From Deseret News archives:

Sloan's focus on family

Wife's health has precedence for Jazz coach

Published: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 6:58 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Assuming he coaches against Memphis tonight, it may not be seeking win No. 800 with the Jazz that is foremost on Jerry Sloan's mind.

Rather, the health of wife, Bobbye, will take precedence.

Sloan missed Monday's win over Dallas to be with Bobbye, a cancer survivor who has been ill with flu-like symptoms for the past several weeks.

"She has to have a biopsy done . . . to be more definitive with what is going on with her, so it's hard to tell you," said Sloan, who struggled with his brief comments before returning to practice Tuesday morning.

Bobbye, who was treated for breast cancer roughly 6 1/2 years ago, and 61-year-old Jerry Sloan were high school sweethearts growing up together in McLeansboro, Ill.

Longtime assistant Phil Johnson subbed for Sloan on Monday, but Sloan — who said he watched only "the last minute" of the win over the Mavericks on television — on Tuesday said he planned to be back on the sideline tonight.

One report later Tuesday suggested some test results had already been received, but Jazz officials said no update regarding those results would be made public until the Sloans are prepared to do so.

Story continues below
TRADE TALK: Among the plentiful trade talk making its way around the league as the NBA's Feb. 19 trade deadline approaches is this from ESPNInsider.com, coming on the heels of Monday's blockbuster trade between New York and Phoenix:

"Just hours before the Knicks, Suns trade went down, more rumors were flying that the Jazz and Suns were talking about a deal that would send Tom Gugliotta and draft picks to (Utah). In return, the Suns would net more cap space. Now . . . you have to believe that the Suns will be even more motivated to make this deal happen.

"The Jazz are roughly $8.7 million under the salary cap right now, meaning they can absorb a lot more salary than they have to send out in return. Since Gugliotta is in the last year of his contract, there are no long-term financial ramifications for the Jazz making the trade. They are essentially paying for draft picks.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

So, Sean Penn and Danny Glover really consider this guy to be a hero? Tells...

You are obviously not a true Utah fan...let me guess you jumped aboard after...

Ann, you always make me laugh, but it's not too often you make me cry. Thank...

Big Green Tractor | 10:43 a.m Who was in office that divided our forces in a...

Way to go boys. Keep up the hard work. The result will be the same this...

Richfield Wildcats football preview

hows that shoulder cam?

Stampede nothing. We are going to take you guys out this saturday and capture...

Letters: Liberal rant amusing

Great letter, Robert.

Hypocrisy - yes, and when the people of his town found out, they voted him...

12 high schools ready for 'The Turf'

you have been all year, "best team in 4a" "this is our year". ever since...

Advertisements
Advertisement