Yesterday, former longtime Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan revealed to the public that he has been battling against Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia since last fall.
His wife, Tammy, has been taking care of her husband, and while she acknowledged that it hasn't been an easy process, they both appreciate everything they've experienced together.
“You try to be optimistic,” Tammy said via Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune. “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.”
Sloan initially didn't want to make an announcement about his condition, but with the symptoms becoming harder and harder to hide, he felt it was necessary.
“I'm not looking for publicity,” Sloan said. “But I feel I have to talk straight to people so they know what's going on.”
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During his 26 years as a head coach for the Chicago Bulls and the Jazz, Sloan compiled a total of 1,221 career victories (1,127 with Utah), good for 3rd all-time. His teams, led by John Stockton and Karl Malone, were the finest in Utah's history, reaching the Finals in back-to-back years, 1996-97 and 1997-98. They made the Conference Finals five times from 1992 to 1998
To this day, as he battles this disease, Sloan still finds comfort in the game.
“When a basketball game comes on TV,” Tammy said, “he knows everything that's ever happened.”
The Jazz saluted their former coach with this statement on Wednesday night:
“Jerry Sloan is and always will be a beloved member of the Utah Jazz family, and we know he will approach this fight with the same grit and determination he displayed as a Hall of Fame coach and All-Star player in the NBA for 40-plus years,” the team said in a statement.
“On behalf of the Miller family, the Jazz organization and Jazz fans everywhere, we send Jerry and his wife ,Tammy, our love, support and best wishes.”
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