Sloan keeps perspective

J_Ray · Apr 3, 2009

Denver » Jazz coach Jerry Sloan always has approached life with the perspective of a boy who was 4 years old when his father died.

He referenced that experience Thursday in talking about a difficult last two months, with the deaths of Jazz owner Larry Miller , Sloan's former teammate and coach Johnny "Red" Kerr , his longtime Chicago backcourt mate Norm Van Lier , and his older brother Buck .

"That's the things that we don't like, but there's a lot learned from that," Sloan said. "I've learned more in those times about what goes on and how things are set in life. There's always something good about it, though, if you approach it the
right way."

Sloan, who turned 67 on Saturday, said he was able to take away something positive from his firing as Chicago coach in 1982 as well as the death of his first wife, Bobbye , in 2004, even if he didn't see so at the time.

"Maybe that makes you work a little harder, it makes you appreciate what you have a little bit more, I don't know," Sloan said. "Just simple stuff."

Sloan will miss tonight's game against Minnesota to return home to McLeansboro, Ill., to attend a viewing and funeral this weekend for his brother, who died Tuesday at age 80. It will be the 16th game Sloan has missed in 21 years as the Jazz's head coach. Assistant Phil Johnson will act as coach.

Buck Sloan was remembered in the McLeansboro Times-Leader as a retired maintenance mechanic for Alcoa, a former Air Force staff sergeant, a member of the Masonic Lodge, a farmer, an avid fisherman and a former county coroner -- an elected position, it turns out
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Sloan has had a tough year altogether with losing close friends, a family member, and his injury riddled team.

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