Stockton Can’t Pass On This Experience

Mark it up as another gutsy performance for Utah Jazz guard John Stockton, but this time it was in the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet.

Stockton’s teammate, forward Karl Malone, had been a passenger on board an F-16 at Hill Air Force Base two years ago, and on Thursday it was the Jazz All-Star playmaker’s turn.

After 6 hours of training and familiarization with pilot gear and practices, Stockton went airborne about 5:45 p.m. - but not before first calling his nervous wife, Nada.

“I just wanted to let you know the pilot who’s flying me has got a wife and four kids our age,” he assured her.

An audiotape of Stockton’s ride over western Utah’s Test and Training Range was replete with exclamations of “Wow!” At one point, Stockton is heard to declare, “Oh, we’re looping. Oh my goodness!”

Still, the NBA’s top passer took up to seven G’s in stride as he helped Capt. Keith Pond put the aircraft through loops, rolls and practice bombing passes. As the plane was taxiing back, Stockton gave a thumbs up from his back seat and then pumped his fists in the air.

“Holy moly” were his first words to Col. Mike Brake, vice commander of the 388th Fighter Wing. “Heckuva ride.”

Stockton had a bleeding bump on his nose after the flight, caused by a too-tight oxygen mask. But he said he felt fine.

“He did great,” Pond said. “A lot of people going up for the first time on orientation rides are herky-jerky. He was able to hold altitude and hold airspeed. I let him do everything he wanted to.”

Stockton also proved a quick study during simulator training: he wanted to send another missile after an enemy plane trailing smoke, but Pond informed him that was against the rules.

“Will he go down?” Stockton asked.

“Oh yeah, he’ll go down.” Pond said.