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The Truth will get me in trouble….
Posted by: Randall 'Sagg' Harris on February 13th, 2011
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Nothing in life is simple.
Especially the mind of a man.
But truth is truth.
Truth: D Will is one of the top 3 PGs in the league.
Truth: Williams is a great Christian man with strong character and very charitable.
Truth: Deron is a pouter.
Truth: Deron is probably one of the reasons Jerry is gone.
Take it how you like. But it is the truth.
Karl has no reason to lie.
But Everyone at Thursdays press conference DOES have a reason to bend the truth.
Jerry even eluded to it in interviews on Thursday. Saying he felt like he did right before being fired in Chicago.
Its as obvious as the tattoos on Chris Anderson’s neck.
I agree, D Will is the best guy on the team. And enough to build a franchise around.
But I also understand the loyalists disdain for a man who seemingly and selfishly threw a legend under the ‘has-been’ bus.
But let us not forget that in every screaming match. In every shouting session.
With every slammed towel and every bit lip…..Deron just wants to win.
He just wants what is best for this franchise to ensure more success. And so did Jerry.
And perhaps that was Jerry’s last gesture. For us. He quit.
Something he has too much pride to do normally and something he has NEVER done in his career or his life before. He QUIT.
And just like Deron’s temper tantrums and Phil’s resign to follow Jerry into the fire. They did it all for us.
To secure the win.
This is a crossroads for our franchise.
And you can wear the rose colored glasses and pull the wool further down if you’d like.
But you’re either okay with the TRUTH that new is better than the old.
Or you agree with the fans that don’t care how many games we may lose. You’d take a loyal Rusty LaRue over a grumpy and temperamental All Star if that meant you got to keep Jerry Sloan for another 30 years.
I think that I waited to make my mind up about how I feel.
But then I saw Karl talk and I read Sam Smith’s article…and I felt stupid for ever thinking it was any other way.
Someone saw the leaves changing and the clouds forming…and they did something brash.
Now it is done.
I think the future is ultimately up to the Jazz themselves.
Either you think that new blood and room for new plays is the way of the future for this team and perhaps it is time for us to turn a corner.
Or like many Jazz fans you see the dark days coming back not unlike Sacramento after C Webb…an unwanted time warp back to the Salt Palace and 1979.
Deron has the talent.
We will see what kind of leader he is.
Because even though Ty was named head coach, with Jerry gone, now it’s Deron’s team.
Replies: 17
Views: 1104
17 Responses
You may be right (though I’m wondering what D Wil’s Christianity has to do with anything) but at this point, I don’t think the Jazz were any closer to a championship than we were last year. I do believe, honestly, that in the midst of the telling it one way or another, Jerry WAS ready to go. We don’t know the truth. We never will. The Jazz organization is locked up tighter than Fort Knox, but the game Ty has already coached showed us the problems really do lie with communication of the team, getting people to run plays, and unselfish play. In the middle of all of it, Jerry couldn’t take it anymore. Do you blame him?
No, I dont blame him.
But I still think he was given a choice.
If that choice was quit or be fired OR if that choice was resign or we trade ’so-and-so’.
I could see it on his face Wed night after the game.
I knew something serious was up.
I thought we were going to trade Jefferson or something big.
But then as it started to comedown on Thursday it started to take shape.
Now after Karl’s statements and Jerry’s statements and Sam Smith’s article I am convinced.
He was given an ultimatum.
I’m not sure what it was.
But I’m pretty sure it was laid out by O’Connor on Wed night.
I’ve read the Sam Smith article now and nothing in it was said that hasn’t been said by other bloggers/writers, honestly. There’s a similar version of it from the guy out of Portland (and that one is my favorite of the ramblings.)
Randall, I appreciate your passion and point of view and really love your posts, but I really disagree with the conspiracy theory. The main reason is not the Jazz management’s spin on things. The main reason is that coach Sloan said in his press conference that Deron was not the main reason for him leaving.
