Yesterday was the actual day, but tonight is Sloan's first game entering his 21st year of coaching the Jazz.  Here are some links to good Sloan stories:

Siler and Luhm blog

J.A. Adande

NBA.com (also has a preview of tonight's game)

Ross Siler (Trib article)

Jody Genessy (Des News)

Most of the quotes are the same, and they're classic Sloan-isms.

I can't speak for all of TBJ here, but my thoughts on Sloan have really changed over the last 12 years (my time as a true Jazz fan).  He was the ROCK of the organization, the same way that LaVell Edwards was at BYU, or Bobby Cox with the Braves.  Sloan certainly has a point when he says that his tenure is more a testament of the loyaly of Larry Miller.  When times got tough after Stockton and Malone left (42-40, 26-56, 41-41) Miller didn't panic as many teams would have.  I am guilty of losing faith in Sloan during the 26-56 season.  My belief was that as good a coach as Sloan is/was, he wasn't the right coach for that team.  A bunch of young, athletic guys who, I felt, should have been playing Nellie-ball (run, run, run, run and shoot).  I'm glad that Miller didnt feel the same way.  Despite his reluctance to give serious minutes to rookies, players like CJ Miles, Ronnie Brewer, AK, and Deron have really developed into gamers.  Even Morris Almond has seen some playing time lately, which may speak more to his work ethic than anything considering Fes is still glued to the bench.  But that's Sloan's M.O., if you work hard and try to better your game, he'll reward that.  Just look at Jarron Collins, that guy has almost no talent anymore, but he works hard and plays hard, which is all Sloan asks.  No one can doubt that Sloan gets the most out of his players, because the guys that don't give their all don't get playing time.

In my eyes, he's "earned" coach of the year at least 3 times, even if he hasn't actually won.  But if Sloan doesn't care about awards, then I won't either.  You don't need a trophy to be recognized as one of the greats.  My hat is off to Sloan, and when the Jazz get a new coach I hope that fans will appreciate him the way that we appreciated Stockton more after enduring the Raul Lopez and Keith McCleod years.

Anyway, on to the game tonight:

This will be the Jazz's second game against a new head coach.  If McHale has managed to teach Jefferson all his post moves, he should be in for a big day.  However, after 2 road losses to this team last year, the Jazz will NOT be taking this team lightly.  Utah is a 5 point favorite and I expect them to cover.  Deron and AK have had 3 days of rest and Harpring has had time to think about his stinker of a game in Phoenix.  Jazz win 105-97.

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