Michael G. Snarr: LONG SHOTS AND LAYUPS

Weller's is pleased to welcome author and Jazzman Michael G. Snarr to the store for a reading and signing of Long Shots and Layups: Memories and Stories from the Golden Era of the Utah Jazz. With possible surprise guest!!!!

From a self-proclaimed sports marketing junkie, here's the inside story of how a top US sports franchise functions, how one man brought it to Utah against the advice of the NBA, how another man and his family gave it new life, passionately embracing the team, making countless financial and personal sacrifices throughout its history, how its general manager, coaches, and players rallied behind the exuberance of a state full of sports fans, and how a last-place sorts property became a model of success, surprising most sports business experts and the entire front office of the NBA along the way.

For over 28 years, Michael G. Snarr worked in the front office of the Utah Jazz and watched as all of these fascinating stories, plots, and subplots unfolded. Balancing the history of the team from the time it re-rooted itself in Utah, Snarr also tells us about the business of sports marketing, how it came together, grew,and how some extremely remarkable and committed individuals on the team and business side achieved what few people thought possible, especially in one of the smallest cities in the NBA. The Utah Jazz met Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Championship Finals twice. That accomplishment grabbed the attention of America, and indeed, much of the world. It was a series where individual play was overshadowed by team effort. Almost everyone watched. In fact, the 1998 NBA Finals is still the most watched series in the history of the NBA.

This is a story of success, of overcoming failure year after year, and of beating the odds to achieve more than expected. The final score is just a footnote to a much greater and inspiring story. The story of the Utah Jazz during the golden era of Stockton to Malone.

Michael G. Snarr graduated from the University of Utah in business management and worked for the Utah Jazz in sponsorship sales from 1986 to 2015, when he retired. He lives in Salt Lake, Utah with his wife of 38 years, Tamie Merrick Snarr. They have four children, and recently, a first grandchild. Mike enjoys trying to stay in shape, playing golf, and spending as much time with his family as they will allow.