Sloan is such a confidence builder, this guy has
talent do not tear him down. He is what 20 years old.
Sloan is the one who needs to hit the streets and see
what its like.Fesenko is young, but the verdict is
still out, lets have more confidence in our young
players instead of the bad mouthing of Sloan Please

Now if he will just play better than Dennis Rodman! Fez is right He and Koufos could be a great 4 and 5 if they will just develop.

Coach Sloan is correct. This is the NBA and you have to work hard to succeed as they are not many roster slots available. I am very disappointed in CJ Miles not going to camp. Also, I hope Fez has been working to get better. Forget about babying the players. They want all the money they can get but do not focus on improving their abilities. If you work hard and are motivated to refine and develope your skills you will be successful. There are many people that would love to be in the position as CJ and Fez with skills to be in the NBA. I wish them both the best but if they are not careful someone else will take their work and meal ticket away.

I doubt if either Fez or Koufos take Sloan's empty meaningless threats very seriously. The both can play long lucrative careers in Europe for a lot more than Sloan makes. The NBA just does not have a monopoly any more.

Sloan never commented on the blonde doo. It was all about pay attention. Stay focused on what the Jazz are doing instead of "what's going on in the corner." I got the same lecture from my first boss after I graduated from college and I'm grateful. It's time to grow up.

the league is made up of allen, pierce, kobe, howard, ducan etc....not big slow white guys!!!! i know superstars are hard to come by, but being the whitest team in the league is not going to get you closer to a championship...

So if Fes was african american and showed up with dreadlocks (spelling?), or was white man balding and shaved his head would we even be having this conversation? It is just a hair style, don't make anything more than it has to be.

GO Fes!

GO UTES!

Whats the difference between white hair and ridiculous tattoos. At least the hair will grow out.

I don't think Sloan said much of anything about the hair doo, other than to point out some things this kid obviously has to work on. Attention span, childish behavior, being late etc. If you think pointing those things out to a 20 year old who is in competition for one of the best jobs in the world and is on the cusp of blowing it,-is being a big ol stinky meany, you must have perfect children.

I read the story, and Sloan like always tears down
players instead of building them up. This guy needs
to hit the farms in the midwest. Final answer!

Fess has more upside than Sene. Karl Malone was touting Sene for the Jazz to draft when they drafted Brewer and so far Sene has been a bust.

What`s the big deal? Let`s see what he can do on the basketball court that`s what counts if he brings his game he could become a pretty good player. he played pretty good when he played against the Lakers. The only game the Jazz won against them during the regular season.

OK, so I'm a girl, but I still enjoy sports. We now have a 20 year old kid possibly on the team. As far as I can determine by what I've heard, he isn't too focused. Where's he from, like the Ukraine? So I'm sure he's overwhelmed with all we have here in America, and just hasn't been able to settle down yet. He's still a kid, but he's in a position where he's going to make lots of money if he doesn't blow it.

So y'all, especially Jimmy is on Sloan for what he says about him having to prove himself, having to show he has what it takes, and all. Then when we go to the playoff's again, you will be all over Sloan again for having a young, inexperienced team. You can't have it both ways. We have to either have a quality ball team, or a farm team preparing young players for the big time. Which way do you want it?

Personally, I don't like the hair, but that isn't what makes a good player, and I agree with Sloan.

re: Jimmy Z

How did Sloan tear Fes down? He said "I don't care about his hair" and "I'm concerned about what he does on the floor" and "he needs to focus on basketball". Those words could be viewed as sage professional advice.

Sloan sees a pile of young talent in this guy and he wants him to succeed and not waste his ability so the team can win. Ya, lets get rid of anyone who supports this philosophy.

Jimmy Z--go crawl back into the hole that you and coddling head-in-the-sand mentality came from.

I can not believe how big of a dork Fes is, he is even worse than Ostertag with his Fred Flintstone tatoo on his leg. I guess he can come out on I80 and hang out with me at a rest stop and knock over garbage cans.

