Bidding a Fond Farewell to a Basketball Legend

by Jeffrey Thompson on Feb 10, 2011 4:43 PM EST

In era where NBA coaching job last three or four years, Jerry Sloan has literally stood the test of time. He spent 23 years coaching the Utah Jazz bringing that team to the playoff almost every single year. He helped mold the games of two of the greatest players in NBA History, Karl Malone and John Stockton. His plays were rather basic--a simple screen and roll/flex offense--but they were nearly unstoppable. Now it seems as it will be coming to an end as there are reports that Sloan will be stepping down from the Jazz's bench.

To read more of my homage to Jerry Sloan,click here

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A Dying Breed

The league and all of sports today has lost a true coach. Someone that was willing to put the team and it’s needs ahead of players ego’s. I don’t know any of the details regarding the rift between Williams and Sloan, but somewhere I am sure that Stockton, Malone, Hornacek, and all are shaking their heads. A feud between a star player and coach is nothing new, but when management doesn’t back a man with 23 years of service with one team, then things are certainly out of sync.

by Al Bundy is my hero on Feb 11, 2011 3:11 PM EST reply actions

completely agree

but its nothing new. We have seen GMs and Coachs forced out in Toronto because of the corresponding ‘stars’ influence.

I’m willing to bet this is just the first step to that franchise falling in the gutter. I can see Dwill walking out the door in a few years, and that franchise having nothing to show for it… in fact less because they lost one of the best coaches this league has seen.

What I think is funny is reading the fans post who refuse to believe Dwill had a hand in it. They are all so scared their star is gonna leave town… they just turn a blind eye to the potential of it. Again reminds me of when Vince started to quit and so many just pretended like it wasn’t happening.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Feb 11, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

I loved the Jazz for many years

they were magnificent bastards under Sloan.

by EdDames on Feb 11, 2011 3:17 PM EST reply actions

I doubt D Will had anything to do with Sloan’s firing. he played for Sloan for six years and if there were friction, it would have appeared a long time ago. And it’s thanks to sloan that Deron’s game is so good. Sloan’s systems favor point guard with its screen and rolls. I think that the poor man probably was having a burnot and losing ten of thier last 14 games did not help either.

by Jeffrey Thompson on Feb 13, 2011 11:00 AM EST reply actions

"if there were friction, it would have appeared a long time ago"

it did. Its existed since his rookie year. Fights between them are common place and not rare. They had a blow up the game before Sloan quit. (that same day I believe).

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Feb 13, 2011 11:08 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I know, but from what I understand, those were common place with all his players. What probably clinched it was that meeting with his FO after the Bulls game. Losing to Boozer must not have sat well with them. Either way, a legend is gone a there won’t be another like him. that’s for sure.

by Jeffrey Thompson on Feb 14, 2011 3:13 AM EST reply actions

It had nothing to do with Boozer

Sloan couldn’t care less about losing to Boozer, you know why? Because Sloan is a professional. What he did care about was losing in general though. It’s been reported that that meeting with the FO was literally just Sloan telling them he’s quitting and then the FO trying to convince him to stay. It wasn’t that meeting that ‘clinched it’, it was Sloan who went to them. The beef with Deron was bigger than any of the other players, and the only one other than Kirilenko that caused problems over the years. We will never know what truly happened, but It’s clear Sloan just had enough of fighting.

by Raptastic on Feb 15, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

I agree

Coaching is a young man’s game and Jerry was probably getting too old for it. Everyone talks about how he had so much fire and passion, but when you use that fire and passion to fight with you players, it does not help. When he had a problem with players before, Stockton and Malone would back him up and set that player staright. Unfortunately there are no longer classy professionals like that anymore. It’s a new league and it’s too bad.

by Jeffrey Thompson on Feb 16, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions