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Burt Brothers Tires Contest Winners Find Renewed Joy
Jaylyn Wilson
SALT LAKE CITY
“I never win anything,” said DeEtte Kercher after being notified she won the Burt Brothers Tires “Jazz Player for a Day” contest. “I was in total surprise and shock.” By winning the contest, DeEtte and her son Bryan received V.I.P. treatment including a ride to the Jazz game in a stretch limousine, signing a contract to become a Utah Jazz basketball team member for the night, an autographed jersey and meeting and mixing with some of the Jazz’s great players and staff. All courtesy of Burt Brothers Tires.
DeEtte always takes her car to Burt Brothers Tires at their Sugarhouse location to get her oil changed and any maintenance work done. “They are always friendly and they always greet you when you come in,” she said. She likes that they tell the customer how long the car will be there and then usually finish in that time. “They are friendly, prompt and reliable,” she stated.
At her last oil change she said she entered the contest very spur of the moment, “I saw the advertisement on the counter and I put my name with my son Bryan’s right next to it.” She didn’t expect to win, but thought the idea of being a “Jazz Player for a Day” sounded fun and admits she entered the contest more for her son than for herself.
In fact, DeEtte didn’t tell her son that she had entered the contest. She did not even tell him they had won until the day of the event. “I told him we were going to be picked up in a limo that night. He didn’t believe me.” When she insisted they had won, “he was really thrilled. But he still thought I was kidding,” she said. For DeEtte’s son Bryan, the idea of winning seemed almost too good to be true. DeEtte recalls it wasn’t until Wendel and Ron Burt, owners of Burt Brothers Tires, “introduced themselves and a limo rolled up to pick us up that Bryan’s grin got bigger and bigger. It was one fantastic thing after another.”
When they arrived at the game, they were greeted by Jazz player Ronnie Price, head coach Jerry Sloan, general manager Kevin O’Connor, and former Jazz player Thurl Bailey. In signing the one-day Jazz player contract, Bryan had to memorize the five rules of being a Jazz player. “Bryan remembered them all,” said DeEtte. Bryan then received a basketball jersey signed by Ronnie Price and unexpectedly Ronnie ran to the locker room and signed a shoe for Bryan as well. “I didn’t expect to get the shoes,” Bryan said of meeting the players. “Everything was so amazing.”
Later, during the pre-game shoot around, DeEtte and Bryan sat on the bench with Morris Almond, Ronnie Price and Jason Hart. In talking to the players, Bryan realized the hard work it takes to be a professional athlete, waking up early and practicing for multiple hours everyday.
They also had the opportunity to go into the Jazz locker room. “Bryan was beaming from ear to ear,” DeEtte said. “His friends didn’t believe him when he told them what he got to do. It is cool to have the pictures to show that we really were there.”
Bryan loved the opportunity to see all the gear in each of the lockers. He enjoyed Andrei Kirilenko humor when Kirilenko walked by and said jokingly, “Don’t take any of my stuff.” Bryan wants everyone to know that “the players are actually really nice.” He only wishes he could have met all of them.
During the game, DeEtte and Bryan had some of the best seats in the house. They were three rows behind the Jazz bench. “I could hear the players talking to each other and the coach talking to the players.” Bryan said. DeEtte stated, “It’s exciting sitting that close. We were enthralled with everything. It was just amazing.”
DeEtte’s favorite part of the night was “seeing the smile on my son’s face.” Smiles she says neither of them have been able to muster for a long time. DeEtte’s husband passed away in September and DeEtte is so grateful to have had this experience with her son, where both of them were able to smile and be happy again. |
DeEtte Kercher and son Bryan
with Utah Jazz player Ronnie Brewer
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