Koufos will probably motivate Fes a lot more than anything else(and vice versa). Over 48 minutes Fes already rebounds at the same rate as Boozer. However, he is very weak offensively (about 1/4 of Boozer's output).

I suspect that Koufos will cause Fes improve his offense and Fes will improve Koufos's defense. That will happen just by playing. Koufos is motivated to play in the NBA that will start to rub off on Fes.

If Koufos improves enough to play behind Boozer and Almond improves, it would not suprise me a whole lot if Miles gets traded. If both Fes and Koufos are playing well, they can be put in (for Okur or Boozer)at times.

Fes could be very effective muscle against some of the centers in the NBA. It remains to be seen if Koufos can play at Boozer's position.

Basketball

Neyt!

Music

Da!

I like the hair, but it would look better as mowhawk.

Koufus and Fess will both make it big with us it is just going to take a year or to. Jerry will teach them the right way, then another coach will get to bear the fruits of their development. I am MORE concerned with the cap and the luxury tax with our present roster than anything else. I will be watching the summer league games with high anticipation and excitement. Go Jazz.

Both Fez and Koufus need to concentrate on playing solid defense and rebounding. That is what the Jazz need from them - No matador defense, no weak grabbing at rebounds, no 3 pont shooting, no weak position playing. We never appreciated Mark Eaton when he was here. If we had him during the finals years we would have had at least 1 title and another with the team we had this past 2 years. Big effective defenders who can rebound when you have scorers and passers equate to championships. Come on guys, just do what Coach Sloan asks and you will have much success and help the Jazz to a title. Don't waste your physical attributes and athleticism.

Stupid story.

@ Moto X ;
you did not mention "You know,he'sgot to figure outwhat he wants to do:Play B-Ball or be a Clown.

Typical Sloan negativity!

Fess knows he's got to pay attention ,read his comment about this is it for this year or he feels he's on the outside.

re:anonymous

You are right, Sloan should tell him he is the best clown on the team and to keep up the good work. We don't need a hard-working defensive presence in the middle, we need a jokster to win an NBA title. Maybe Fes could share a joke or two in the huddle when guys are driving down the lane at will--that will make a huge difference.

You should apply for KOC's position. Then you could get rid of any coach who instructs a player to focus on basketball and get one that develops players comedic skills. Championships would start pouring in.

I hate to be "that guy" that bags on his home town, but only in Utah would anyone care about the color of a players hair. This is basketball, not a fashion show. Get over it and report on something relevant.

It is well known, I have it from my brother's home teacher who knows Larry Miller's daughter that the Jazz are just waiting for Rose to get in another year or two at the Y before they offer him the Jazz head coaching job.

Home teacher? Get over it you wonderful Y peeps, Rose will never be an NBA coach. Why do you send these type of messages?--to satisfy your egos? The next coach of the Jazz I guarantee will have some Jazz connection and have some NBA experience, so dream on WONDERFULS.

@ coach

Are u serious? You're scary dude. "being the whitest team in the league"?!?

Umm, welcome to the real world where you just had a "white guy" win 3 of the last 4 NBA MVP awards...

Race makes no difference in basketball - Mr. 1955.

Sloan is ruining CJ like many other young players that have come throught the organization.

And now he will do the same to Fesenko and probably koufos.

I do not understand this blind love people have for sloan, but I guess the weakminded will believe anything the the media and the jazz tell them.

Use your own brains. see how he treats players, see how coaches DURING a game, see his i,nblity to make adjustments quickly if at all, see inability to develop and play rookies and young players.

He gets a couple of star players ( always a point guard and powerforward, thats his system) then rides them until they break down (at the end of seasons and playoffs) to get winning seasons and ultimate playoff losses, and he is a great coach?

You really described yourself with your title. Sloan has only had 1 losing season and has only not made the playoffs 3 times. He may have had the best coaching jobs in 2003-2004 when he only had one decent player in AK and we still had a winning season. That's a great, hall of fame coach my friend!

