basketball identity disorder.

I have realized lately that I have an identity disorder when it comes to basketball. 

I just don't know who I want to cheer for

who is going to be my team. 

Los Angeles Lakers

or 

Utah Jazz.

Growing up in LA and especially having Matt as a brother, its hard to imagine not just automatically being a Lakers fan. 

But I grew up watching the Jazz! 

I cheered for Stockton and Malone and loved Hornacek wiping his face. 

I have a John Stockton autograph after cheering him on at a Clippers/ Jazz game. 

I lived in Utah for BYU and continued to be a LA girl, yet a Jazz fan. 

But felt guilty for not loving Kobe. 

I cheered against them. And participated in activities like this:

Tearing down my So Cal friends Laker flags and replacing them with support for the Jazz. 

I went to my first Jazz game at the Energy Solutions Arena. 

I cheered for the Jazz, and against the Lakers alongside native Utahans last year in the playoffs. 

And then, the Lakers eliminated the Jazz. 

On nights that I was bored I would go over to my friends house (the same boys who I pulled down their Lakers flag the previous year) and would watch the playoffs. 

And in the process I jumped ships. 

Decided to cheer for the Lakers. 

Fell in love with Kobe. 

Although I felt guilty because of my Jazz roots, I participated in activities like this:

Championship parade in Downtown.

On Tuesday, for the first time in about 5 years, I went to a Lakers game.

Sporting an LA shirt and cheering on Kobe and the boys through triple overtime! 

It was the most intense game I have ever watched. Experiencing so many different emotions in those last 15 minutes of playing time. 

Alas, im still a little conflicted.

Ive embraced my inner LA Lakers girl.

But I will always have special place in my heart for the Jazz.

And ill just be screwed when they play each other.