Put Me In, Coach - I'm Ready to Play!

A man, a coach, a legend!!  That is how I would like to describe my favorite coach of all time - Coach Sloan.  I was 6 years old when he started coaching the Jazz after Frank Layden handed him the reigns.  I remember some of the greatest Jazz games I attended and thought he was such a great coach.  One thing I really liked about Sloan is that he didn't take nonsense.  His players were never allowed to wear headbands.  It wasn't his style.  He got more out of some players that other coaches never would have.  To get as much out of Greg Ostertag as he did is saying a lot because any other coach never would have played him because there is no way he would have been able to produce.  At least Sloan got some sort of result out of Tag.  Sloan was your blue collar coach.  The way you reach the top is you work your butt off.  That is the only way to get anywhere in anything is if you work as hard as you can all the time.  No matter what happens, no matter what comes up, no matter who is in your way as long as you work as hard as you can and put in the necessary things to make it happen you will be successful.  The Utah Jazz would have been just another ho-hum team if it weren't for Sloan.  I really hope that Coach Corbin can carry it on and get the most out of his players like Sloan was able to.  I have had the opportunity to talk to him on a few different occasions.  He looked super harsh on the sideline, but outside of games he was the nicest guy you will ever meet.  One time I made it down close enough to the court to talk to him and even get a picture with him.  He was always willing to make someones day even if it was taking a picture with them which I'm sure he hated, but at least he knew it would make their day.  Great coach, great man, great legacy for the Utah Jazz.  The most tenured head coach in any sport (23 years).  No other coach will ever surpass that tenure.  It is an unbreakable record.  Even though he never won NBA Coach of the Year award, I sure hope the NBA gives him some sort of recognition at the end of the season.  He will be missed as he is the last link to the great Jazz years of the 90's.  Along with him, his sidekick Phil Johnson is on the way out too.  What a great assistant coach to have, one that will follow you on the way out instead of sticking around wanting to make millions.  Gotta love a coach and his assistant that have done what they did.