I am finding it hard to believe that Coach Sloan would be anything but honest, and I think the fact that some are taking Karl Malone’s word over Coach Sloan’s is unwise and unfair.
I am not, however, naive enough to think that Sloan and Deron’s relationship did not play a small role in the final decision. The problem I have is that people are claiming causation rather than correlation.
“He was given an ultimatum. I’m not sure what it was.
But I’m pretty sure it was laid out by O’Connor on Wed night.” What proof do you have? These are pretty steep allegations, and I would like to see the evidence. If the concrete evidence is there, I will stand by you in the position you have taken.
Thanks for the post! I am sure it will spark some good discussion!
I didn’t know you were in the meeting after the Bulls game. We have so many experts who think they know it all. The only truth is it is all speculation.
One truth is that Dwill is not a team leader, he pouts and blames everyone but himself for every failure, This year the Jazz is a team with no leader.
The truth is this team is in big big trouble if the speculation are correct and the Jazz favor Dwill over Sloan well let us see how they handle things now that they dont have a hall of fame coach to guide them. When i heard Malone’s comments about Slaon never quitting on nothing well who would know Sloan better than him? The thing is i think Sloan just had it with dealing with egomaniacs, dont get me wrong i like the way Dwill plays but i think he had something to do with Sloan leaving. Whatever happens Dwill has to prove to be a great leader now because i think the Jazz trade him if not, maybe not this year but next year i think he is gone. The ball is in his court now lets if he handles thing the way he does in games.
One game is far too early to judge D Will and the eventual direction of this team.
Rather Jerry chose or not today is a new day.
It’s D’s team now, without question.
He should be vocal with O’Connor and the staff about what he wants and what possible trades to orchestrate.
Forget about public opinion.
Even if Jerry and D had come to blows lets not forget it’s just because Deron wants to win.
If the Jazz started winning on Tuesday you would hear most of this buzz die off.
Just like the people that called LeBron a loser.
His wins eventually shut them up too.
Thats what the franchise and DWill need to focus on now.
Just building the right team and winning.
If we want the legacy of Karl we are also wanting the legacy of being #2.
He never one a ring. And maybe we should remember that.
We have a proud future but not a championship future.
Perhaps Deron knows something we dont.
Let’s give the team a chance to gell.
Now if D Will splits next year….then we know whats up.
jazzmanjoshua: I don’t think that anyone is calling Jerry a liar, I believe he is just trying not to make this personal and trying to give the Jazz as smooth a transition as possible. If it was his decision and he really wanted to quit, it wouldn’t have been all of a sudden and in the middle of a season. He would have let everyone know that he was ready to retire at the end of the season. I think the fact that it was out of the blue and the Johnson left too is a huge statement.
I have watched Williams play all year and have been very disappointed. He has shown no passion or excitement! It’s funny that Randall mentioned Labron, because that is exactly the caliber of player that Deron has become…not talent wise, but a selfish, whiney, spoiled player. (And I haven’t changed that opinion of Labron since they have started winning) I enjoy watching Earl running the offense much better than Williams!
And parralax, I really do not think the Jazz would ever even consider trading Williams, but I would be very suprised if he is still here after he becomes a free agent. He has no loyality to our team. His tantrums are not about the Jazz winning…that takes passion not tantrums. He wants to be a star and I believe he will be looking for that somewhere else just like Fisher.
