TAYLORSVILLE — By the hundreds, they sported red and green clothes and face paint, waved their country's flags and posters, and stomped, clapped, chanted and cheered for their nation's best players.
They even brought a kazoo-like horn that continually blared on — to the surprise of some — all game long.
The FIBA Asian champions didn't beat the Jazz, but give the Iranian national team and its supporters credit. They filled the Salt Lake Community College's gym with an electric and party-like atmosphere during Utah's 82-57 Rocky Mountain Revue victory.
If Tehran needs a sister city in the U.S., Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might consider Taylorsville. His country's basketball squad, which wrapped up its brief Utah stay Monday night, is obviously welcome here. Iran standout Samad Nikkah-Bahrami, who topped all scorers with 23 points, would have expected a warm reception like that in a metropolis like Los Angeles. But having that feverish of a fan following in Salt Lake City caught him pleasantly off guard.
"We didn't know that much crowd would come see our games because we're in this city (and) there are not that many Iranians," he said. "They really touch us and we were very happy because they protected us tonight."
The host NBA franchise also provided a touching tribute for the Iranians, particularly Nikkah-Bahrami. At halftime of the Olympic-bound squad's final Revue game, Randy Rigby escorted the Iran guard and his mother to center court. The Jazz president then presented them with an official team jersey.
The Jazz jersey number was eight. It wasn't a Deron Williams' jersey, though. The name on the back read: Nikkah-Bahrami in honor of the current player's brother, Idin, who was the country's best basketball player before getting killed in a car accident last December.
Deeply touched, Samad took the Jazz gift and returned the favor by presenting the organization with a trophy from Iran's team. His mother, Farzaneh Ebrahimi, put her hands to her face and then brought them up to wave at the crowd while smiling.
Nikkah-Bahrami said they will mount the jersey on the wall of his brother's house alongside his other hoops memorabilia. He was very "grateful" for the Jazz's gesture.
"For me it's great," he said. "Whenever we talk about my brother, whenever somebody reminds him, whenever they talk about him, I'm happy, because I think about him very much. I don't want nobody to forget him."
Ebrahimi told Rigby that the presentation "was one of the happiest days of her life."
"It was a very special moment for her family," Rigby said.
He was among the many who seemed to soak in the whole night — from the raucous crowd, to the incessant kazoo honker to the tender thought, and, oh yeah, maybe even the basketball game.
"It was wonderful. It was the greatest experience," Rigby said. "They brought a great crowd. They were into it. They were blowing horns all game and cheering. It's been a lot of fun. I think it's fun for our fans to see the passion the Iranians have for their team and basketball."
Guard Morris Almond hinted that the Jazz could have gone with a little less kazooing — some attendees might have woken up in the middle of the night hearing its tones and reaching for the snooze button — but he definitely appreciated the ambiance.
"It was an experience," Almond said. "The crowd definitely made it a vibrant atmosphere, but once we kind of settled down we played our basketball game."
Almond joked that he predicted the kazoo player was "gonna give out by halftime." That might have been wishful thinking, he added, because "he didn't give out, though, so that's a credit to them and their enthusiasm."
Iran gave its supporters plenty to cheer about early on, building an 11-point first-quarter lead. The Jazz, however, used a 15-0 spurt in the second quarter to seize control of the game — though not the crowd.
Hiram Fuller, who sparked Utah in the second quarter, led the Jazz with 11 points, Almond had 10 and 10 other players scored at least four.
Utah Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko jumps and falls onto the back of Iran's Asghar Kardoust Poustinsaraei, fouling him, on Monday night during the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue at Salt Lake Community College.
Utah's Kosta Koufos, left, and Iran's Oshin Sahakian battle for a loose ball on Monday during the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue at Salt Lake Community College.
Utah's Kevin Kruger, left, passes the ball around Iran's Asghar Kardoust Poustinsaraei on Monday during the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue at Salt Lake Community College.
Bita Bakhshandehpour (from Cottonwood Heights) cheers for the Iranian basketball team as it plays against the Utah Jazz on Monday night in the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league.
Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby presents Farzaneh Ebrahimi, mother of Idin Nikkhah Baharami (Iranian basketball star who was killed in a car accident in Iran) a jersey with the name and number of her son Monday at the Rocky Mountain Revue.
Farzaneh Ebrahimi, mother of Idin Nikkhah Baharami, the Iranian basketball star who was killed in a car accident in Iran, becomes emotional after receiving a Utah Jazz jersey with the name and number of her son on Monday. Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby presented her with the jersey at halftime as the Iranian national team and the Utah Jazz played during the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue at Salt Lake Community College.
Yad va khatereye Idin e aziz javdan va roohash shad
akhey, in harakate bashgah kheili jaleb va vaghean ziba bood, ino man too akhbar shanidam... bichare madaresh che zajri keshide khoda nasibe hichki nakone