Behind the Contract
‘The 110% Coach’ (Jed Jacobsohn - NBAE/Getty Images)
Offense is changing. Defense has changed. The game is evolving away from the way it was when the stoic icon began his coaching career, even more so from the time he began playing in the association.
In recent years, contract talks with the coach have been drawn out. Not because Sloan is concerned about money, power, or length of the contract, but because he wants to be sure he can give his all for one more year. Every time he accepts, speculation and sentiment grow that it may be the final year we see him leading the team.
Three point line, zone defense, baggy uniforms, player attitude and arguments, fractured locker rooms, and now microphones on coaches, players, and cameras in the locker room. All perceived nails in the coffin of a basketball purist, he has rolled with every distraction and every change, adapting to them and standing a little taller.
He is a Hall of Fame Coach. There is barely room for argument on that point. He has won consistently. He hasn’t won a title but when he tells you he would trade every win for one ring, you believe him. He hasn’t won the Coach of the Year award, but by the way that award is voted on, announcing his retirement might be the surest way to secure it.
So when not even a quarter of the way through the new season, without fanfare and drawn out press, it is announced that Coach Sloan has agreed to a contract extension, what does it mean? After all, there are a thousand things that could pull and push him from the game. A championship is the only thing left to prove, and I submit to you, this contract extension means that he believes he can do it. He believes this team can win. He believes this team can win it all.
5 Comments to “Behind the Contract”
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Amen, and may we always keep the purist type coach who teaches these young to be true to themselves. Want a title? Yes, of course that would be nice but not at the price of coaches or players who are arrested, accussed, big shots and those who care nothing for the fans or areas they are in. Thank the powers that be for coach Sloan.
HEllo all, I too was sooooooooo excited to hear of the contract extension, your purist and heart felt sentiments had me with tears running down my face. I agree that sloan is a great coach, he is determined, he has basketball in his heart and a deep burning within, that drives him to the point of near exhaustion. You can see in the weatherd hard determined face the drive and conviction he has to win, win, win. He is all these wonderfull things.
He also teaches the young great things (how to throw tantrums, swear, jump up and down etc. etc. If retirement will give him the coach of the year I wish he would give that a try and see is his dream comes true. If not I’ll keep the hall of fame
picture in my mind and on my wall of shame, in the outhouse..
Love to all
Ernest Monson
PS I would chip in a couple of bucks to get him a ring!
eemonson@yahoo.com
Ernst….. can’t agree with anything that you have written but I guess that is what living in this country gives us and that is for everyone to their own opinion. Thank heavens I think you are in the minority this time and I hope coach Sloan stays for a long time. He will eventually retire and then you can find the faults you believe the new coach has. Too bad we can’t be what each and every person wants us to be.
Linda, lt’s great to be able to speak out, or give opinion whether good or bad. It is our right, to do this.
I didn’t consider your feelings in my comments, I know I am in the minority of the opinion I have about Sloan (ask Derrick) But there are always to sides to a coin, the head and the tail when one is up the other is down and vice versa. I feel sloan is a detriment to the NBA. MY opinion doesn’t matter to many but it is still my right. And like the coin sloan has 2 sides!
Stay Pure and my name is spelled Ernest not Ernst
Thanks for the time
eemonson@yahoo.com
Ernest….My apologies for spelling your name wrong. Hope it is my typing not my mind!!!!! When you talk about the two sides of the coin please let me be the head and not the tail!! (Just my silly sense of humor) You are wrong when you say your opinion doesn’t matter to many. It matters to everone, I just happen to feel that you are in the minority. Thanks for worrying about my feelings.
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