2024
This really is quite a sensitive topic. I get that what was written on the signs was not controversial by any means, but it seemed they were trying to get a reaction out of Irving with it.
As for the game itself, the Jazz blew out the Mavericks 127-90. Irving made his return following a 12-game absence due to a right heel contusion in the contest and recorded 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block.
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