We need more old school players like Hornacek, Malone, Stockton, and Harpring. I’m tired of the majority of the spoiled stars we have in the NBA today.
this is killing me. everyone thinks they know everything about what is going on. no one layed it out for jerry and deron especally didnt if anything jerry would stay in spite of deron just to show him who is in charge. And can karl ever stop talking he hasnt played for jerry for 8 years a lot can happen in 8 years and maybe jerry did just get tired and thought it was the best for him and the team to move on. either way IM SICK OF HEARING ITS DERONS FAULT bottom line its not derons fault so get off his back. and if there is a real reason the jazz are not winning its there bench when you only get 10 points off the bench a game there is no way they can win. deron and all cant do all the scoring. plain and simple WE NEED ANOTHER GOOD SCORER
@JaLynn: Thanks for your reply. When it comes down to it, none of us know all the reasons why he left. I feel like Deron’s demeanor is a separate conversation all together. His behavior does not mean he is the reason Coach Sloan left. I am honestly not as passionate about Williams as many fans. I am, however, passionate about not jumping to conclusions before the facts are in. The real victim as this debate moves forward is Coach Corbin. He needs our support big time, and we are focusing on conspiracy theories based on hearsay. I love and miss Coach Sloan, but our team and its fans have to move on.
JaLynn this team would not make the playoffs if it wasnt for deron. alot of people will not like that but to win you have to score and more times then not deron and al are the only 2 really scoring. so if management trades deron or he leaves we will be starting from square 1
“Jerry isn’t a quitter, he would never quit, blah blah blah”
Not in his prime. But he’s not in his prime anymore. He’ll be 69 soon and has been in the league 46 years. He’s old, he’s coached for a long time, and he wasn’t going to coach forever.
“Deron is probably one of the reasons Jerry is gone, blah blah blah”
If Deron is at all to blame, then EVERY OTHER PLAYER ON THE JAZZ ROSTER IS EQUALLY TO BLAME because NONE OF THEM were showing the due respect to Jerry. Everybody that singles out Deron alone is being naive and ignorant. Figure it out people
JAZZ KING is right. Our bench has sucked the last few games. Othello Jeffers should be signed especially with all the injuries. Could have four players our tomorrow night.
I am not claiming to know it all, but why would a coach go out like this? After all these years and all of his accomplishments, what would be the reason to up and quit? I do agree with Tacorev that the rest of the team did not show the respect that Jerry was due, but Deron was more open about it. Having disagreements is one thing, but then to go out on the floor and completely disregard your coach and call your own plays?
And Jazz King, we are not winning, so maybe starting at square 1 might not be a bad idea. We will see how things go with another coach..the first game didn’t look too promising. I don’t care if a player can score if he is uncoachable – that is exactly why I go for any team over Miami and the Lakers. Like I said earlier, I have had a hard time watching Deron this year before this all came out. There are times he looks brilliant..other times not so much. There have been many games where he has looked like the last few minutes of the Chicago game and then blames everyone else. That is not a leader.
All I know is that whoever’s fault it is…Sloan has been the Utah Jazz for 23 years. You can’t go to the playoffs 19 out of the last 22 years, be the third-winningist coach of all time, and be in the Hall of Fame without being a great coach. The Jazz organization owes pretty much everyting to him…they wouldn’t be where they are without him. He deserved more support and respect so that he could finish out the season and go out like a Hall of Fame coach should.
I agree with TACOREV. Jerry is getting old. Saying Jerry would never quit on anything is like saying Karl Malone would never retire. People get old and tired and sometimes they have to look at themselves and realize they just don’t have it anymore.
It has been obvious to me that Jerry’s energy has not been down this year. There have been games and moments where I really think he is still into this whole coaching thing and other games where he seems very disconnected. The Jazz desperately need a leader and I really don’t think Jerry could be that guy anymore for the Jazz and he knew it.
Jerry expected his players to be self motivated like Stockton and Malone were. Its a great (old school) concept but it doesn’t always work for people no matter how much money you are getting paid. Sometimes,(especially when you are in a slump) you need a loud voice with confidence and a great plan standing in front of you pushing you on and motivating you. I just don’t think Jerry has done that enough the last few years.
