I believe it was 2005. I was in the living room talking to my roommate Richard. We were discussing the possibility of the Jazz firing Jerry Sloan. (It was a bad year for the Jazz.) I told him: "Not gonna happen, Jerry is a god in this state." He scoffed at me. (He was a recent Mormon convert) Looking back at it.... I think my words were right. Misstated....but right.
I should have said. Jerry was a God-Like figure in Utah. After the events of February 10, 2012... It seems like I was right. The resignation of Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson hit Jazz fans hard. "Surreal" a friend told me. Another friend said "I feel like someone died." I even had a friend, a friend who has ALWAYS stated how much he loves Deron Williams more than Chris Paul.... This friend text me "Maybe we should've drafted Paul." That's how angry he was at Jerry's "resignation." A shock to all Utah fans...even me.
Why do I say "even me"? Because for the past couple years, I've been on record saying that I did think it was time for the Jazz to make a coaching move. My rationale? The last time the Jazz were in the finals was 1998. Over a decade ago. When the 2000s hit, the NBA changed. Defense locked down. Got more complex. We started to see the run and up-tempo start to pick up. The Jazz stayed the course. Never changing. Was there something wrong with that? Yes and no.
The Jazz were going to be good. Not great. But good. The Jazz were going to be a 40-50 win team every year....then bow out to the Spurs or the Lakers. We were LEGITIMATE title contenders one year since 1998. "The Derek Fisher era." So yeah, call me spoiled. 20 other teams would LOVE to be playoff contenders year in and year out. But... shouldn't we, as fans, want more? Is it enough to be really good? Just not good enough to win the Title?
I don't know if Jerry leaving makes us better or worse. Currently, we can't get much worse than we really are. We might fall out of the playoffs. But going in as a 6 seed to face the Spurs, Lakers or Mavericks, a one and done, is that a much better option?
Maybe it was Deron Williams pushing Sloan out the door. Perhaps other players were frustrated with our system. Maybe Sloan did feel like it was time to go. My money? The Jazz brass figured the best bet to keep Deron in 2012 was to get rid of Jerry Sloan. Maybe it's the right move. Maybe Deron still bolts after next season (very likely).
But whether you're Team Deron or Team Jerry. Yesterday's press conference was a historic moment. The most shocking part of it? Fans have been preparing themselves for Jerry's departure. We just thought it would be during the off season. No one imagined the Jazz would lose a coach mid season. Yes, I do think the Jazz made a good move.... I'm just unsure of the timing.
Good luck Ty Corbin. I truly mean that.
