SALT LAKE CITY — Steve Starks has known the passion of Jazz fans his entire life. The new president of Miller Sports and Entertainment attended the ’97 NBA Finals as a teenager, and remembers being blown away by the experience.

“The Jazz blew them out that game because of the emotion of coming back home. It was over almost before it began; I’ve always loved that.”

Fast forward 18 years later, and the Jazz aren’t in the Finals. They haven’t made the playoffs for three seasons. But still, the passion of Jazz fans comes to Starks in other ways.