I watched the Chicago game and in the 2nd half when the game was close, there was a 20 second timeout called by Chicago. The cameras were focused in on Jerry and the players at the bench. I expected Jerry to be huddled with the team, trying to motivate, inspire or draw up a plan, but there was nothing. I was shocked and a little pissed off. What a great opportunity to get your team huddled up for one last push to the end. I thought, how weird it was that everyone seemed so disconnected in such a big moment.
Well, now we know! Looking back now, I am sure he was thinking about how he could approach ownership with his decision or something because he was clearly not focused on the game or the moment. I’m not sure if he felt he had lost the team or the fire or what, but he seemed extremely disconnected.
I just don’t see how we can blame D-Will. Are we going to blame him for being a fiery competitor who want’s to win? Maybe, he could sense that Jerry had lost his fire and his will to win, maybe he felt like he had to do something to get Jerry and his team going. We don’t know exactly what happened or what that argument was about. More than likely, that argument was the straw that broke the camels back but I believe the camels back only broke because it was tired and old and lacked the energy and desire required to continue to fight at a high level.
When a true competitor like Jerry no longer has the energy or desire to compete, and the process is no longer fun or exciting, it’s time to move on and I believe that is exactly what happed here. Let’s hope Ty can get a hold of this team and his leadership will shine through and they can start winning again, otherwise, it’s going to be a long second half of the year. Go Jazz!
Oh yeah, one more thing, we are all asking Deron and this team to come together as a team and win. I have a great idea. Lets be the example and lets come together as Jazz fans. Lets cheer louder, lets be more supportive and lets stay together. The Jazz need us now more than ever before.
Lets Go Jazz!
I agree with TACOREV. Jerry is getting old. Saying Jerry would never quit on anything is like saying Karl Malone would never retire. People get old and tired and sometimes they have to look at themselves and realize they just don’t have it anymore.
It has been obvious to me that Jerry’s energy has been down this year. There have been games and moments where I really think he is still into coaching and other games where he seems very disconnected. The Jazz desperately need a leader and I really don’t think Jerry could be that guy anymore for the Jazz and he knew it.
Jerry expected his players to be self motivated like Stockton and Malone were. Its a great (old school) concept but it doesn’t always work for people no matter how much money you are getting paid. Sometimes,(especially when you are in a slump) you need a loud voice with confidence and a great plan standing in front of you pushing you on and motivating you. I just don’t think Jerry has done that enough the last few years.
I watched the Chicago game and in the 2nd half when the game was close, there was a 20 second timeout called by Chicago. The cameras were focused in on Jerry and the players at the bench. I expected Jerry to be huddled with the team, trying to motivate, inspire or draw up a plan, but there was nothing. I was shocked and a little pissed off. What a great opportunity to get your team huddled up for one last push to the end. I thought, how weird it was that everyone seemed so disconnected in such a big moment.
Well, now we know! Looking back now, I am sure he was thinking about how he could approach ownership with his decision or something because he was clearly not focused on the game or the moment. I’m not sure if he felt he had lost the team or the fire or what, but he seemed extremely disconnected.
I just don’t see how we can blame D-Will. Are we going to blame him for being a fiery competitor who want’s to win? Maybe, he could sense that Jerry had lost his fire and his will to win, maybe he felt like he had to do something to get Jerry and his team going. We don’t know exactly what happened or what that argument was about. More than likely, that argument was the straw that broke the camels back but I believe the camels back only broke because it was tired and old and lacked the energy and desire required to continue to fight at a high level.
When a true competitor like Jerry no longer has the energy or desire to compete, and the process is no longer fun or exciting, it’s time to move on and I believe that is exactly what happed here. Let’s hope Ty can get a hold of this team and his leadership will shine through and they can start winning again, otherwise, it’s going to be a long second half of the year. Go Jazz!
Oh yeah, one more thing, we are all asking Deron and this team to come together as a team and win. I have a great idea. Lets be the example and lets come together as Jazz fans. Lets cheer louder, lets be more supportive and lets stay together. The Jazz need us now more than ever before.
Lets Go Jazz!