By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
January 29, 2003
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was suspended seven
games Wednesday by the NBA for shoving an official, a steep penalty
that will keep him off the sidelines until the middle of February.
Sloan pushed referee Courtney Kirkland in the chest and was ejected
during the first quarter of Utah's 102-92 victory at Sacramento on
Tuesday night.
``Obviously his behavior was out of line, and the message is clear that that type of
behavior cannot be tolerated,'' NBA vice president Stu Jackson said.
``The level of the suspension is in line with the behavior,'' Jackson said.
The suspension was one of the longest in recent years, including penalties against
players who physically confronted referees.
Dennis Rodman was suspended for six games for headbutting an official in 1996, and
Nick Van Exel drew a seven-game ban for forearming a referee into the scorer's table
during that season.
Sloan was not available for comment before Utah's game against Portland on
Wednesday night. He was expected to talk about the suspension Thursday. Jazz
players expected a suspension, but not one this long because they felt the
confrontation was two-sided.
``That's the reason this league is falling apart,'' center Greg Ostertag said. ``Jerry
protested the call and the official came and got in Jerry's face. I'm going to get fined
if I keep talking.''
Sloan's shove came after he argued vehemently that Kings guard Doug Christie had
stepped out of bounds on the sideline near where Kirkland was standing. Sloan got
down and put his hand on the spot where he thought Christie stepped out.
Sloan pushed Kirkland in the chest and was ejected. As Sloan was escorted away by
arena security, he motioned for Kirkland to come toward him. It wasn't clear what
Kirkland might have said to upset Sloan.
``I doubt you can get a reaction from someone that much without doing anything to
him. Even Jerry,'' Jazz forward Matt Harpring said. ``There's got to be an action to
set off the reaction, you just don't go off without something happening.''
Jackson said he did not know the length of the longest coaching suspensions in NBA
history.
``You can't talk about historical precedent because each situation is considered on its
own merits,'' Jackson said.
Sloan began serving his suspension Wednesday. He is ineligible to return until Utah's
game Feb. 14 against Washington. Phil Johnson, a Jazz assistant for 15 seasons who
took over for Sloan on Tuesday, will coach the Jazz throughout the suspension.
Sloan can still coach practices and shootarounds, but must be out of the arena two
hours before a game.
``We're just going to have to go ahead. These are professional basketball players
who have a lot of good experience,'' Johnson said. ``Hopefully, we'll play well.''
Sloan was fined $2,000 and suspended one game for bumping official Bob Delaney
while arguing a non-call during a game against Phoenix in 1993.
In his 18th season as a head coach, his 15th with the Jazz, Sloan is one of only 10
coaches in NBA history with 800 victories. |