Thank you Coach Sloan

I was shocked and saddened when news broke that Jerry Sloan had resigned as head coach of the Utah Jazz. Sloan was the franchise. Losing an icon like him felt like I was losing a family member. For any Jazz fan born in the 80's, he's the only coach we've ever known.

I do not want to get into the semantics of why he left. That will all come out with time. I just want to thank him for 23 great years of team-first basketball, that came with no excuses or apologies. In the words of Frank Sinatra, Jerry did it his way.

I highly doubt that we will ever see another major professional coach last 23 years as the man in charge. It's a different world now, one where instant success is demanded. When it's not met, the coach is shown the door.

So thank you Coach Sloan. Your legacy will last a lot longer than your coaching career in Utah, and that's saying a lot.

Super Sunday Prediction

Honestly, I can't stand either team. Never really liked the Packers, and I've despised the Steelers since they beat Denver at home in the AFC Championship game in 2005.


If Pittsburgh wins, Big Ben Rape-a-burger will have three Super Bowl titles. I don't think I want to live in a world where Big Ben has more super bowl rings then the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) John Elway.




But on the other hand, I'm not really ready for A-Fraud, a.k.a. Aaron Rodgers to be called a Super Bowl champion. So conflicted.


I guess, gun to the head, I'll go with the Green Bay Packers because I do like Charles Woodson, and he's definitely put in the work to be called a champion.

Final Score - Green Bay 31 Pittsburgh 27

This Wednesday is a very big day for college football. It's not a game, and it's got nothing to do with the BCS or conference re-alignment. No, Wednesday February 2 is National Signing Day.


It's when thousands of high school seniors make a decision on what college they will play at for the next four years and while on the surface it may sound dull, it is anything but.

A good recruiting class can be the foundation for success. A bad recruiting class can set a program back for a few years or even get coaches fired.

So far the University of Utah has a solid class put together. At the moment, Rivals.com has the Utes ranked as the 39th best class in the nation, headlined by Bingham high's Harvey Langi. Langi is a powerful running back who should play immidiately because of the graduations of Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide.





Junior college transfer Keith McGill is the other jewel of this recruitng class. The 4-star ranked McGill is a six-foot-four safety who racked up interceptions by the bunch.

If the Utes can pull a couple of surpirse signing on signing day itself, Utah could be looking at a Top-30 class when all is said and done.

Can't Wait

It's Championship Sunday eve. Jets-Steelers. Bears-Packers. Someone will turn into a hero for their respective fan base. Someone will inevitably turn out to be a goat for one reason or another.

This is also the last Sunday where we red-blooded, football loving Americans will get to watch more than one game in a day. Because after Sunday, we will be down to just two teams vying for the Lombardi Trophy down in Dallas.

Cherish this Sunday's games, because with the looming labor squabbles that are on the horizon this Spring, it could be a long time before pro football is in our lives again. But lets leave the apocalyptic talk alone until after the Super Bowl.

My predictions for tomorrow's games:

The Jets will expose the numerous injuries along the Steelers offensive line, and will shock Pittsburgh on the road 27-17 to be the AFC's representative in Dallas.




In the NFC, I like the Bears to stymie the Packers offense. Look for Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher to make some big plays on defense for Chicago. I also think the Green Bay offense will struggle in the outdoors and the frozen turf at Soldier Field. Bears win 21-10.

Check back here Monday for my recap and an early Super Bowl preview.