Now Fess... I am worried we might have another "Benoit Situtation" on our hands here...

Remember when Benoit was hitting the bottle hard (drinking), and how is play suffered. No I see Fess is acting strange... Hmm...

Sincerely, a Fan of Portugese Breakfast.

I think Fez looks a lot more like he's ready to basketball with his shorter blond hair now than his long hair last year. How about let's give him a fair shot before we crucify him for his blond hair.

You list all of Sloan's accolades, yet fail to point out the most glaring missing piece. Championship Rings. What good is going to the playoffs x amount of times and all those winning seasons when they amount to nothing?

He had two of the 50 greatest players of all-time at his disposal but was never able to coach us to a title. We will forever be 'good' under Sloan, but never 'great'. He's too rigid in his ways and doesn't make enough ingame assessments and adjustments.

He needs to be more flexible and acknowledge and UTILISE a players' raw talent rather than benching them to teach them a lesson in good values. If Fes or Koufos do not AT LEAST get Collins' minutes, then something is very very wrong. Let the kids play! The maturity and hard work ethics will come once they get some playing time, not languishing in the D League playing against scrubs or riding pine for 48.

We have to be really desperate for basketball to begin if we are talking about hairstyles here!!
BTW... I don't think Fesenko will have confidence problems because of Sloan comments. He's 20, he's from Ukraine, and even if you can concede something about "maturity", you can tell from his attitude, his corporal language and talking that dude has some character of his own.
Anyway, be assured that if the guy has game and is serious on practice and on court, Sloan will give him playing time even if Fesenko gets purple hair.... well... may be not if purple....

re:Baloney-- you got baited by a troll (Y not)...

re:Coach-- So if I came in with a team, let's say Stockton, Ainge, Bird, Mchale, Nowitzki, Nash, Hornecek, West, Marivich etc., that team would not have a shot. Can we please keep race out of it?

re:Jimmy-- It's time to leave your parents basement. Sloan is there to coach.

re:Who cares-- 100% right on.

Fez ... shave the hair off. We need someone who looks like a killer on the floor, not the Beach Boys. :0)

re: sports insanity and jbird (same person)

You blame Sloans coaching for Karl Malone choking in the clutch? You call losing to Jordan and Pippen Sloans coaching problem? Please.

After our two greatest players our remaining talent dropped off real fast. The Bulls? Not so much. Besides Jordan was in a league of "best" that was all his own regardless of who we had.

As far as your comments about Sloan ruining young players, my guess is that Millsap, Brewer, and D-Will might beg to differ. Almond is about to get his opportunity as well.

D-Will is now the franchise and is one of the best ballers in the league. He wants to stay BECAUSE Sloan is the coach. Somehow his credibility has alot more "weight" with logical people/fans than your incessant negative complaints.

Players who worked hard at their game and wanted to win do not mind playing for Sloan. Spoiled players who are in it for the dough and don't like the work it takes to win, are the ones who want to leave for easier money. Even some of them figure out later who was right and who was wrong. Give Kirk Snyder a call.

okay...everyone...chill out!!! its just hair...all he did was dye his hair....and then we got people freaking out over all the negatives and everything else in between....ok...so his hair was hideous...well he fixed it now...no more hair problem...yes coach sloan does get hard on the players but Kyrylo is strong enough not to let words break him....he got this far on his dreams and drive so why should he not improve...its all his power of will...if we just have a little faith in him and people let him know...he'll work hard...i say at games encourage him...if u have a problem with him, then tell him to his face...he is the most teachable person i have ever met and he does listen to his supporters...so be good to him...he is just a kid making the transition into manhood...just talk to him and you will see...he is around in Salt Lake City...you can't miss him...tell him in a good way what he needs to do...he's ready to hear the people and to make his mark on the jazz and the NBA as a whole...

and by the way...its kind mean to critque someone you only know by nba...get to kno him...you'll see...