Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter vslice02
- Start date
I think all true Jazz fans feel like a piece of them died today. I never realized how much I would miss Jerry until he was actually gone.
billyshelby
Well-Known Member
When really good plays happen during games, I always shout "That's Jazz Basketball!" That's all Jerry Sloan. The way he got players to play together so unselfishly will always be what I loved about him the most. His character is the Jazz DNA. That's a pretty unique legacy.
True. And I can only hope that SLoan's DNA has been sprayed all over this franchise and we continue some of the better things he instilled.
Thanks Jerry, you are the one of toughest most stubborn SOB to ever walk the earth. Constantly had us in the playoffs, got the most out of players and stood for everything that was right about the NBA.
Says a lot about Phil to step down with Jerry when he could of had a go as head coach, and I can't think of a better assistant. Here's to Jerry and Phil
Says a lot about Phil to step down with Jerry when he could of had a go as head coach, and I can't think of a better assistant. Here's to Jerry and Phil
PearlWatson
Well-Known Member
Ewww.
PearlWatson
Well-Known Member
No way!
Sean
Well-Known Member
Jerry Sloan has been a part of every great moment in Utah Jazz history - either as a head coach or an assistant. That is remarkable. He is our franchise. I know people like to claim that can't be the case, but in this instance, Jerry Sloan is the Utah Jazz.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to win 50 games.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to win 60 games.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to guide us to the Western Conference Finals.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to guide us to the NBA Finals.
He's the only coach many of us have ever known.
This is difficult. It's like losing a Pope.
I feel so lost right now.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to win 50 games.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to win 60 games.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to guide us to the Western Conference Finals.
He's the only coach in Jazz history to guide us to the NBA Finals.
He's the only coach many of us have ever known.
This is difficult. It's like losing a Pope.
I feel so lost right now.
Marty McFly
Well-Known Member
Mad respect to both these dudes. Sloan started coaching right around the time I was born (the same time my dad moved to Utah and started watching the Jazz). So Jerry's Jazz helped raise me. I criticized him a lot, but the dude delivered 23 years of solid entertainment and gave Utah something to be proud of every single year when the rest of our state is next to worthless.
He's gone, and all I can hope for now is he doesn't regret his decision and is happy with whatever he is doing. Same goes for PJ. I really hope they have a ceremony for them or something so fans can show some love.
It's hard to even be excited for the team anymore.
He's gone, and all I can hope for now is he doesn't regret his decision and is happy with whatever he is doing. Same goes for PJ. I really hope they have a ceremony for them or something so fans can show some love.
It's hard to even be excited for the team anymore.
vslice02
Well-Known Member
Here's an interview Phil Johnson did with KSL January 31st. He certainly didn't sound like a guy who had any inkling he or Sloan would be out of coaching within 2 weeks.
https://www.ksl.com/?sid=14207386&nid=294
Here's a couple of his more interesting answers:
On Jerry's 23 years with the same franchise:
"That doesn't happen unless there's a couple of things:
One, you've got to have tremendous ownership and the belief of the organization...because in this business...Larry Miller - although he's very demanding - he understood what was going on as far as coaching was concerned.
The 2nd thing is you got to have good players...and so you got to have people to get you good players - Frank Layden, Scott Layden, we've had Kevin O'Connor who got us players - because you can't coach guys who can't play. It's been a great run because they've been loyal to us and I think we've been loyal to them and so that's a two-way street."
On Substitutions:
"With Memo coming back and the injuries and the new guys we're not quite sure. It's not set in stone what we're doing. The best way to coach this game is to have guys know when they're going to play, and how much they're going to play - it's very difficult with this team so we're kind of searching right now. We're probably talking about substitutions more now than we ever did."
On Jerry Sloan:
"I think he's at his best at this time. I think that he's at his best at these stages where you're struggling and the team's not sure - I think he shows tremendous patience and doesn't do alot of yelling and screaming like alot of people think - he's very trusting and he tries to develop the confidence rather than doing alot of criticizing."
On Playing Hard
"I think 'motivation' is one of the most over-used words in sports. I think the player has to want to be good."
Hard to teach millionaires in the NBA
"I've always enjoyed the teaching part. I think it depends on the individual. I don't think the money has that much to do with it. I think it has to do with the personality and character of the person you'll dealing with...as long as they want to learn and I'm able to teach, I think that's the important part."
https://www.ksl.com/?sid=14207386&nid=294
Here's a couple of his more interesting answers:
On Jerry's 23 years with the same franchise:
"That doesn't happen unless there's a couple of things:
One, you've got to have tremendous ownership and the belief of the organization...because in this business...Larry Miller - although he's very demanding - he understood what was going on as far as coaching was concerned.
The 2nd thing is you got to have good players...and so you got to have people to get you good players - Frank Layden, Scott Layden, we've had Kevin O'Connor who got us players - because you can't coach guys who can't play. It's been a great run because they've been loyal to us and I think we've been loyal to them and so that's a two-way street."
On Substitutions:
"With Memo coming back and the injuries and the new guys we're not quite sure. It's not set in stone what we're doing. The best way to coach this game is to have guys know when they're going to play, and how much they're going to play - it's very difficult with this team so we're kind of searching right now. We're probably talking about substitutions more now than we ever did."
On Jerry Sloan:
"I think he's at his best at this time. I think that he's at his best at these stages where you're struggling and the team's not sure - I think he shows tremendous patience and doesn't do alot of yelling and screaming like alot of people think - he's very trusting and he tries to develop the confidence rather than doing alot of criticizing."
On Playing Hard
"I think 'motivation' is one of the most over-used words in sports. I think the player has to want to be good."
Hard to teach millionaires in the NBA
"I've always enjoyed the teaching part. I think it depends on the individual. I don't think the money has that much to do with it. I think it has to do with the personality and character of the person you'll dealing with...as long as they want to learn and I'm able to teach, I think that's the important part."
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
My thoughts exactly. A class act by Phil to go out with Jerry. I don't think there was any way he wanted to inherit a coaching job under those circumstances. It was the right move to turn it over to the younger Corbin.
A big THANKS to Jerry and Phil for all they did for the Jazz and Salt Lake.
Craig K. Manscill
Well-Known Member
I'm going to clue you in on something you should have learned a long time ago: the pope is just another old man.
Same with Sloan.
- Craig
DutchJazzer
Banned
Thank you jerry.
now why did it have to happen in the middle of the season
now why did it have to happen in the middle of the season
Thank you for your service to the team. You will get your # in the rafters, and a statue next to Stockton/Malone. Deserved too.
It's too bad things had to end like this, but I give you props for leaving when you knew it was your time.
Enjoy retirement, and we look forward to seeing you back next year for your number retirement.
Thank you,
Rev9
It's too bad things had to end like this, but I give you props for leaving when you knew it was your time.
Enjoy retirement, and we look forward to seeing you back next year for your number retirement.
Thank you,
Rev9
Bravo to the OP. Thanks for that recap. As I life-long Chicagoan who dimly remembers the days when the Bulls franchise was new, I've always had a soft spot for Jerry Sloan.
I remember when the Cincinnati Royals moved to KC (we had good family friends in Ohio who were devastated by the move) but I didn't realize that Phil Johnson was their coach. It's a small world sometimes.
I remember when the Cincinnati Royals moved to KC (we had good family friends in Ohio who were devastated by the move) but I didn't realize that Phil Johnson was their coach. It's a small world sometimes.
