SALT LAKE CITY – Donovan Mitchell didn’t know what to think when he heard the news. Had the Utah House of Representatives passed a resolution in his honor? Why? And what exactly did that mean?
When House Resolution 3 was introduced by Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, on Tuesday, to recognize “Donovan Mitchell’s exemplary service to the Utah Jazz and the Utah community; and suggests considering “Spida” (Mitchell’s nickname) as a state arachnid official “caused some people to raise their eyebrows.
The resolution was drafted after Mitchell’s famous post-game exchange with Shaquille O’Neal last week. It was a way to support the Jazz star.
“In Utah, we support our players when they face strange abuses during post-game interviews, disguised as pep talks,” the resolution said, as it slammed into his free-throw percentage. O’Neal and outside the field business, such as the movie “Kazaam” video game “Shaq Fu”.
“I think it’s appropriate for the great state of Utah to award Shaquille O’Neal a technical foul,” Birkeland said, wearing a referee’s shirt.
The little detail was something Mitchell appreciated.
“It was a lot of fun,” Mitchell said.
Birkeland and her colleagues adopted the resolution by a landslide vote of 67-5. No wonder Utahns claims to be one of their biggest stars.
The resolution, however, met with some opposition.
“Not only did it get into Donovan Mitchell’s head, but I’m sure everyone who votes yes to it would rent some space in your head,” House Major Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, said of O ‘Neale. “But I support our jazz. I support Donovan Mitchell. “
Now, whether or not such an issue should have been brought to the floor – House Speaker Brad Wilson even wore a Mitchell T-shirt for discussion – is a whole other matter. But Birkeland and the other representatives who vote yes simply wanted to show an official demonstration of support for the All-Star.
And while Mitchell sat in the car reading about it and thinking about the unique support show, he couldn’t help but smile. Of course it was easy to laugh, but it was also quite moving.
“I looked at him in a different light,” Mitchell said. “Growing up as a kid, you always want to be that guy you love and I really appreciate the support. I think it’s special and it’s an honor. It’s kind of funny.”
But he had a question: “Is it like the state spider?” Mitchell asked. “I don’t know how this works, to be honest with you. I was asking around, we don’t really know.”
It doesn’t seem to be. The Utah State Legislative website states that the resolutions “are considered an expression of the Legislature and are printed in the laws of the Annual Session (Utah Laws), but are not codified.”
So for now, it’s just a way for the house to express its opinion. The opinion that Mitchell is the best player – and spider – around.
“I’m just blessed that people think of me like that,” Mitchell said. – I’m just honored.
Ryan Miller