As for his future, the 66-year-old Sloan isn't sure whether he'll be with the Jazz another 20 days, let alone another 20 years. "Day-by-day" is his approach.

"I might wake up tomorrow morning and not feel very good, (and) say this is time for me to get out," he said. "I have no idea."

Sloan does have one request from the Jazz if they ever do plan on firing him.

"I just don't want to read about it in the paper," he said. "That's the only thing I've ever said. If you're tired of me, just come and tell me and we'll all go out the same way and move on down the road."

Or they could keep on this windy and winning path for another couple hundred games, a few more presidents and dozens of new "Simpsons" episodes.

Just in case, it's silver for the 25th anniversary gifts and rubies for the 40th.

E-mail: jody@desnews.com