A Republican lawmaker has passed a resolution to honor Utah jazz Donovan Mitchell for denigrating Shaquille O’Neal

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Representative Kera Birkeland’s resolution also proposes turning “Spida” into the state’s official arachnid

(Photos courtesy of Utah House Republicans / Twitter). Representative Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, right, presents a resolution in support of Utah Jazz Guard Donovan Mitchell on the floor of the Utah House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. The Speaker of the House, Brad Wilson of R-Kaysville, left, wears a Mitchell T-shirt during the vote on the resolution.

| January 26, 2021, 6:12 p.m.

| Updated: 6:56 PM

Representative Kera Birkeland, a Republican representing Utah House District 53, introduced a resolution in the state legislature on Tuesday that seeks to “recognize Donovan Mitchell’s exemplary service to Utah Jazz” and also “suggests consideration of making the “Spida” the official state arachnid. “

The House vote comes days after Shaquille O’Neal criticized Mitchell after a Jazz win over the New Orleans Pelicans, telling Mitchell “you don’t have what it takes to get to the next level,” as the room of the Lakers hunger Inside the NBA interview.
House Resolution 3, titled “House Resolution Honoring Donovan Mitchell over Shaquille O’Neal” refers to O’Neal’s free throw percentage, the Rotten Tomatoes rating from the movie Kazaam, two victories in the Jazz series over the Lakers in 1997 and 1998, the Shaq Video Game Fu.

“I think it’s appropriate for the great state of Utah to award Shaquille O’Neal with a technical foul,” Birkeland said, wearing a referee’s shirt as he spoke in the chamber Tuesday morning.

“We’re not talking about 2000, 2001, 2002 or 2006 right now, the years when Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers and Dwayne Wade’s Miami Heat won championships for Shaq,” the resolution notes.

The resolution, in addition to denigrating O’Neal, also advocates for Mitchell’s achievements on and off the courts.

“Even though Shaq’s‘ skill ’was greater than the rest, Donovan has had progressive success thanks to his talent, dedication and constant effort,” the resolution says.

At the end of the introductory remarks, the resolution resolves to recognize Mitchell’s service, calls on the state House of Representatives to consider making “Spida” the state’s official arachnid, and further states “Aight. This is.” at the end of the text.

But Birkeland met resistance from a handful of state lawmakers, who argued that O’Neal was a mastermind and urged his colleagues not to take the bait.

“Not only has Donovan Mitchell’s head come in, but I’m sure everyone who votes yes will also rent some space in his head,” said House Majority Leader Francis Gibson, R- Mapleton. “But I do support our Jazz. I support Donovan Mitchell. “

“Blah, blah, blah,” replied House Speaker Brad Wilson, who was wearing a jazz T-shirt. The resolution navigated the chamber by a vote of 67-5.

Morgan’s Birkeland represents parts of Daggett, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich and Summit counties. She was appointed to office by former Gov. Gary Herbert in April after former Rep. Logan Wilde resigned as commissioner for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Birkeland was elected by a margin of 63/36 over Democrat Cheryl Butler in November.

Bethany Rodgers helped report this story.

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