Ode to Kevin Lyde

Posted by Jeffrey Wank on December 13, 2008

Everyone has been focusing their attention on Jerry Sloan’s record-breaking season and his 20th anniversary as Utah’s head coach.  Yes, he deserved to win the coach of the year award at least a dozen times and never has.  Yes, he is the longest tenured head coach in any sport.  Yes, he is certainly the boss of the team and will bench or cuss out anyone that disagrees including Stockton, Malone, Williams, and Boozer.  We know all this, and his success and longevity is appreciated and should be rewarded in the Hall-of-Fame, but if I see another graphic that says those things, I think my hair is going to turn Sloan-grey.  This is why, I decided to focus the attention on another Jazzman of sorts…

This is “Ode to Kevin Lyde”

He was born from parts unknown as Kevin Orez Lyde.  He went to Oak Hill Academy possibly at the same time as Tracy McGrady (but I am too lazy to look that up).  He is a regular in the Rocky Mountain Review and the Jazz pre-season roster.  He is usually the last cut when it is time to get to the 15-man squad.  With his gut that hangs over his waistband, he lumbers up and down the court, grabbing a board, setting a pick, maybe even drilling a jumper.  Well, not much much of a “jumper” because he is not much of a jumper, but he can hit one or two from ten or fifteen away.  The best quote I found on him is, “Lyde is big, really big. He can rebound when he misses because he’s so big.” I’ve never met him, never heard him speak or give an interview, but I like him.  I am not sure if it is because there is something jolly about him, but I think of him as one of the good guys.  I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I do believe he would make a great in-store Santa.

He knew there was no way of making the Jazz roster this season, as they already had the maximum 15 under the contract, but he came to camp with a thinner waistline and with more confidence in himself and in his abilities.  At least it appeared that way from my seats.  Maybe it was because there was no shot that he played with less nerves and more instinct?  I definitely think he is a player that deserves a shot, maybe not with the Jazz this year but the Bobcats, Raptors, and Nuggets are looking for a big.  Oh wait, the Bobcats just signed my fellow Wolverine — Juwan Howard — and the owner of the Nuggets doesn’t want to spend anymore money.  Come on, Raptors!  Maybe Sloan would be willing to put a call into new Raptors coach Jay Triano and give a recommendation about Lyde?  Remember Sloan does have well over 1000 wins and Triano just got his 1st, so Sloan may know what he is talking about. May know.  Just maybe.

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3 Comments

Amir on December 14, 2008 said:

i think kevin lyde is good player but just came in the wrong team jazz were full roster lyde would help if he made a team he could guard shaq bynum and res of big guys in nba

Jay on January 17, 2009 said:

kevin is a great player but would be better with another team

Jay on January 17, 2009 said:

we want kevin on our team..dammit!lol

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