Why would he make those comments now? Why would he make them to a national writer from ESPN.com, rather than to the two local reporters, who follow the team on a daily basis?

It kind of reminded me how Utah Basketball coach Rick Majerus made his major pronouncements to national reporters because he cared more about his national reputation than his local one.

Unfortunately for Boozer, his local reputation has plummeted and he may never get it back. People around here are extra-sensitive when they feel like athletes (or whoever) don't like us as much as we think they should.

So when Boozer talked about opting out of his contract next year, hinting that he might want to leave, local fans went into a tizzy. The reader comments on deseretnews.com were brutal.

"Get rid of Boozer."

"Boozer is the biggest patsy in the history of the NBA."

"See you later Loozer!"

There's no doubt Boozer is a great player, one of the best in the NBA ... He has incredible footwork and is extremely productive for a guy who's 6-foot-8. He's an NBA all-star and a member of the U.S. Olympic team.

But several factors keep the local fans from feeling affection for him.

One, he gets injured a lot. He's missed 104 games, well over a season's worth, in his four years in Utah.

Two, despite his audacious offense, he doesn't seem to hustle and play defense.

Three, he doesn't play as well in the playoffs, particularly last year...

Four, he comes across as being aloof. Not just the way he stares into space when he answers reporters' questions, but he's never seemed to embrace Salt Lake. You get the idea he's here to collect a big paycheck and would be just as happy to move on and collect a bigger one.

To point one, unlike some fans, I don't think Boozer is faking any injuries. I think he'd rather get paid for playing than sitting behind the bench, looking suave in a three-piece suit. He's definitely not as tough as Karl Malone, who played through numerous injuries or Paul Millsap, who's never missed a game in three seasons, but I doubt he fakes any injuries.

As bad as the timing was, perhaps the worst line in Boozer's comments was, "No matter what, I'm going to get a raise, regardless." When my wife, a schoolteacher who was recently told she wasn't likely getting a raise next year, heard that, she almost fell off the couch.

Here we are in perhaps the worst economic times in America since the 1930s and Boozer is talking about getting a raise "regardless"? You mean he can't get by on $13 million next year?

I understand sports salaries are outrageously skewed, but comments like that don't go over well these days in Utah, or anywhere else.

One guy who does deserve a raise, is Millsap, who is the lowest-paid player on the team at around $800,000 (still a lot of money to us average folks). At 23, Millsap is four years younger than Boozer who just turned 27. He can't play the post as well as Boozer, but he plays his butt off every night and his numbers as a starter aren't that far off Boozer's.

Like Boozer, Millsap has the opportunity to sign with another team next year with the Jazz having the option to match any offer. There's no doubt the Jazz should do everything they can to keep Millsap and general manager Kevin O'Connor said that last week. The fact that Kosta Koufas is developing as fast as he is, might make it easier to part with Boozer.

I don't think Boozer is a loozer. He seems like a decent guy, who is looking out for himself and his financial future without regard to where he is located.

What it comes down to is this: Financially, the Jazz won't be able to keep both Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap next year. Since they can only keep one, the choice is easy. E-mail: sor@desnews.com