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It is a slow day in sports, so Fox Sports Florida is regurgitating an old theme - Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan wants to return to coaching.
Yes he does. Under certain circumstances, like if a team calls him and offers him a job.
Let's start with the Orlando Magic's head coaching job, freshly vacated when Orlando magically made Stan Van go away. GM Otis Thorpe too.
#sloan
Jerry told Fox Sports Florida of the Orlando job, "That would be very intriguing. But they would have to be interested in me."
Oh, yeah. That part. Orlando's Superman superstar Dwight Howard just as "Stan Van", out - he likely would not like to play for one who has the reputation of making everybody play hard, and it's ‘his way or the highway'.
Jerry also told Fox Sports Florida he's interested in taking over the Charlotte Bobcats (7-59 last season, worst winning percentage, .106 in NBA history). Could Jerry be working for Michael Jordan? Don't see that happening.
Jerry says he still has that ‘void of basketball'.
Right, most high profile people suffer some withdrawal when all the glory goes away. Jerry's human, and told us all just about a year and a half ago that he was tired, and didn't have the energy to run a team the way coaches run teams these days. Jerry Sloan is 70 now.
The NBA hasn't become less complicated and wherever he goes he wouldn't be insulated from criticism by a loving owner and worshiping organization. Jerry doesn't have an agent and says, "…if somebody calls me, I will listen."
Boredom is not a good reason to return to the high-stress life of NBA coaching.
Of course it's always Jerry's call. If he wants back badly enough, maybe ‘some team will call', but I'm saying his career is over. Jerry Sloan will never coach again - at least I hope that's the case. But if some team does call they'll get an iconic coach at the end of his best. It won't be fair to judge Jerry on his next job.
If Miami doesn't win it all and they fire Eric Spoelstra, will they call Jerry? Remember he doesn't have an agent throwing his name and resume around to NBA GM's. Can you imagine Sloan coaching Lebron, DWade and Bosh plus whatever other spare parts Pat Riley surrounds them with next season (if he doesn't blow it all up and trade one or two of the Big 3).
I'm saying please do not return, BUT if it's to coach the Miami Heat? Now that would change my mind, just for the sheer theater it would provide.
By the way I reached out to Jerry at his Illinois home, someone else answered and yelled to Jerry, when he found out Channel 5 in Salt Lake City wanted to talk him, Jerry was ‘busy but would call me back'.
I will be talking to Jerry soon and tell you how our conversation goes.
