When Russell Westbrook refused to sit down, refused to let the words hurled in his direction go unnoticed, he forced an entire organization and its devoted followers to take a lengthy look in the mirror. It has since sent shock waves throughout the NBA and the proud Utah Jazz fan base. By standing up for himself — an exchange that went viral and dominated sports headlines around the country this past past week — the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar rekindled a conversation that remains necessary, not only in Utah but also nationwide.
The spotlight, however, has stayed focused on Utah, and for the wrong reasons.