Some sad news re Jerry Sloan......
Prognosis gloomy for Sloan — Few coaches are as associated with a franchise as much as Jerry Sloan is with the Utah Jazz. He hasn’t coached the team since 2011, but remains one of the most enduring figures in team history — along with the two fellow Hall of Famers he coached, John Stockton and Karl Malone. Sad news came out yesterday via the The Salt Lake Tribune that Sloan is suffering from both Parkinson’s disease and a form of dementia. Steve Luhm of the The Salt Lake Tribune, who first broke the story, has more on the not-so-bright future Sloan faces:
The former Jazz coach and Hall of Famer — the coach with the third most wins in NBA history — is battlingParkinson’s disease and a form of dementia called Lewy body dementia.
The prognosis is unkind.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, although, in some cases, medication can “markedly improve symptoms.” But in Sloan’s case, the symptoms continue to progress.
Lewy body dementia is a neurological disorder that manifests itself as difficulty with memory, problem solving, planning and analytical thinking. While the numbers differ, Lewy Body Association says about 1.4 million Americans have the disease.
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You try to be optimistic,” says Tammy Sloan, seated next to her husband. “But it is what it is. Jerry’s had a wonderful life — the best life you can possibly imagine. But this is not going to reverse itself and go away.”
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“Every day is a different day,” Tammy Sloan said. “Some days he’s fine, and some days he’s not so fine. But at that birthday party, he was as normal as he’s ever been. … He was in prime form, telling stories.”
Sloan’s health issues surfaced about a year ago, when his wife first noticed some Parkinson’s-like symptoms, including a tremor in his right hand. After talking to his son, who is a doctor, Sloan decided to undergo neurological tests.
The diagnosis, made last fall, was infinitely more devastating than any last-second loss. With a tear glistening in his eye, Sloan said, “It was a little scary because I thought, ‘Now what am I going to do? My career is over.’?”
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Sloan continues to see several doctors. He has a checkup scheduled for Thursday at the University of Utah. At the urging of former Jazz star John Stockton, he has also driven to Pocatello for some nontraditional treatments.
Attempts to reach Stockton and Karl Malone were not immediately successful Wednesday evening.
“John thinks he’s going to find a cure,” Tammy Sloan said. “And we’re like, ‘Yeah. Go, John.’?”
Sloan grimaces at the mention of Pocatello, where he gets injections into his head.
“That’s a fun trip,” he quipped. “They go all the way around with a needle.”
Said Tammy Sloan: “I don’t even watch.”
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At home these days, Sloan maintains a routine that includes a 4-mile walk every morning. He usually takes his dog. His wife keeps an updated calendar of events on the large wooden desk in his office to help him remember any approaching events in their lives. Like an upcoming trip to the DMV.
Sloan also must pass a test every six months to keep his driver license. He did so last fall and hopes to do it again, even though Tammy does most of the driving.
“That test a little intimidating at this point,” Sloan said. “But I don’t want to be complaining. You do what you can do. People have to live their own life without worrying about someone like myself.”
And our own small version of Draymond Green is coming of age - take a bow, Jared Sullinger.
